Part 9 of 10 Securing Chrome with Joe Alapat

This week’s CIS Benchmarks webinar was packed with valuable insights, thanks to our guest, Joe Alapat , the founder of Liongard . Fresh off Liongard’s first-ever customer conference ROARCon, Joe shared his expertise on how to effectively integrate IT management and cybersecurity, providing a roadmap for organizations looking to strengthen their resilience.

From the Conference Circuit to Cybersecurity Insights

Joe Alapat joined us just days after returning from a trip to Iceland, following Liongard’s successful inaugural customer conference, ROARCon. Despite the whirlwind of events, Joe was eager to dive into the critical topics that every IT professional needs to be thinking about today. He shared his journey, which began over two decades ago in the MSP world, managing IT infrastructure for major clients like Bank of America, Chase, and government entities such as the Department of Defense.

These experiences laid the groundwork for what would become Liongard, a platform that empowers organizations by providing visibility across their entire IT landscape, from the cloud to the endpoint. Joe emphasized how this comprehensive visibility is essential for maintaining security in an increasingly complex digital environment.

The Critical Connection Between IT and Security

One of the central themes of the webinar was the vital connection between IT operations and cybersecurity. Joe emphasized that IT and security are not separate entities but rather two sides of the same coin. Effective IT management inherently involves securing systems, and vice versa. He discussed how this integrated approach is essential for organizations to be resilient against the growing array of cyber threats.

Joe’s insights into this topic were particularly relevant as we discussed the role of Center for Internet Security Controls in creating a secure IT environment. He pointed out that these controls are not just theoretical, they are practical steps that every organization can take to protect their systems. Joe stressed the importance of starting with the basics, such as asset inventory, secure configurations, and vulnerability management, as these foundational steps are crucial for building a resilient IT infrastructure.

The Challenge of Configuration Management

Joe shared his thoughts on one of the biggest challenges organizations face today: configuration drift. As systems evolve and change over time, they can drift away from their original, secure configurations, creating vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. Joe emphasized the need for continuous monitoring and adjustment of configurations to ensure that systems remain secure.

Liongard plays a crucial role in this space by providing continuous visibility into IT environments, helping organizations identify and address configuration drift before it leads to a security incident. This proactive approach is essential for maintaining the integrity of IT systems in a rapidly changing threat landscape.

Joe’s Thoughts on Senteon’s Role in Hardening Security

Throughout the webinar, Joe spoke highly of Senteon Managed Endpoint Hardening ’s approach to security hardening. He praised Senteon’s focus on endpoint hardening and its alignment with CIS Controls, noting that Senteon’s platform effectively addresses one of the most critical aspects of cybersecurity: securing the endpoints. Joe highlighted how Senteon’s capabilities complement the broader visibility and management tools offered by Liongard, creating a comprehensive approach to IT security.

Joe also appreciated the practical and practitioner-friendly nature of CIS Controls, which Senteon implements to ensure that endpoints are hardened according to best practices. He underscored the importance of this alignment, especially in today’s complex IT environments where every layer of security counts.

Meetings, Pitches, and Webinars – The Nonstop Journey

Entrepreneurship is the definition of nonstop, and I’m living proof. Meetings, pitches, webinars... It’s a whirlwind of activity that never seems to pause. Some might say that having additional resources would be life-changing, but right now, I’m embracing the hustle. Every day brings a new opportunity to network and connect with others, which, honestly, is my dream. There’s something energizing about meeting people, exchanging ideas, and building relationships, even if it means I’m bouncing from one meeting to the next with barely a breath in between.

At some point, I might consider putting a buffer between meetings. But for now, I’ve decided against it. Why? Because it’s teaching me invaluable skills in time management and focus. When you don’t have the luxury of extra time, you quickly learn to zero in on what really matters. Even if the entire meeting is just about building a relationship, that matters too. Scheduling more time isn’t a bad thing, it’s a great thing. It forces me to be more deliberate, to keep things concise, and to make every interaction count.

The webinars I’ve started hosting, along with the pre-interviews I conduct behind the scenes, have been particularly enlightening. They’ve not only improved my ability to facilitate these sessions but have also enhanced my approach to general meetings. I’m learning about new topics, discovering what people are passionate about, and getting the chance to highlight those insights through my platform. It’s incredibly rewarding to give credit to friends and colleagues who share their wisdom, and to see those ideas resonate with a broader audience.

And then there’s PitchIT, a whole new level of intensity. The presentations have kicked off, and I decided to go all-in with mine. I took an extreme approach, being completely myself, no formalities, nothing overly polished, just me. It was a bold move, and while I walked away feeling proud, I’m also waiting to see how the panel received it. Time will tell, but either way, I know I stayed true to who I am, and that’s what matters most maybe Sean Lardo has some thoughts!

Time to Strengthen Your IT Resilience

Joe Alapat’s insights underscored a critical message: the need for organizations to take a holistic approach to IT and security. By aligning these functions, continuously managing configurations, and focusing on resilience, businesses can better protect themselves against the growing array of cyber threats.

To hear more of Joe’s expert advice and gain deeper insights into the critical relationship between IT operations and security, be sure to watch the full episode here. Don’t miss out on our upcoming webinars, register now at this link. For a personalized assessment of your current IT security posture, take advantage of our special offer. Sign up with the comment “settings webinar” at Senteon to generate internal and external free reports and start strengthening your security today.