The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity

Missouri author Christian Espinosa earned his degrees in engineering from the US Air Force Academy and Webster University and is the CEO and Founder of Alpine Security that provides a full spectrum cybersecurity services and training, helping organizations reduce cybersecurity risk and empower cybersecurity professionals with the skills of penetration testing, incident response, risk assessments, and auditing. Christian is also an accomplished mountain climber, scuba diver, skydiver, ultramarathon runner, and Ironman triathlete. Maintaining privacy in the age of internet is a fear we all experience – a conundrum we have created and very much need to know how to protect. Christian is a cybersecuity expert and in this invaluable book he shares his experience and knowledge about dealing with hacking and learning how to prevent it, both in businesses organizations and personally, with the most user-friendly manner of writing. With great skill he shares how to turn this threat and this ‘weakness’ into a strong defense against cyberattacks. Christian’s Secure Methodology involves The Seven Steps - Awareness (of self and others), Mindset (growth and fixed), Acknowledgement, Communication (word choice, tone of voice, body language), Monotasking (focus on one task at a time) Empathy, and Kaizen (continuous improvement). His point – ‘teach your technical staff the people skills they need to know to grow and contribute to the overall betterment of the cybersecurity industry and their lives.’ In closing he states, ‘I’ve always been a believer that if you want the world to get better, you have to get better. Your inner world must improve before the outer world will improve.’ This is an indispensible guide. Very highly recommended. Grady Harp, March 21

The Smartest Person in the Room by Christian Espinosa is a brilliant guide on how to utilize talent within organizations to yield best results. The author guides from experience as throughout his career he worked with highly talented people and from his journey of cybersecurity engineer to a CEO. The book enlists importance of securing cyber ecosystem and protecting data and for this reason it becomes imperative to develop the technical minds within the organization. The author explains how high IQ alone is lost when effective communication, intelligence and confidence is not embraced. This guide helps to turn the tide of unknown weakness to strongest defence. Security and protection of data are most important aspects for a CEO and the organization, this guide is exactly what is needed in the long run. The author from his seven-step methodology and experience from the field moulds the technical minds to excel in their respective roles. I highly recommend this book to construct the smartest team for your business.

In a world where data is easily given out and at the same time easily stolen, we always look to the IT guy to help us with these issues. Reading this book was a good look or idea on how to protect our own data and be mindful of what cybersecurity issues and solutions in layman's terms. This book helps us be more protected and aware on how to protect our data from cyber attacks. It's not just a one person job but a collective approach of everyone doing their due diligence to protect the whole team. Easy to understand and highly relatable book, knowing that it was written by a cybersecurity engineer is a plus since it brings reliability to the course of action and planning in protecting our information in the time of the internet.

If you are a business owner, CEO, or executive, this is the book for you. Christian Espinosa is the Founder and CEO of Alpine Security, as well as a cybersecurity engineer, certified high-performance coach, and professor. In “The Smartest Person in the Room”, the author demonstrates how to use your company's brightest minds to your advantage and theirs. When effective communication, true intelligence, and self-confidence are not embraced, a high IQ becomes a lost superpower. This book is so much more than I expected. It suggests strategies and stories for getting the most out of people and encouraging them to be better leaders. I really liked Christian's point of view, and I highly recommend reading his book.

To be totally honest, I don’t know much about cybersecurity but as soon as I knew this term, I wanted to learn something in order to avoid problems with my personal information such as cyber-attacks which are very common nowadays. What is nice of this book is that it goes into such details that even a beginner can understand it. The explanations provided by the author are simply great and despite the fact that it’s mostly addressed to companies everything can be adapted to personal lives. Let me finish by saying that I plan to read more on this topic and I couldn’t have made a better choice with this first title.

“The smartest person in the room” by Christian Espinosa is a remarkable book on how to implement the right cybersecurity in your company. But even if you don’t own a company or don’t have much to do with cybersecurity, this book is so vast, it will teach you very enriching life lessons. If you are in charge of a company, you will learn how to leverage your employees the right way and get all the potential out of your best minds. With the help of his own experience as an engineer of cybersecurity and CEO of a company, Espinosa has endless amounts of wisdom to offer. And he does this with a simple and a very fundamental 7-step process that will not fail you. I can definitely recommend it!

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity by Christian Espinosa is a guide for businesses in navigating the world of information technology. It seems like IT is the new biggest profession to be in, being highly profitable and in high demand. Unfortunately, my brain doesn’t work in ways that allow me to pursue that path. However, Espinosa’s cybersecurity guide is simple to read, even for the non-IT CEO and business planner-types. It’s a how-to express yourself, if you’re the smartest person in the room. The examples the author gives fit the scenarios well too. And it’s an important topic, with how much information we protect with cybersecurity nowadays.

Christian Espinosa’s The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity, provides a fresh and cutting-edge outlook on the topic of cybersecurity. Drawing on his years of experience in the Air Force, Espinosa covers a wide variety of possible scenarios and the solutions needed to prevent them. I especially appreciated how he broke down the system from the point of the most basic employees to the CEO and how they all play a vital role in the security of an organization. I feel that it is a great read not only for anyone interested in the topic, but also for anyone just wanting to understand the rapidly changing world in which we live.

The Smartest Person in the Room by Christian Espinosa is a book I would read again in the future because it contains very important information and it has taught me a lot. This is a reading that will certainly benefit any company. The author mentions many interesting and essential topics for any business and he shows all his experience in the pages of this book. The author’s perspective is enlightening and also inspiring. Reading this was surely thought provoking. I would recommend everyone interested in cybersecurity to read this book because it is a must read.

"The Smartest Person in the Room" by Christian Espinosa was a very interesting read. I have always known that virtual criminals, or cybercriminals as they are referred to in the book, existed. And I understand that, logically, anyone is susceptible to cybercriminals of all sorts, I have never really thought of myself as a possible target. Espinosa helped me understand that just because I do not see myself as a target does not mean that I still could not become one. He explains where the problem originates, or at least, where it originated. He offers explanations and insights for many different things, and among them is how we are not fully prepared for the cybersecurity breach that could happen at any time. Espinosa also offers past experiences of when he was a professor teaching cybersecurity and using real scenarios he had gone through working as a professional in the field for more than thirty years. It saddened me, but did not surprise me that people do not always want to put in the hard work to learn what actually goes on out there in the real world. I have always been interested in the cyber world and always bow to those who can actually do the job and do it well. I love the fact that he requests for the technical staff to be just a bit more appreciated. I have to agree. The technical staff, in my opinion, do not receive enough credit for what they do. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants some insight into the technical world of cybersecurity or if they just want to gain some knowledge.

Missouri author Christian Espinosa earned his degrees in engineering from the US Air Force Academy and Webster University and is the CEO and Founder of Alpine Security that provides a full spectrum cybersecurity services and training, helping organizations reduce cybersecurity risk and empower cybersecurity professionals with the skills of penetration testing, incident response, risk assessments, and auditing. Christian is also an accomplished mountain climber, scuba diver, skydiver, ultramarathon runner, and Ironman triathlete. Maintaining privacy in the age of internet is a fear we all experience – a conundrum we have created and very much need to know how to protect. Christian is a cybersecuity expert and in this invaluable book he shares his experience and knowledge about dealing with hacking and learning how to prevent it, both in businesses organizations and personally, with the most user-friendly manner of writing. With great skill he shares how to turn this threat and this ‘weakness’ into a strong defense against cyberattacks. Christian’s Secure Methodology involves The Seven Steps - Awareness (of self and others), Mindset (growth and fixed), Acknowledgement, Communication (word choice, tone of voice, body language), Monotasking (focus on one task at a time) Empathy, and Kaizen (continuous improvement). His point – ‘teach your technical staff the people skills they need to know to grow and contribute to the overall betterment of the cybersecurity industry and their lives.’ In closing he states, ‘I’ve always been a believer that if you want the world to get better, you have to get better. Your inner world must improve before the outer world will improve.’ This is an indispensible guide. Very highly recommended. Grady Harp, March 21

The Smartest Person in the Room by Christian Espinosa is a brilliant guide on how to utilize talent within organizations to yield best results. The author guides from experience as throughout his career he worked with highly talented people and from his journey of cybersecurity engineer to a CEO. The book enlists importance of securing cyber ecosystem and protecting data and for this reason it becomes imperative to develop the technical minds within the organization. The author explains how high IQ alone is lost when effective communication, intelligence and confidence is not embraced. This guide helps to turn the tide of unknown weakness to strongest defence. Security and protection of data are most important aspects for a CEO and the organization, this guide is exactly what is needed in the long run. The author from his seven-step methodology and experience from the field moulds the technical minds to excel in their respective roles. I highly recommend this book to construct the smartest team for your business.

