In this podcast, Winkler talks about security and intelligence vulnerabilities companies and public utilities face, and security problems with social networking and how to avoid them. He also comments on Homeland Security's direction to provide all federal employees and federal contractors with a universal personal IT card. Finally, he provides three takeaway CIOs can use for improving their corporate security.

If you think your organization's security measures are bulletproof, then think again. Give Ira Winkler, along with his team of security expert from Internet Security Advisors, a few hours to simulate what it would take insurgents to bring down critical systems, or to electronically pilfer millions of dollars. A former intelligence and security analyst with the National Security Agency, Winkler's security consulting firm, Internet Security Advisors, acts as a trusted partner in helping Fortune 500, public utilities, and government agencies conduct penetration tests. His firm also mitigates the problems found in the simulation, and carries out awareness training.

Winkler's penetration tests run the gamut from breaking into some of the world's largest corporations to breaking into the nation's largest power grid. As a result, the media has given Winkler the title of Modern James Bond. He has put his experience to work in his three books: Spies Among US, Zen and the Art of Information Security, and Corporate Espionage.

Winkler says that he would give a poor rating to the security infrastructure of most Fortune 1000 companies. "Of course, the strength of security varies from company to company. In many cases, the security is so poor that I can walk out of the company with their crown jewels within a few hours. CIOs of these companies have something to worry about, especially now with the economic downturn with most companies."

Bio
Ira Winkler is the founder and president of the Internet Security Advisors Group. Before starting his own security consulting firm, Winkler was director of technology of the National Computer Security Association. He also worked as an intelligence and computer systems analyst at the National Security Agency. He holds two security certifications: CISSP and CISM. Winkler is the author of Spies Among Us, the Art of Information Security, and Corporate Espionage. He also has taught at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland. His security articles frequently appear in magazines and major metropolitan newspapers.

Resources
ResourcesOpinion: Why NSA Spying Puts the U.S. in Danger - Computerworld
The Grill: Security Maven Ira Winkler Takes the Hot Seat - Computerworld

Production Credits
Elizabeth Ferrarini, Executive Producer
Tom Parish, Host and Audio Producer
Audio Editing by Doug Marcis