As we spend more and more time living our lives online, from shopping to chatting with friends, the question of how we keep all of this safe from bad actors becomes more important. It’s like making sure our personal diaries, if they were on display at the library, had a really good lock on them. The man who’s been in charge of some of the locks on America’s cyber stuff, such as safeguarding the country’s elections and keeping government networks safe, has just wrapped up a twenty-year career, and he’s shared some insights recently with CyberScoop.

One of the big topics he talked about is something called SolarWinds, which sounds like it could be a cool new energy source, but it’s actually a company that was at the center of a major cyber attack. Basically, some hackers managed to sneak their way into SolarWinds’ software and then from there, got their hands on other companies and government systems that used it. Imagine someone getting the key to your house by sneaking in through a window at the store you got your keys made. This was a wake-up call on just how tricky it is to protect all our internet stuff.

He also touched on the challenge of keeping elections secure. Elections are like the biggest group project in America, and it’s super important that everyone’s vote is counted just like they cast it. Ensuring that no one can mess with this system is like having the best referees for the biggest game of the year.

The talk also covered federal networks, which are like the government’s own collection of websites and systems. It’s crucial that this stuff is locked down so that sensitive information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Just like you wouldn’t want someone snooping through your private messages, the government needs its info kept under wraps.

Now, as we look toward the future, it’s clear that we all need to pay more attention to how we keep our digital stuff safe. That’s where Diversified Outlook Group comes in. They’re a team of experts who can help with these challenges, to make sure your digital diary stays just as private as if it were hidden under your mattress. They understand this stuff and can help navigate the tricky waters of cyber security.

For anyone who’s interested in getting more information or help securing their own digital world, Diversified Outlook Group is just an email away at support@diversifiedoutlookgroup.com.

For the full interview with the expert who shared these highlights, you can visit cyberscoop.com/brandon-wales-reflects-on-20-years-of-cyber-as-he-leaves-cisa/.