In a world where data is easily given out and at the same time easily stolen, we always look to the IT guy to help us with these issues. Reading this book was a good look or idea on how to protect our own data and be mindful of what cybersecurity issues and solutions in layman's terms. This book helps us be more protected and aware on how to protect our data from cyber attacks. It's not just a one person job but a collective approach of everyone doing their due diligence to protect the whole team. Easy to understand and highly relatable book, knowing that it was written by a cybersecurity engineer is a plus since it brings reliability to the course of action and planning in protecting our information in the time of the internet.

If you are a business owner, CEO, or executive, this is the book for you. Christian Espinosa is the Founder and CEO of Alpine Security, as well as a cybersecurity engineer, certified high-performance coach, and professor. In “The Smartest Person in the Room”, the author demonstrates how to use your company's brightest minds to your advantage and theirs. When effective communication, true intelligence, and self-confidence are not embraced, a high IQ becomes a lost superpower. This book is so much more than I expected. It suggests strategies and stories for getting the most out of people and encouraging them to be better leaders. I really liked Christian's point of view, and I highly recommend reading his book.

To be totally honest, I don’t know much about cybersecurity but as soon as I knew this term, I wanted to learn something in order to avoid problems with my personal information such as cyber-attacks which are very common nowadays. What is nice of this book is that it goes into such details that even a beginner can understand it. The explanations provided by the author are simply great and despite the fact that it’s mostly addressed to companies everything can be adapted to personal lives. Let me finish by saying that I plan to read more on this topic and I couldn’t have made a better choice with this first title.

“The smartest person in the room” by Christian Espinosa is a remarkable book on how to implement the right cybersecurity in your company. But even if you don’t own a company or don’t have much to do with cybersecurity, this book is so vast, it will teach you very enriching life lessons. If you are in charge of a company, you will learn how to leverage your employees the right way and get all the potential out of your best minds. With the help of his own experience as an engineer of cybersecurity and CEO of a company, Espinosa has endless amounts of wisdom to offer. And he does this with a simple and a very fundamental 7-step process that will not fail you. I can definitely recommend it!

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity by Christian Espinosa is a guide for businesses in navigating the world of information technology. It seems like IT is the new biggest profession to be in, being highly profitable and in high demand. Unfortunately, my brain doesn’t work in ways that allow me to pursue that path. However, Espinosa’s cybersecurity guide is simple to read, even for the non-IT CEO and business planner-types. It’s a how-to express yourself, if you’re the smartest person in the room. The examples the author gives fit the scenarios well too. And it’s an important topic, with how much information we protect with cybersecurity nowadays.

Christian Espinosa’s The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity, provides a fresh and cutting-edge outlook on the topic of cybersecurity. Drawing on his years of experience in the Air Force, Espinosa covers a wide variety of possible scenarios and the solutions needed to prevent them. I especially appreciated how he broke down the system from the point of the most basic employees to the CEO and how they all play a vital role in the security of an organization. I feel that it is a great read not only for anyone interested in the topic, but also for anyone just wanting to understand the rapidly changing world in which we live.

The Smartest Person in the Room by Christian Espinosa is a book I would read again in the future because it contains very important information and it has taught me a lot. This is a reading that will certainly benefit any company. The author mentions many interesting and essential topics for any business and he shows all his experience in the pages of this book. The author’s perspective is enlightening and also inspiring. Reading this was surely thought provoking. I would recommend everyone interested in cybersecurity to read this book because it is a must read.

"The Smartest Person in the Room" by Christian Espinosa was a very interesting read. I have always known that virtual criminals, or cybercriminals as they are referred to in the book, existed. And I understand that, logically, anyone is susceptible to cybercriminals of all sorts, I have never really thought of myself as a possible target. Espinosa helped me understand that just because I do not see myself as a target does not mean that I still could not become one. He explains where the problem originates, or at least, where it originated. He offers explanations and insights for many different things, and among them is how we are not fully prepared for the cybersecurity breach that could happen at any time. Espinosa also offers past experiences of when he was a professor teaching cybersecurity and using real scenarios he had gone through working as a professional in the field for more than thirty years. It saddened me, but did not surprise me that people do not always want to put in the hard work to learn what actually goes on out there in the real world. I have always been interested in the cyber world and always bow to those who can actually do the job and do it well. I love the fact that he requests for the technical staff to be just a bit more appreciated. I have to agree. The technical staff, in my opinion, do not receive enough credit for what they do. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants some insight into the technical world of cybersecurity or if they just want to gain some knowledge.

This book nails what any cybersecurity professional needs to know. It's not all computers and code. You have to delve into the human element. It is well written, easy to read and understand, and doesn't read like a dry cicso book. The information covers both practical examples as well as the human psychology behind it. Instead of focusing on what is wrong with computer systems, codes, hardware, access points, and the like, the author delves into the psychology of self. How are your people skills? Being able to interact with a client and assuage their needs is more than lines on a paper. The examples given are real world based instead of thrown out like "what if scenarios" in coursework. Methodologies to improve self and taking ownership of your own accountability and actions. The difficulty I can imagine that people in cybersecurity having a growth mindset given how things have always been before, but if they're not willing to grow then the bad guy is going to find a way around their list that they refuse to budge from. Even if you're not in cybersecurity I would recommend this book. While I do plan on getting into the field eventually - right now my current job doing private security can benefit from this book. It will help you be able to handle any scenario you get into if you are willing to grow and learn how to be better, handle things better, and see the big picture instead of your immediate surroundings. Even with all the planning and prep, things can still happen. The author speaks of the Japanese “Kaizen” or “continuous improvement”. The continuous improvement cycle made me think of the OODA (Observe – Orient – Decide – Act.) loop that I use in my field. Identify – Plan – Execute – Review. The tldr of it all is make yourself better, be adaptable, and hope for the best but be prepared for the worst while also continually improving. As I said before, definitely a book that can help anyone – regardless of field.

“The Smartest Person in the Room” is a book about the mindset that Cybersecurity needs to be efficient. I really enjoyed the approach the book has, I was not expecting it. But once I finished the read, I could reflect on the perspective author Christian Espinosa has and realized the human part, the skills, the mind people put into everything they do is key to find success. I also enjoyed this interrogation the author made about whether hiring the brightest people to combat cyberattacks is the best choice for the company. Again, that thinking outside the comfort and the known really changed my view on this topic and in others related to the internet as well.

