Jane Frankland

May 15, 2018

How to use labels to get you ahead in cyber security

By JaneFrankland | Cyber security | No Comments

I grew up labelled.

As a baby I cried. Let's correct that. I screamed. So, the first label I acquired was “SCREAM-ER!”

As a three-year old I was a bright kid. But, the one a parent despairs of, and is secretly desperate to farm off to a nursery, pre-school, or kindergarten. Truth be told, anywhere that will take them. And, as soon as possible.

When my mother collected me from nursery, by the end of the week, they were using a certain word to describe me.

“BELLIGERENT.”

I wasn't allowed to return. My mother wasn't happy. She now became the screamer and blamed my father. Apparently he'd been playing a game with me. He'd knock me over and then encourage me to do the same to him. Unfortunately, when I did this to other children they didn't understand it was a game, or find it funny, like I did.

Nor did the teachers. Read More

November 7, 2017

The minimalist guide to the GDPR

By JaneFrankland | Cyber security | No Comments

In the spirit of full disclosure, please be aware that I’ve received compensation for promoting this #ad for Microsoft’s Modern Workplace Episode. Because your success is important to me, I only align myself with brands I believe in, and Microsoft is one of them.

I was on a training course the other week, with dozens of small to medium sized business owners. As it tends to happen at this kind of thing, whenever I mention I work in cybersecurity faces light up. And, as soon as we break for refreshments, people approach me with question after question. They want to know about one topic in particular – the GDPR.

To know more about the GDPR, watch Microsoft’s latest episode of Modern Workplace, which is available today.

I tell them what I’m about to share with you now. Read More

June 20, 2017

The great GDPR hoax

By JaneFrankland | Cyber security | No Comments

One of my favourite stories as a child was Chicken Licken. I'm sure you'll know it, but in case you don't, it's a macabre folk tale about a chicken who believes the “sky is falling down” after an acorn lands on his head. Hysterical about the impeding disaster, he rushes off to tell the king, amassing followers in the process, and leading them to their untimely death. Whilst the story teaches children about courage, the main lesson they learn is not to follow blindly and believe everything they're told.

It's a good lesson and this simple children's story reminds me of where we are with the GDPR right now. If we're to believe everything we're told at conferences, or read online about it, things look pretty bleak.

March 1, 2017

Humans – your weakest link or your strongest shield?

By JaneFrankland | Cyber security | No Comments

The other day I was in a meeting with one of the UK’s most powerful financial organisations. I’d been invited in to talk to the team about the latest market trends and what I was seeing. We talked about many things like ransomware, the sophistication of today’s attackers, new technology solutions, regulation (like GDPR), and the diversity and talent within our ecosystem. Then I brought up internal threats, specifically people.

I asked them if they’d humour me for a few minutes and they agreed.

“Close your eyes,” I said.

“I want you to step into another’s shoes – someone who works at your company.

Imagine what it feels like to be told that you’re a weak link.

A threat.

A liability.

February 20, 2017

My top 5 breach prevention tips – would these be yours?

By JaneFrankland | Cyber security | No Comments

Working in cyber security for the last 19-years has been an amazing experience. Watching the sophistication of cyber attacks, and the frequency of breaches increase, has not.

I was discussing this with a few senior cyber security leaders the other day. As we talked, we each reeled off a load of statistics, like how Lloyds of London has estimated that cyber attacks cost businesses as much as $400 billion a year, how Juniper research has predicted that the cost of data breaches will increase to $2.1 trillion by 2019, and how the World Economic Forum says the true cost is actually unknown, as industrial espionage grows, and access to confidential data goes undetected.

December 31, 2016

Women in cyber security: Five hard lessons I learnt in 2016 & why I’m grateful

By JaneFrankland | Mindset | No Comments

It's England. It's cold, the night is drawing in, and it's the last day of 2016. It's been a while since I published a blog here, as I've spent all year writing my book. It's totally consumed me, but as it's nearly finished, I'm sitting at my desk, reflecting on the year and thinking about you. I'm astounded at what I've achieved, how much I've grown, how many amazing people I've spoken to or met, and how quickly the year has gone by. I'd like to share some of this with you, as I'm grateful for your support, and feel I owe you so much.