The Small Business

Cyber Security Guy

Welcome to the blog and podcast, where we share brutally honest views, sharp opinions, and lived experience from four decades in the technology trenches. Whether you're here to read or tune in, expect no corporate fluff and no pulled punches.

Everything here is personal. These are my and the team’s thoughts, not those of our employers, clients, or any poor soul professionally tied to me. If you’re offended, take it up with me, not them.

What you’ll get here (and on the podcast):

  • Straight-talking advice for small businesses that want to stay secure

  • Honest takes on cybersecurity trends, IT malpractice, and vendor nonsense

  • The occasional rant — and yes, the occasional expletive

  • War stories from the frontlines (names changed to protect the spectacularly guilty)

I've been doing this for over 40 years. I’ve seen genius, idiocy, and everything in between. Some of it makes headlines, and most of it should.

This blog and the podcast is where we unpack it all. Pull up a chair.

Insider Threat, Podcast, Industry Analysis, Cyber Security for Small Businesses Mauven MacLeod Insider Threat, Podcast, Industry Analysis, Cyber Security for Small Businesses Mauven MacLeod

Confessions of a Reformed School Hacker: How Getting Caught Changed My Career

Curiosity, access, and a careless password shaped my career. At sixteen I learned the simplest attack works best. I watched a teacher type admin123! and saw the whole network open up. No exploits. Just human nature. That is the insider threat in plain sight. People bypass clumsy controls to get work done. Do your policies help or hinder? Make secure the easy path with least privilege, SSO, MFA, logging, and coaching. Treat incidents as data, not drama. Channel curiosity before it goes underground. Would your systems survive a bright teenager with time after school? If not, what will you change this week?

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Industry Analysis, Insider Threat, Podcast Noel Bradford Industry Analysis, Insider Threat, Podcast Noel Bradford

Why Good Employees Make Bad Security Decisions: The Psychology Behind Insider Threats

Security fails when it fights how people work. Most breaches are not villains. They are good staff blocked by bad design. The ICO shows students guessed weak passwords or read them off notes. The lesson is simple. If the secure path is slow, people route around it. Make secure the easy choice. Use single sign on. Use MFA that is one tap. Give safe tools for sharing files. Build trust so people report mistakes. Review real behaviour, not policy fantasy. Do your controls help work or hinder it? If a pupil could beat them before lunch, what would your team do?

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⚠️ Full Disclaimer

This is my personal blog. The views, opinions, and content shared here are mine and mine alone. They do not reflect or represent the views, beliefs, or policies of:

  • My employer

  • Any current or past clients, suppliers, or partners

  • Any other organisation I’m affiliated with in any capacity

Nothing here should be taken as formal advice — legal, technical, financial, or otherwise. If you’re making decisions for your business, always seek professional advice tailored to your situation.

Where I mention products, services, or companies, that’s based purely on my own experience and opinions — I’m not being paid to promote anything. If that ever changes, I’ll make it clear.

In short: This is my personal space to share my personal views. No one else is responsible for what’s written here — so if you have a problem with something, take it up with me, not my employer.