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity by Christian Espinosa is a fresh look at cyber security within the workplace. It is written specifically and directed towards leadership within companies. Specifically, it is a valuable look and perspective provided to CEO's, COO's, CISO's or those personnel or departments charged with securing the valuable data of its customers. The narrative builds on the reality that customer's data is constantly under seige by cyber thieves. The purpose of unlawfully attaining customer's data is to create dysfunction within the company or simply steal information for nefarious purposes. The author's premise that preventing cyber attacks is a two fold strategy. The first prong of that strategy is to have technological safeguards in place. The other component, and perhaps the most important, is to realize that people are the real issue at hand. The author further adds that the root cause of successful cyber attacks lies at the feet of the cypersecurity staff and their huge egos. Supposedly they think of themselves as the "Smartest Person in the Room" and therefore their ego compromises their ability to communicate with others and consequently prevent cyber problems from being averted. The writing then proceeds to build on this assumption and expounds on a methodology to build on improving the social skills of IT personnel. The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity by Christian Espinosa is a unique approach to addressing the ever present danger of cyber instrusions. The narrative is well-developed and presents to upper management an option that may prove to be the missing component in deflecting and addressing cyper attacks. It is an intriguing and interesting writing that offers an additional component to preventing destructive cyber attacks.

Espinosa apparently runs a cybersecurity business, and at the start of the book he states that we are losing the war against cyber criminals, and something has to be done. So you might think this book is about cybersecurity, right? Well, actually, not really. It is more about how to make a consulting business work. I have run such a business myself, and I can assure anyone reading this review that most of what is written in this book should be essential reading. First, “the smartest person in the room” is not intended as a compliment. This is the employee who thinks he is so smart, and is therefore a real liability. The book is clearly written, it proceeds in an orderly fashion, and it is easy to follow. It also shows many different ways how you can mess up with hiring employees, and remember, many of the messes will be your fault as well as theirs. However, the biggest problem is the employee who does not appreciate the client’s problem. The reason the client has a problem is that something is missing from their understanding. The “know-it-all” is exactly what is not required to address this. So, I think this is an extremely useful book for anyone running or working a consulting business. With the acceptance that this is a limited audience, this is a highly recommended book.

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity by Christian Espinosa is a cybersecurity and IT type of book. It is written by someone who is obviously very well versed in the field as he shares a lot of knowledge about his experiences. I did not necessarily find this book super helpful for me personally. It seems like it is definitely mostly geared to the leadership teams within organizations. I do think it could be very helpful for these targeted people; otherwise, I do not think it is a must read for the general population of readers.

Christian, this is such a great book. I am a Cyber Security Manger and have worked in this space for 20+ years starting out with the Air Force. I’m personable and relatable and bought this book because you wrote it and we used to work together and I thought I might learn something since it has to do with Cyber Security. While reading this book, I found it interesting, but knew it wasn’t about me. I’ve never felt like the Smartest Person in the Room. I work well with others. My employees and mangers like me and I like them, we have good relationships. But then I hit the part about Leetspeak/Geek Speak in the Communications section and I thought, that’s not leetspeak everyone can read the jargon Christian listed here. Can’t they??? That was a bit eye opening. I guess I am getting something out of this book. Monotasking, why do I need this? I’m amazing at multitasking! Well that was a very interesting chapter and made me rethink my work life. Empathy? I have never had a problem identifying people as a computer geek, or a MS exchange guy. Again, wow ok, maybe I do need this book. I am not the smartest person on the room, but I learned a ton from this book and think it will really help me release some of those stereotypes, become more empathetic and not always assume that everyone knows computer jargon. Although I don’t identify with every chapter, it was very interesting and I was more similar than I would have hoped with the “Smartest Person in the Room.” Thanks Christian, great book!

“The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity” is an interesting and useful book written by Christian Espinosa. We live in a highly digitized world and our daily lives develop on the internet and are permanently at risk of a cyberattack. This is particularly worrying for businesses and companies. So, how can Internet users keep-up with this dizzying pace of change, much less the new terminology, cyberattack scenarios, criminal online tricks and related matters? How can we make sense of cybersecurity trends to protect ourselves and our companies? In this great book, the author explains how to organize and implement security strategies by putting the smartest people in our company to work as a team. He states that not only intelligence is important in the prevention of cybercrimes but also effective communication, awareness of our surroundings and our inner selves and continuous improvement. Together with inspiring and insightful reflections and advice, he provides a clear step-by-step method to make the most of the human resources in our businesses.

Christian Espinosa focuses on many aspects of cybersecurity in his book, The Smartest Person in The Room. Directed particularly at organizational leadership, the book touches upon the importance of conversation and communication in preventing virtual attacks on an organization's systems. It impresses the significance of having humble, down-to-earth cybersecurity personnel instead of know-it-alls who are more likely to not realize an attack. Secondly, keeping software, firewalls and other protection updated is very important. Criminals find a way of surpassing or circumventing security fixes to attack valuable data, which can spell doom for any company. This is a very insightful and knowledgable book.

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity by Christian Espinosa The book is divided into 7 parts that describe perfectly well and in a very easy to understand language, the methodology that is needed to secure the cyberspace that a company uses in a daily basis. The points that the author remark are most common things that need to be done by a group where everyone works at the same pace and same objective that is to build a cyber secure space for their work, here one smartest person will be the cause of the breakthrough, the idea is that communication, awareness empathy, mono-tasking and other things described here are the ones that will make this possible and that by improving what happens inside the company the cyberspace will improve too because there will be no gaps for cyber attacks.

In the modern world, technology is always ahead of us. Hence, our responsibility is to ensure that we are protected from network vulnerabilities and attacks to our private information. When I first came over this book, I didn't know what to expect, but I couldn't put it down after going through a few pages. The book is made with high intelligence, expertise, and professionalism; page by page, there is something for you to note down as a helpful tip. Many companies and organizations have always been doing it the wrong way by thinking that hiring the brightest minds will help them overcome all challenges. However, according to Christian Espinosa, that is only partially true as there is more to success than just a high IQ. In the book, the author has provided a seven-step methodology that also incorporates helpful stories from the field that aim to help organizations develop their team's mindset as a way to motivate them to become more efficient in their specialization and become strong leaders. The step-by-step guide is perfectly designed to aid in strengthening the employee skills and enhance effective communication. Cybersecurity is a risk that most people fail to realize and could damage an organization if they get attacked. However, to have a strong cyberattack strategy, it is crucial to put together effective leadership and cybersecurity. The step-by-step guide is all that we need to ensure that our information and data remains secure, but this will only happen if we first change ourselves.

This best seller hooked me completely. I was absorbed in reading it from the very beginning and I did not lose interest when I was about to finish it, this is why I totally recommend reading it and I give it 5 well deserved stars. The author shows how expert he is in the topic just with his narrative and way of communicating with the readers. All the topics developed are very interesting and were added and written with the experience and knowledge of the author. Improving all aspects of my company is a must for me, so reading this book helped me with that and this is something I thank the author for. Totally recommended!

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity by Christian Espinosa is a helpful guide for anyone who is looking to find ways to improve the cybersecurity of their business or even for their own personal lives. The world of the internet is changing all the time, and not always for the better. For every improvement, there is someone who is looking to exploit it for a weakness. That is where cybersecurity comes into play: those super tech-savy individuals who protect your company and your identity from those who are looking to steal. But, many times just having a smart person in this role is not enough. What needs to happen is intelligence along with communication and teamwork, and that is where this book comes into play. Christian does a good job of offering his own insights into these areas as well as giving us personal stories from the field which demonstrate why his tips and tricks should be followed. I think that business owners or any large organization would benefit from this read as it covers many of the bases that need attention if you are to ensure that you, your customers, and your employees are safe when it comes to their online experiences.

