Security Pie

Beam Me Up

Through my career I have learned that in order to be successful, people need to work together and interact with other people.

When it comes to “business”, we’re connecting (doing business) with people we trust and respect. I believe that in order to create a trust and some sort of a bond (the actual type vary) eye contact and handshake should be made – in other words, we need to travel.

Remote sensing technologies and “passing the ball” methods are useful to maintain a relationship but they could never be a substitute for creating it.  In other words, we need to meet our customers, partners, suppliers, vendors (and family) in order to create and maintain a successful relationship.

Spending most of the 24 hours in airplanes and airports the other day, I can only ask for one thing: please make it simple to travel.

One of the best things I like the most about living in Silicon Valley is the opportunity to explore so many cultures and different behaviors. Working with great people from all over the world I can learn to see myself in different light. The other day I made a comment about acting more aggressively in a specific area to achieve a business goal.  Then, someone send me the following note:

Act more aggressively than normal? We are Israeli based after all! LOL

Speaking of which…when I went to Jaffa during my last trip, I tried several times to walk into some basic “deli” type places that looked like they had amazing food. At each one it sounded like the guy was yelling at me in Hebrew but I couldn’t understand the menu… they “yelled at me” and motioned for me to get out of the way so the next person could order. I was intimidated and eventually walked out of each one until I got back to the hotel…  It was quite funny!

I know what he was talking about…

So I like it when I can take the learnings of one field and apply it to another. When we started PortAuthority, it was clear to me that data security was important. I came from the defense industry which (for the most part) values data security more than it does systems – and for good reason: if enemies get access to confidential data, it is a very short while to losing military superiority.

However, I was disappointed and somewhat frustrated to learn that at the time (2000-2003) little thought was given by corporations to data security. Words to that effect were used, but the majority of security was dedicated to the A(vailability) in CIA and some were dedicated to the I(ntegrity). Very little (with a few exceptions) were dedicated to the C(onfidentlity).

As it turns out, what was missing was knowhow. This knowhow which is rampant across DOD corridors, was virtually non-existant in the corporate world. And the few that did understand the concepts were ex-defense employees.

So the knowhow for data security is now being built, and ever more security folk get up in the morning and say “how do I help enhance our competitive standing in the industry” vs. “how do I ensure I don’t get to clean up all the machines over the weekend”.

So – what is in this knowhow? Well, to me it appears that the knowhow consists of knowledge (theories), experience (past experiences, witnessing others, reading case studies), and language (how do I communicate to all parties involved in the activities). Or – as I will explain later – the common memories in the field (similar to the so called “muscle memory” in the organization).

Well here’s to the topic at hand: food, ”foodies” and what makes a great dish “great”.

Read the rest of this entry »

Previously, we sent our reporters on a first class mission. Now, we are reporting from coach. Names removed to protect the innocent.

Hi, we had a delay of one hour. I’ll probably arrive to you place around midnight. If it’s too late can you please leave the keys outside?

No problem. I’ll wait for you. Is it tonight or tomorrow? 

Tonight… In flight internet is awesome…

Is it really IN flight internet? Can you see porn?

When my “neighbors” will sleep I’ll definitely try it…

You need protection.  For the next flight buy one of those 3com protection screens… 

So that’s the real reason you need it…

I’m thinking about a smart answer, since this conversation is being blogged….. 
 

In my opinion, this post speaks for itself.

Shamelessly copied from Internet Security and Operations Intelligence 6 (ISOI)  meeting agenda. 

I wish I could be there but I have better plans.

Gadi,  I hope that CC copyrights do not apply.

So yesterday we went for dinner at The French Laundry, an upscale restaurant located in Yountville in Napa valley. It is widely considered to be one of the best restaurants in the world, and definitively the best in the bay area. It was an exquisite dinner, with great company, good wine*, and excellent food.

And the most interesting dish just happened to be on the Vegetable Tasting menu. Very interesting indeed.

Hmmm. Delectable meal. Hmmm.

 It was a dish labelled: Chickpea “Croquette” – Sweet Peppers, English Cucumbers, Sesame Seed Yogurt and Eggplant Confit. Now Larousse Gastronomique defines a croquette as a “small savoury or sweet preparation…… Croquettes are shaped into corks, sticks, balls or rechtangles. They are usually coated with breadcrumbs, plunged into very hot oil and fried until they are crisp and golden…”.

So why is a Chickpea “Croquette” interesting to a group of Israelis eating at the French Laundry?

Read the rest of this entry »

The definition’s example from answers.com explains my situation:

Bummer: Slang. One that depresses, frustrates, or disappoints: Getting stranded at the airport was a real bummer.

I was so happy to finish my meetings early. I got on the standby list for the earlier flight. The UA service representative was about to hand me my boarding pass when a red faced person rushed all the way in. Of course that he received his seat. One hour later, after unsuccessfully fighting with ORD’s wireless network, I was on the next flight, just to e deplaned few minutes before takeoff due to an hydraulic problem. Now I’m waiting for a new, unscheduled flight that will bring me home  past the arrival time of my original flight. 

Yes, the weather in Chicago suck as well. 

Once in a while, you get to a place that changes your outlook on life and everything that you hold to be a “basic truth”. Mongolia is one such place. Everything from literacy of nomads (98% !!!!) to happiness to the importance of time (Mongolians – outside of the capital UlaanBaatar - measured time in what seems to be seasons, not hours or even days).

One of the challenging ones for us, a group of mountain bikers which consisted of 3 1/2 engineers and 3 1/2 doctors, was the consumption of red meat and cheese in Mongolia. That surely, cannot be healthy: can it?

When I mean red meat and cheese, I mean ONLY red meat and cheese, and perhaps some flour to make Tsuivan, some sort of a chewy noodles and boiled mutton, which, when properly seasoned, is not bad.

Tsuivan is homemade sticky noodles with boiled mutton and little spices

Read the rest of this entry »

image by betta design on flickr.com

A couple of days ago I called the India consulate in Sydney, Australia. Turns out they have a new process to get a five year business visa issued:

1. Complete all the documentation necessary. This means download and print forms, complete them by hand, etc.
2. Scan all the documents and your passport
3. Email them to the consulate for approval Read the rest of this entry »

Security Pie’s chief chef was sent on a mission to examine the culinary conditions in Mongolia. Here are the first reports received from the front (seat):

First class is nice. Very nice. But XX (name removed to protect the innocent) G5 is still nicer. Much nicer.

More updates to come