Rooted in Details
When I start my approach to personal cybersecurity I am grounded in details. Deeply understanding my situation, what I am securing/working with, and what are my intended outcomes are mission critical as this sets the tone for the subsequent strategies that will get layered on top. While detail-oriented scrutiny has its merits, my philosophy leans towards a synthesis of this detailed depth as well as simplicity.
The Beauty of Simplicity
While my mindset is deep-rooted in meticulous details, I believe the end goal is to ultimately simplify as much as possible. A complex security strategy can become its own nemesis. Over-complications not only pose managerial challenges but also can introduce unintended weaknesses, inefficiencies & inconveniences. A personal security strategy that emphasizes simplicity while maximizing security tend to be the strongest and easiest to maintain. The saying "Less is more" holds profound truth in cybersecurity. By cleaning up and reducing your own attack surface you gain security through limited scope and obscurity.
Automation: The Unsung Hero
In the pursuit of simplicity, automation emerges as the unsung hero. Automated setups, once correctly implemented, run like well-oiled machines, requiring minimal intervention. They not only eliminate human input but also ensure consistent and timely responses to threats. The idea is to have a strategy so resilient and self-sustaining that once it's set, it requires minimal tweaks and only occasional updating.
Take, for example, this website that you're currently reading this on. It was built with a simple, easy to use wiki service. Easy for me to edit and update wherever I am. I only need to worry about updating and adding content as I wish, as I’ve chosen to completely automate the security side. This website is protected with Cloudflare’s security suite and is passively monitored with Shodan, freeing me from the need of monitoring it myself.
In Stoic Reflection
Like a Stoic, reflecting on life, I view security as a balance between detail and simplicity. Dive deep, understand the nuances, but always rise to the surface with solutions that are straightforward, secure, and resilient. When faced with hardships, having a solid plan will always ensure recovery. With this balance, we not only safeguard our digital lives but also ensure our peace of mind.