Nowadays, businessmen update and adapt their companies to compete in the digital age but at the same time they must deal with Cybersecurity to protect their privacy. “The Smartest Person in the Room” is a concise and useful reading written by Christian Espinosa. He proposes a “Secure Methodology” with seven steps that are backed up with necessary abilities, experiences and stories. Also, he states that the ideal way of solving problems or achieving goals is through a “fluid” communication. All in all, it is a complete and well-explained book with many pieces of advice and tools to apply for any business or company. What I liked the most about it is that the author clearly transmits his experiences making it easier my understanding. I learned a lot, that's why I recommend it.

In a world where technology always seems to be a step ahead of the human mind, there are reasons and benefits for being extra cautious. In this detailed book, the author shares the best ways to stay ahead of the game and protect yourself fully in the event of a cyberattack or form of infiltration. He also includes steps for ensuring that you have the most secure and stable internet fortress possible, and his information seems to be reputable based on his experience working as a cybersecurity engineer and successful CEO. While all the technical information is included and helpful, the author made the language easy to follow and understand even for those of us who have less knowledge in the world of technology, which is something to appreciate.

In cyber security there are huge debates about the latest "Silver bullet" to make everyone secure, the talent shortage and how to make convincing arguments that the board of directors will understand. In The Smartest Person in the Room, Christian Espinosa goes another layer deeper and identifies a potentially terrifying root cause to both of these problems. The problem is us or more specifically the egos of the cyber security experts challenged with the nearly impossible task of keeping out a faceless enemy in a rapidly evolving asymmetric global war. The path to address this difficult to admit root cause is not a new technology or better metrics but personal and cultural change. To accomplish this, Christian Espinosa combines his own experiences working in the cyber security domain with advice from leading experts such as Tony Robbins and the Landmark Forum. The result is the Secure Methodology which seeks to address and continually improve everyone working in cyber security (technical and managerial roles). From my own experience and in light of the portrayal of information security in popular Information Technology Business literature such as Gene Kim's "The Phoenix Project", The Secure Methodology is what the cyber security industry needs to secure business and government networks through real impactful changes; starting with ourselves.

This is a book that is specifically for people that are interested in the subject matter. If you already know things about cybersecurity and how to keep your data safe on the internet, this may not be for you. I feel like it is more suited to business owners or managers, who might need a little more help figuring out logistics on how to stay safe and what to do. The references and things talked about in this book are all over the place, so keep in mind that this book is just as random as it is informative.

This modern world furnishes us with everything we want, inclusively at our doorstep. Every information about the nook and corner of this world has been compactly packed and placed at our fingertips. But as hell and heaven; as evil and the good; this technology not only escalates our knowledge but threatens us at times. “Cybercrime” - the name itself petrifies me as if it carries a monster mask over it. This is one of the biggest threats to the technological world, to everybody, especially for those whose data is kept secure and safe. This book has abundant information. And Christian’s way of explaining the troubles in the cybersecurity system and the ideas and solutions to deal with the same made it much more interesting to read. His confession on the reason for the cybersecurity war failure was quite shocking. I have never read an informative book with this level of comfort and eagerness. Well! It’s worth the read.

In this particular book, Christian Espinosa shows you how to leverage your company's smartest minds to your benefit and theirs. The author is a tremendous leader and visionary. His grasp of the cyber ecosystem and how it impacts our ability to defend our networks and protect our data is truly inspiring. "Developing people skills can be a challenge", however this book will definitely help you to succeed in developing those skills. In this modern world, technology is always ahead of us. In this book,it nails what any cyber security wants to know. It is not based on computers and code. p, its also based on the human element. This book is easy to understand , well written and also easy to understand. This book added so much value from the start to the finish. Very insightful and a must read book. The author informative book taught me about things that I never knew about. I highly recommend this book, to just have and to understand the cyber world slot more clearly. I give this author ✨✨✨✨✨ five stars for this book and it should be a book that is bought to have and read, and understand. Excellent job Christian Espinosa

The smartest person in the room was written by Christian Espinosa, a cybersecurity engineer, certified high-performance coach and professor that invited the reader to the world of cybersecurity, more specific, the newest solution for Cybersecurity. This book got me hooked from the start, the story about Dick Cheney’s heart and the fear he had got me. Espinosa’s writing took me on a journey; the way he made me feel was like if I was having an actual conversation with him. It was amazing. The reading is very interesting, and we get to learn a lot. It also has several steps to make sure readers understand how everything works. What was more interesting to me is how he proves that some personalities are not fit for the positions. That was really interesting. I am very pleased I was able to read this incredible book! I have more understanding of why or how to fix a problem. Highly recommended.

This book takes a deep dive look at cyber security and the use of your IT professionals. The smartest person in the room is a guide to high IQ and intelligence when you embrace the idea that they are a benefit to your organization. This seven step method uses examples and stories to share how successful it can be. Turn your biggest weakness into your best asset. Well written and filled with expert knowledge, this is a must read for the CEO looking to succeed in this complex market.

To be honest as a medical professional, I am fully aware of the power that computer technology can have on a person’s life. I have seen one to many times how it just takes one smart hacker with a trojan horse laced in a link strategically placed in a hospital email which can now allow a virus to attack the hospital records and then BOOM a persons entire personal information is exposed and can be sold on a black market and their entire identity is ruined. So of course I had to read a book that is all about cyberattacks in order to protect myself as well as my patients. Christian Espinosa, author, cybersecurity engineer and CEO, explains how you can help your IT team be smarter and provide the highest level of cybersecurity for your company. He mentions 7 steps for building the most secure internet fortress. My favorite chapters were why are we losing the cybersecurity war? And the Secure methodology and im sure it will be yours as well! This the best read of 2021 for me thus far!

I've just finished reading “The Smartest Person in the Room” and I have to say that this is a great book that highlights a lot of vulnerabilities we have acquired with the internet, the attacks to our privacy, the utter lack of preparation of some companies and the solutions to these problems. This piece of work greatly benefits itself from Christian Espinosa’s experience, guidance and advice. After reading some pages, my first impression was that the author’s writing was absolutely clear and that the whole book is approachable. It is full of excellent concise and clever data to back up the theory. I found myself learning so many things about cyber security that I can’t recommend this masterpiece enough. This is the first time I read a book written by Espinosa, but it will certainly not be the last one.

“The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity,” by Christian Espinosa is an interesting book with a lot of intriguing information, however there was something a bit off-putting about it overall and I can’t quite lay a finger on what precisely it was. I’m leaning a bit toward the tone, I think. It had a bit of a corporate CEO, this person knows better than you and this is the sort of tone which can most certainly be a bit off-putting for someone who is simply trying to learn, grow, and better their business. The information is there, but the style and tone simply wasn’t for me.

I wouldn’t know whether to recommend this book or not. The information is right on spot. The warnings the author makes about the underestimated threat in cybersecurity are legitimate. Nonetheless, the personal life of the author (he reveals some tragic events during his childhood) and his well-admitted thirst for recognition are palpable through the pages, in writing that sounds too condescending towards the reader, and sometimes felt more like bragging about his undeniable achievements. If you can overlook those nuances, the book does offer great info.

A unique viewpoint where one has to improve in emotional intelligence, communication , and other skills rather than a recitation of technical challenges. The problem lies that in enterprise teams with many technical challenges one has to be able to properly assess the situation including when we fail in ourselves. If we really are the smartest person in the room we would know that and make necessary course corrections. But inevitably the Human psyche does not lend itself to self-criticism. Thus I recommend this book to anyone who is in the industry or thinking of entering. The many examples of how to learn more effectively, as well as communicate with others in a team makes for a book that needs to be digested and used as soon as practical.

The book make some good points but the analysis is shallow and does more to promote stereotypes than fix them. He tries to prove that a single stereotype is the failing of cybersecurity, which is far from the truth. I found many areas where the author contradicts himself. Finally, I would find the book more useful and insightful if the author took his own advice. Instead he spends his time in the book and on social media promoting just how smart he is.

