Tipton Studio

In attending the GoCyber Collective’s “Is Your City Cyber Safe?” July Breakfast Meeting, I was reminded that public safety begins—and ends—with communication. But what happens when those critical communication systems go dark due to a cyberattack? That unsettling reality framed a powerful keynote led by Mike Beagles, Director of IT at Mission Critical Partners (MCP)—a timely and essential conversation following the recent Kettering Health cyberattack. Mike addressed the growing unease felt by municipalities across the country and posed the critical question now echoing in boardrooms, city halls, and IT departments alike:

Are we truly cyber secure?

My key takeaway is that 🔐Cybersecurity isn’t just about systems—it’s about behavior, mission alignment, and proactive protection.

MCP’s Secure Halo framework considers human dependencies and strategic resilience. Their core services include:
1️⃣ Secure Halo | 2️⃣ Consulting | 3️⃣ Data Halo

Cyber threats are real, rising, and relentless. Public safety agencies and businesses must be fluent in risk assessment, vulnerability management, and incident response readiness.

🌐 Thank you to GoCyber Collective Executive Director John Seibel for leading with clarity, purpose, and care—his ability to build community through education and action is exceptional.

🙏 And thank you to Fortinet, a proud GoCyber Collective partner, for sponsoring the delicious breakfast.

📅 Don’t miss next month’s August 20th Breakfast Meeting featuring Ken Smith, Director–Sales Engineer at Arctic Wolf.
🎟️ Register at Eventbrite: GoCyber Collective Monthly Meeting

The threat is real—and the human layer of cybersecurity is more critical than ever.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend an eye-opening online briefing hosted by Shawn Waldman, CEO & Founder of SecureCyber titled:
🔍 “Breaking Down the Iranian Cyber Threat After the U.S. Strike”

As someone actively engaged in public affairs, this was my first exposure to the operational reality of Iranian state-aligned cyber actors—including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cyber Command, APT groups like Charming Kitten, and the wider Iranian Cyber Army.

Shawn Waldman’s briefing was informative, detailed, and at times… sobering.

🔐 Key Takeaways & Recommendations:

✅ Nation-state threats are increasing, especially following military conflict.
✅ Iranian cyber actors have a predictable playbook—knowing it gives us an advantage.
✅ A multi-layered cybersecurity strategy is non-negotiable.

🚨 Start With:
• Enforcing MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication)
• Maintaining current patching and asset inventories
• Executing executive tabletop exercises
• Engaging with ISACs, CISA, and trusted vendors
• Performing external pen testing and vulnerability scans
• Exploring automated threat hunting using tools like Feedly AI

This kind of insight is vital not just for IT teams, but for leaders, public sector officials, and small business owners working to protect their organizations and communities.

Thank you, Shawn Waldman, and SecureCyber for this critical work. Your continued service on the cyber frontlines is deeply appreciated.

Today, we honor their sacrifice, reflect on their legacy, and wish peace to all who carry their memory forward.