If you asked me if CYBERATTACK is a word that makes me shake and tremble, I must say YES! If you also ask me if the matter of cybersecurity makes me stay up all night, I would say OF COURSE YES! I personally believe any manager or business owner may feel the same way. Christian Espinosa, the author of this practical book, understands this complex issue and writes this book to help entrepreneurs turn the tables. This book did not solve all my business problems, but it provided me and my employees with valuable information and knowledge. I consider this reader as a great start to be complemented with a course in the matter.

This is an amazing book that gives great examples of issues and recommendations to improve. The stories are great at explaining what the author is talking about. This book has helped renew my motivation for improvement.

Why aren't we winning the war against cybercrime? Why is cybercrime going to be a mult-TRILLION dollar industry by 2025, according to Cybersecurity Ventures? It's because cybersecurity professionals do not understand how to win hearts and minds for Information Security. Cybersecurity professionals don't get a "seat at the table", which ultimately hurts our companies' security postures. Christian Espinosa, in this well-written and easy-to-read book, explains how cybersecurity professionals can improve their "soft" skills in order to win over other leaders in the business. I highly recommend that any cybersecurity leader, or aspiring leader, read this book from cover-to-cover. Because this war will only be won if EVERYONE fights - from the board to the individual contributor - not just those on the cybersecurity teams.

A timely book on the topic of Cybersecurity, the author takes a look beyond the software towards the people that your company will utilize to manage the technical security of your company and data. Utilizing the secure methodology that encompasses the concepts of awareness, mindset, acknowledgement, communication, monotasking, empathy and kaizen, the author provides a comprehensive plan to better secure your data. I really liked the book; it was easy to read and understand and the graphics were well done and supported the information without becoming overwhelming. This is certainly a book that is important and relevant today.

Just buy the book, you won't regret it.

I have been involved in software development for almost 40 years. Over the past few years I have been fortunate enough to have had Christian Espinosa as a cybersecurity teacher. Not only is he an excellent cybersecurity specialist but he has a very good understanding of people and their relationships. His book helps bring to light major issues that occur if managers, software developers and cybersecurity personnel do not have adequate understanding of what they are trying to communicate to each other. This book brings cybersecurity personal and personnel development into the open so it can be addressed to improve the cybersecurity for all of those involved. If you want your cybersecurity systems to move to a higher level, you need to study this book!

I graduated college with a MIS degree a couple decades ago and one of the handful of classes that I could say that was helpful in my work life was Business Psychology. Understanding your co-workers motivations and adjusting to that is an essential skill and Christian taps into that topic in-depth. There are so many facets to this book that are going to be useful like monotasking (or being present...or mindfulness said a couple of different ways) and shaking the expectations that everyone can multitask. You don't have to be in Cyber Security to take something important from this book. Well done and I plan to re-read this book.

My day-to-day job involves me having a pretty broad knowledge of cybersecurity issues. I wanted to dig deeper, and this book helped me do just that. I love the writer's language and examples throughout the text. This book helped me to have a working and applicable knowledge of cybersecurity in different contexts, and how to be safe with the technology I use daily.

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity by Christian Espinosa focuses on CyberSecurity, but it has many lessons in it that can be used anywhere in IT or business life. I would highly recommend.

An in depth review of Cyber security causes and solutions. An easy read in lightning at times Definitely interesting worth the time of any one concerned about or working in Cyber security. In the digital age that means every one

This book gets straight to the heart of many of the issues that the world suffers, which is pride. The heart attitudes of the “smartest” kill creativity, innovation, and keep the cycle of failure in motion. But the author does provide hope for the reader and provides excellent insight into the solution.

Christian gets to the heart of so many challenges in our cybersecurity culture with leadership at the nexus. Thoroughly enjoying the first half of the book. Will update this post after I finish. But already can recommend this to any new or emerging cyber leader.

WOW!! Amazing book that added so much value from start to finish! If all company’s followed Christians guidance in this book, we would have a more inspired, productive and happy working culture!! This should be a guide book for not only cyber security, but across all industry’s. Thank you for writing this extremely valuable book!

I love the theme of this book, that even though one has a high IQ, if they don't know how to implement it to achieve your true potential. I am happy to know about this wonderful concept and hopefully I can implement it in my life.

Very insightful. It's written in a very engaging way. Perfect blend between personal development and cyber security. I highly recommend it.

Cheap for a dollar but but super insightful or practical. The author likes Tony Robbins with is an awful sign

The Smartest Person in the Room is a cybersecurity book written by a CEO and intended for senior leadership within organizations. The basic premise is to expect your company to be under attack at any given time as thieves seek to steal customer/client data. The he proceeds to breakdown what to do about it by harnessing (channeling?) the best and brightest working for you to stop them. The chapters are broken up into doable tasks for a CEO/CTO to use as a blueprint toward securing their data and preventing the more destructive cyberattacks. Definitely geared more toward senior management; although good info for those at the middle management levels as well. For small business owners, this might be a bit much, but then again, as cyberattacks grow more sophisticated, maybe not.

The Smartest Person in the Room by Christian Espinosa is a great cybersecurity book that really breaks down what is needed to improve cybersecurity in all of its forms, but most importantly looks at the human element and day to day interaction in the business realm. The book introduces us to the Secure Methodolgy- with the following fundamentals: awareness, mindset, acknowledgment, communication, monotasking, empathy, and finally, Kaizen. This is truly a step by step guide that shows business leaders how to effectively create a successful business atmosphere that not only focuses on security but people as well. There are great stories and examples here that validate and prove the author's premise. Highly recommend for a positive and timely business book for leaders in business.

This book was a pleasure to read. It has a great flow and valuable information for personal growth. As we become more technical we loose the people skills needed to be effective humans. Nerd talk is awesome but it's not fun for non-technical people. Not only does this book give you valuable information, it has plenty of references for further reading.

Love this book. I did learn a lot and improved some of my skills.

While I do not have much knowledge in the area of cyber security, this book is quite interesting and informative! Christian Espinosa addresses how easy it is to obtain certification as a cyber security expert, which is something I was unaware of. The book discusses the problem of quality workers employed as cyber security experts. This issue exasperates the problem when under qualified people in management positions don’t want to hire employees they think might be smarter than themselves. The goal is to not being “the smartest person in the room,” and to instead unify by recognizing similarities. This book focuses on targeting and improving people skills, over “silver bullet” technology to solve problems. There is encouragement for technical staff to thrive, which will in turn better protect data.

Motivational I attended my fair share of motivational seminars during my working life to see one when I hit one. As it turned out, this book is as much about personal growth as it is about cybersecurity. Espinosa correctly points out that the smartest person in the room is the one who knows he isn’t. To use one of the author’s analogies from the Matrix.... Neo’s choice is not just what color pill to take but the realisation that the effects will wear off almost instantaneously. Trying to build more fulfilled and meaningful working lives might be the only thing that keeps us ahead of the Matrix. What would be interesting to see is whether the other side makes a similar claim.

I've been in the cybersecurity industry for a little over five years now and I'm glad Christian wrote this book. Every day, I see the same struggle and the same problems within the industry. Christian provides a fresh new perspective that all IT managers and leaders around our country need to learn. We are losing the war on cybersecurity and will continue to do so unless we have a fundamental shift in the way we hire and train our employees. This book is perfect and the applications of this book go beyond cybersecurity. If you lead a technical team, you must read this book! It will change the way you work with your team and it will drastically increase team's ability to work together.

Coming from a non security background, Chris helps simplify the essence of security which is more business and people centric than many will have you know. A fascinating look behind the curtains of why we are losing the war on cyber security and what we can do about it. If you want to help be the change, read this book now! We are stronger together 🤜🏼🤛🏽

Great eye opening book

One of the biggest barriers to progress is a lack of communication between technical people and decision makers. In this new book, Christian lays out a common-sense approach to address this problem. Solving the toughest technical challenges requires leveraging your company's smartest minds for their benefit and the organizations. This book helps business managers tap into their organization’s smartest people so they become better humans, stronger communicators, and ultimately more successful leaders.

This book is out of touch with reality. Any real information security professional would tell you the ideas put forth by this book will not work in real life. There are 1M other books that can provide actual value to read before this one.

Excellent Read! Are you starting a Security Team? How about trying to improve the existing one? Read this.

This book is good for people that want to learn about the 7-step SECURE methodology. The book is actually more about people than about tech. That was actually a surprise for me.

The author is a cybersecurity expert, and he starts his book by stating that cybercriminals are winning based on the number of security breaches that happen every day. And then, he tackles the questions: why and what can be done about it. The author is a straight shooter. He does not sugar coat. He states that the fear of judgment prevents many technical folks from communicating effectively at work. He asserts that universities are not interested in real cybersecurity; they teach academic cybersecurity rather than practical cybersecurity. Then he presents his Secure Methodology, a step-by-step guide designed to show you exactly how to boost people skills and ability to communicate effectively. He presents five controls that reduce cyber attacks by 85%. This book is as much about leadership as cybersecurity. The employees need to buy into the ecosystem, which cannot happen without leadership that inspires them to do so. The author purposely blurs the lines between personal development and cybersecurity because for cybersecurity to get better, each person has to get better. This book is an interesting, thought-provoking read.

The book starts off on a very powerful note, "You are surrounded by invisible thieves who want to break in and steal from you - they're called cyber criminals." And the author goes on to say that the methods to combat cybercriminals are failing because Cybersecurity is a support industry, and a lot of professionals in the industry tend to forget that. it’s the people and their egos at the nexus of the industry’s failings, not the other way around." This is a very well thought out analysis of the cybersecurity problem that confronts our world. The author then presents the Secure Methodology, a step-by-step guide designed to combat cyber crime and demonstrates exactly how to boost a company or institution's technical staff ’s people skills in order to have open, honest, and effective communication. When the communication within an organization is augmented, it will be better equipped to win the cybersecurity war because everyone will be on the same page and working together to fight cybercrime. A terrific and interesting read. Highly recommended.

I will start by saying that I have had the great experience of having the author as an instructor on two occasions and I would gladly go back for another round or two. This book drives home a methodology that stands out not just because it is about cybersecurity, but because it can (and should) be applied to many things in life. Leading through self-assessment, self awareness, and with compassion can and does help you hire (love that section!) and GROW the talent in your organization through, very simply, being present in the growth, appreciation and care for your team of talent. This is one that I will read over and over, and very likely give to friends and co-workers across time, too. Easy to read and digest, along with great examples of how to put the 7 Step Methodology into action.

The "Smartest Person in the Room" reveals the vulnerabilities that every business and person faces when we unknowingly open the door to cyber attackers. Whether through phishing, social engineering or other means, access to our personal data is constantly in danger. Christian Espinosa unveils the hard-hitting truth and bad practices that companies face when they hire inexperienced and ego-centric cybersecurity staff to protect their company's information. Espinosa provides great detail from experience, research and customer incidents, that technical skills alone, are not enough to protect sensitive and personal data. A cyber communications plan across all levels and training staff is the best approach to ward off cyber attacks. This is a must read for corporations, small businesses, startups and anyone that wishes to protect their data.

Cybersecurity is one of the most impactful risks we, as individuals and as a Nation, face. This is a war we cannot afford to lose. Collaboration, leadership, teamwork all require effective communication and trust. Christian’s book is an expertly crafted introspective on the deleterious effects of ego on progress. We have all experienced the “smartest person in the room”, perhaps having indulged ourselves occasionally with the self-proclaimed title. Retrospectively, meeting effectiveness and resulting decisions were never best served under those conditions. Leaders should be served...dictatorship not so much. Christian provides both experiential and referential background on “how” we should build our behaviors for purposeful business and personal relationships. An excellent read for leaders in life and industry.

This was not the book I was expecting but in a very good way. I was expecting this book to be very tech-focused and recommending standardized protocols and such. While there are elements of tech focus here, the majority of emphasis is building a better IT person. I was shocked to learn that more hours of training and experience are required from barbers and hairdressers than are required of cyber security professionals. This book seeks to build the ultimate cyber security people by rebuilding them from the inside out, from a mental, emotional, personal esteem level. It is a fascinating, informative read. Well done.

This book provides us with expert advice on how to maximize potential of cybersecurity teams, through people leadership and efficiency of communication. The author comes from an impressive background building out his own company, and shares personal accounts which help legitimize his claims and support his themes. It is abundantly clear he has learned through the years and has the bumps and bruises to show. I would recommend this read to every CISO, Director, Manager, or Team Lead in the cybersecurity industry. It doesn't matter if you're coming from a consultancy, vendor, f500, startup, or anything between -- This will add value.

I've known Christian Espinosa for over 18 and had the pleasure to work with him for 4 of them. He is truly an SME in the Cyber Security world and has been a great friend over the years. This book is written very well and I like the fact that it takes a look at the inner self of the individual rather than a "How To" guide. I do hope that Christian continues to publish more books as this was a great read. Paul Avila - Business Solutions Engineering Manager - SAIC

I am not a novice when it comes to cyber security, but I am not an expert either. This book provides a brilliant insight into the world of of cyber security and its many challenges. Christian’s vast knowledge and expertise are evident throughout the book while delivering the kind of information that can only be gained through extensive research and experience. This book has been a welcome distraction and insightful adventure in a world that’s seems to be progressing faster than one can keep up.

Why are we losing in the battle of cybersecurity? This book nails it and hits on all of the major topics that you need t okno! I fully embrace Kaizen and the methods discussed. This book has set up up for success in my current and future roles and brought such a great perspective that I feel prepared for the fight. The author is a USAF Veteran is well, thanks for your service and proud to support!

If you are a Cyber Security Manager and have anxiety over the job and the next attack and if you will be ready, then you need to read this book! It will help guide you and your technical team in positive ways and help to ensure the protection of your company from cyber attacks. Thanks to the author for opening up personally which put a good perspective on roles within the IT security environment!

As a cyber security analyst myself, securing my clients networks are top of mind every day. Breaking into those networks are top of mind of their adversaries as well. I think this book really gave a great step by step resource for the novice and the cybersecurity pros out there. Very well written and thought out. Great read!

Christian is a compelling leader and mentor regardless of the field. In this book, he has brought his leadership and charisma to the challenges of cybersecurity. This is really a book about becoming a better human being and pulls a lot from the author's experience and cybersecurity career. If you are a leader in the cybersecurity, or other technical field, this book is for you.

Christian provides a unique perspective and compelling suggestions using his Secure Methodology on how to better leverage talent that already exists within your cybersecurity organization. If you want to make sure you are doing all you can to protect your company from cybercriminals, read this book! This book will help guide your technical team to ensure the protection of your company from cyberattacks.

Well done! This book is applicable not only to managers with cybersecurity experts, but any leader that wants to improve his/her team's customer service and internal effectiveness. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't filled with technical terms and jargon but contained stories and examples that supported a well thought out Methodology to promote employee growth.

This book really hits home as its given me a lot of insight into some of the challenges working in cybersecurity, as well as, some of the shortcomings that those of us in this field tend to experience. I recommend this to anyone seeking to grow both personally and professionally. This has basically kicked off my own journey into becoming a more growth oriented individual.

This is a bit autobiographical process of gaining maturity in security. The weakest and most important part of security is the human element. The security specialist needs an understanding of the human nature about the potential attackers as well as security employees. The book is lucid, well written, and accessible to a broad audience.

A great read for anyone, not just those that are in the cyber security field. Christian is a cyber security expert, highly respected in his field, and his technical knowledge shines through. He also provides multi-layered insights in to the human mind, insights that all professionals can benefit from.

Christian Espinosa provides a unique perspective and compelling suggestions using his Secure Methodology on how to better leverage talent that already exists within your cybersecurity organization. If you want to make sure you are doing all you can to protect your company from cybercriminals, read this book, you won’t be sorry!

I was expecting this book to be technical, yet it is really a personal development book, focused on the author’s experience in cybersecurity and what he feels is preventing us from keeping data secure. I found the book to be entertaining, enlightening, and relevant.

Christian does an outstanding job of providing a unique perspective on the best way to secure our networks using his Secure Methodology. I am definitely adopting his methodology and making “The Smartest Person in the Room” a must read for all of my managers and technical leads.

I've know Christian for over a year now and he has a unique skillset combining his leadership experience serving in the military with his cybersecurity experience. He's a great person to learn from if you are in a technical field and want to improve your leadership skills.

Christian Espinosa provides a unique perspective and compelling suggestions using his Secure Methodology on how to better leverage your organization’s current talent to improve cyber security. If you want to harness your workforce potential to protect your company from cyber criminals, this book is for you.

Christian uses stories from his life as a cybersecurity leader to come up with a 7 Step Methodology to help teams win the cyber war that is being fought day in and day out. "Ego is not your amigo"!

A really good book that teaches the reader how to be cognizant of the threats of the digital world we live in today. A great book to pick up and read.

I can’t imagine any business leader in the world today not having at least a little anxiety over cybersecurity. This book helps you guide your technical team to ensure the protection of your company from cyberattacks.

The Smartest Person in the Room is well-organized, thoughtful, and practical in our SaaS/Cloud tech world. The illustrations and examples aligned well with the topics, and the book was very easy to follow. Recommend!

Very good book!! I’ve read it 3 times! Love it!!

This is a fascinating read that really highlights the challenges in the cyber world!!

"The smartest person in the room" is a great book that explains in detail one of the newest threats society has been dealing with for a while now: Cybercrime. Christian Espinosa teaches that the main reason for cybersecurity flaws is the lack of communication skills, rather than obsolete technology. Personally, I enjoyed this book because it is written for every kind of person. Christian, with his many years of experience in cybersecurity, allows understanding this complicated issue and explains, based on a detailed step-by-step methodology, how it's possible to improve the security levels in different kinds of institutions or personal devices. Definitely recommended.

A very well written and in-depth understanding of the cyber ecosystem and how important it is in a business, at the same time, how one can leverage this to their advantage by maximizing the use of its benefits which not only meant developing your cybertechnology but improving its use by utilizing and developing your technical teams as a leader. Highly recommending this book because it is very beneficial and educational in more ways than one, not only in cybersecurity but in leadership and human intelligence as well.

But that is a good thing to say, I guess. The truth is that this content is pretty eye-opener, if you are like me, a bit oblivious of these things. My thought was, well, I don't take nudes, and why would anyone want to know what my last email was about? But then I remembered that my bank is online, that I now pay for my coffee with my phone, and, well, I read this book. It contains really solid advice that we would do well to take into consideration. It is aimed at companies and groups that rely on the cloud for their services. It is, however, also aimed to awaken us to the realities of our cyber world and also provide advice on how to keep ourselves with peace of mind.

I have a background in IT and I work as a web designer full-time. One of the integral aspects of my practice is cybersecurity as I have to ensure my clients’ websites are secure from data breaches. Since taking a role more oriented towards leadership than technical responsibilities, I have been reading a couple of cyber-related books to expound my leadership skills. I have been reading “The Smartest Person in the Room” by Christian Espinosa and it has been a rich resource for the cyber ecosystem field. I agree with the author that most people in the Cyber Space are cornered to a cave of duality; 0s and 1s. Their social skills aren’t any better, they only see Black or White! You will find most of them, just like Doug from the book, striving to be the smartest people in the room. They inhibit the growth of others, scarcely share their skills, and always keep to themselves due to poor communication/social skills. In my years of experience in the IT and Cybersecurity ecosystems, I can agree that communication skills are integral in fighting these virtual thieves. And whereas I may not be a renowned individual in this field, the author is certainly is; Cybersecurity training with Air Force, 6 years active duty with Air Force, contracts with Air Force and Homeland Security, Vice President Position, 2 years cybersecurity professor among others! I believe these factors are the key to why he can explore such a wide array of cybersecurity issues (be it social, technical, or leadership) with utmost proficiency. Most people believe that secure clouds, AI-Based security devices, and next-generation firewalls are the answer to data breaches. But as we can all agree, new breaches continue occurring daily. Why? Because there is more than meets the eye. It is not just about accreditation or certifications, nor is it just about the papers. It takes more than that, and this book has opened a new world of possibilities in my mind that I am going to experiment in my workplace. Without a doubt, I will urge other directors and leaders in our department to read the book so that we can apply these possibilities in a department-wide manner.

The book is amazing and unique in its own way. The author Christian stepped up from conventional writing and presents his ideas pragmatically. I have never gone through this kind of informative and simple read. Usually, a book with this type of information makes the reader distracted while reading and gets boring quickly. But this makes me stick to the book as the narration flows nicely. The book narrates some of the personal life experience of Christian, and I believe it is worth reading even if you are not in the IT field. Everyone has something to learn and is presented the complex theories in a simple manner. It critically discusses the knowledge gap of cybersecurity, the discords between the employer’s expectations and employee’s output, and the disparities between qualified and fit. I recommend this book for those who are interested in becoming entrepreneurs and those who are seeking knowledge related to cybercrimes, motivation at work, and business management. Honestly, this is for everyone…

I'm launching a new business in 2022 and I didn't really know much about cyber security. I know it's super important, because everything is online these days, but it's just not something that I ever learned or even had the opportunity to be taught. This book finally shed some light on the mystery. It's still not my wheelhouse, but at least it's not just gibberish anymore. I'll be keeping the book for reference as I set up my website. I know I'll need to constantly refer back to provide the best, most secure site I can.

The Smartest Person in the Room is a book about cyber security. The author explains how easy it is to become a technician and that these individuals aren't fully qualified to be securing a person's data. This book can also qualify as a personal self-help book. It also provides ideas to business owners on how to motivate their staff members. This is an excellent book for business owners.

Not having a solid strategy to address your organization's cybersecurity threat potential is the kiss of death for any company. Buying a solution that isn't the best fit to meet your specific data protection and employee awareness training requirements is even worse. What you need is a business strategy that makes sense and will ensure that both are accomplished. The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity by Christian Espinosa shows you ‘how to leverage your company’s smartest minds to your benefit and theirs. Learn from Christian’s own journey from cybersecurity engineer to company CEO. He describes why a high IQ is a lost superpower when effective communication, true intelligence, and self-confidence are not embraced. With his seven-step methodology and stories from the field, Christian helps you develop your team’s technical minds so they become better humans and strong leaders who excel in every role. This book provides you with an enlightening perspective of how to turn your biggest unknown weakness into your strongest defense.’ Highly recommended.

‘The Smartest Person in the Room’ is a unique approach to cyber protection in the everyday workplace. Written by Christian Espinosa, this informative book offers practical advice to help improve cybersecurity, work interactions, and leadership abilities. It also raises the possibility that technical personnel who fall short of the necessary expertise are responsible for any hacking issues. What's superb is that Espinosa does not simply outline some problems to fix; he goes into great depth about each one. He created the Safe Methodology, which consists of seven procedures while examining the network overall. It is a must-read for everyone out there!

Cyberattack is a potential risk for the majority of the companies and people actually. Christian Espinosa is founder and CEO of Alpine Security and cybersecurity engineer, among other interesting things I read in his description. In his book, The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity, he tells and provides through his experience a seven-step guide on cybersecurity. This book is about much more than cybersecurity. It talks about organization, team mentality and how to use it to reach success. I found it very interesting and I agree with the idea that the smartest person in the room can be a great advantage or his ego can overwhelm him. In my opinion, it is a book full of teachings and important advice. I truly recommend it to everyone. It can help us to be better in our personal life and to improve our business.

People from every walk of life can benefit from Christian Espinosa's book, The Smartest Person in the Room. He breaks down the root cause and new solutions for Cyber security. Businesses could use this to strengthen what they already have, and individuals would profit by taking stock in how their personal data is being stolen without them even knowing. It is a war, and the author gives you the latest information out there so you can fortify your security. The Smartest Person in the Room begins with Christian Espinosa's personal testimony and need for security in his life and personal growth. This book focuses greatly on working together to ensure the security needed in a business and communicating the needs of individuals. I felt this book was just as much about personal development as it was about protecting yourself and your business from cyber wars. My favorite part of the book was on monotasking.

The Smartest Person in the Room by Christian Espinosa takes a look at what is a very scary word in today's businesses - cyberattacks. If you and your business don't have the right kind of cybersecurity, then you leave yourself open to a devastating cyberattack and can put your customer's information at risk. The author himself went from a cybersecurity engineer to company CEO and uses his experience to help others using his seven step methodology. This book was easy to read and included some very good information.

From my point of view The Smartest Person in the Room by Christian Espinosa is one of his best works. I've been following him for a while now as I want to become a coach. He knows a lot and also knows how to download that information and make it understandable. In my opinion, this is a very important point to take into consideration as sometimes, not everybody can easily understand technical and specific language. Moreover, he has great insights not only for this field but for every topic that he develops. In this book I was able to enjoy an aspect of corporation management I wasn't aware of. I believe this is due to Espinosa's amazing knowledge of many fields that merge in this wonderful book. He establishes the human aspect of companies in the center of the matter, he highlights the importance of weakness as a starting point to excellence. And, last but not least, he develops strategies and techniques for companies to reach the best out of the elements they have. I recommend this book not only to business or company owners, I also recommend it to every person who wants to improve their leadership skills.

This book is entirely dedicated to the world of cybersecurity and cyberattack. The first thing that caught my attention is the fact that the author doesn’t focus on explaining the best ways of protecting data from hackers, but on the idea that any confident technician in the company can become the best option to develop and put into practice an effective and successful structure of cybersecurity. I am really interested in all the things related to technology and I read a lot about the subject. I can say that this book is one of a kind and it is fantastic. The author is an engineer and CEO with a vast experience in the matter, this can be clearly seen in every page of this book as he shares methods, tips and experiences

In the past when we thought about security, we would mainly consider locked doors and closed windows. Now, security threats have evolved and we have to be wary about personal privacy and data protection. Christian Espinoza, has presented some insightful information about cybersecurity. Espinoza suggests that all technical staff in an organization should adjust their way of thinking and lead using total intelligence, which is “the ability to lead with. your head, your heart, and your body.” This holistic approach can be achieved by following the guidelines in The Secure Methodology. This methodology outlines seven steps technical staff can develop to improve their communication and understanding. Of all the steps presented, I particularly like the chapter on Awareness. When a person knows where their blindspots are, they can change their mode of thinking to promote personal growth and development. The book isn’t mainly about cybersecurity, it presents solutions on how to make well-educated decisions. A mindset change can influence a person's ability to solve problems. Espinoza has given several tips and tricks on how to develop a growth mindset. I did not anticipate that a book I perceived to be about cybersecurity would be as impactful as this one. I recommend this for business professionals who want a different view on motivation, personal and professional growth.

The smartest person in the room is a self-help book about Cybersecurity. The book intentionally makes you completely aware of how valuable it is for CEO’s to focus on the data of their client/customers. The book also discusses how to improve on building solid IT personnel and how to prevent cyberattacks. The literature is friendly, and it isn’t too hard to understand the concept. The author knows what he is talking about, and this provided added confidence to the premise. I recommend this book to business owners and those in cybersecurity.

The smartest person in the room is a self-help book about Cybersecurity. The book intentionally makes you completely aware of how valuable it is for CEO’s to focus on the data of their client/customers. The book also discusses how to improve on building solid IT personnel and how to prevent cyberattacks. The literature is friendly, and it isn’t too hard to understand the concept. The author knows what he is talking about, and this provided added confidence to the premise. I recommend this book to business owners and those in cybersecurity.

If you work with computers professionally, this book is a must-read. The book is written for tech company leaders but anyone working in web/programming space would benefit from reading this treatise. It is well-written and lays out important concepts clearly, concisely, and in a way that makes them actionable. If you are looking to up you cybersecurity game, this is a great book to pick up. It is well-written and will help you think in a more systematic way about the cybersecurity of your company.

In The Smartest Person in the Room, author Espinosa enlightens us on cyberattacks and what means for companies and CEOs. He offers a seven-step methodology called The secure methodology overview and stories from the field of IT which companies can follow if they want to take their businesses to their highest level. According to him, the biggest unknown weakness can become the strongest defense. I recommend this book loaded with first-hand precious information not only to companies, but also to individuals who care for their cyber security. I guess that in 2022 we should all be somehow acquainted with what is or may be going on in cyberspace. Totally recommended!

Big, and not-so-big companies these days really need to worry about possible cyberattacks, security breaches and various cybercriminals lurking in the background. This book offers some solutions to those problems, but more than solutions the author actually offers a way of thinking and mindset which can help in preventing dangers like those. The writing isn't too complex or technical, and that is a smart decision because in my opinion most of the CEOs and other readers that this book is aimed at aren't necessarily proficient in cyber-language and security topics. If you are looking for a cybersecurity guide with an emphasis on the human factor, this is just for you.

“The Smartest Person in the Room” by Christian Espinosa delves with valuable topics of Cybersecurity. This visionary author identifies the root cause of the industry’s failings, and the open communication is proposed as the key for the solution. In fact, he deepens in soft people skills, such as empathy, active listening, vulnerability, and trust. Through all the chapters, Espinosa manages to keep his narrative straightforward and his writing really clear, so the book is comprehensible for the aimed readers: company executives or corporate leaders but also technical employees. The information provided is practical and useful for those readers. The Secure Methodology that is introduced has seven tangible steps, each of them leading to a more meaningful contribution in the cybersecurity industry. Moreover, concrete activities can be found throughout the book, to develop the needed skills to win the cybersecurity war. All in all, this is a helpful, enlightening and interesting read.

"The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity" by Christian Espinosa takes the reader into life behind the computer screen as well as the working world. Written with a focus on departments that need to secure sensitive data, this book has info even personal computer users can appreciate. In short, our behaviors need to change in the new world of cyber-everything. For cybersecurity to work as it is supposed to, we have to implement it well, which, surprisingly, doesn't start in the computer. It starts by training your company to be cognizant of their behaviors through ideal leadership methods.

Wow! I am amazed by this book! Espinosa integrates many concepts into a simple, straightforward, and easy-to-understand approach. The book is well-written and is great to read. Espinosa doesn't just list out steps, he adds personal stories, humor, activities, and interesting facts. This book has changed my life for the better. I feel I was half asleep (living in the Matrix, as Espinosa says) before reading this book. I cannot recommend this book enough! This book is your Red Pill!"

I really enjoyed reading this book. It holds so much information and it was easy to read and understand. I would recommend this book to anyone struggling with life, or someone who is trying to figure out what they want to do with their future.

I must say - not what I expected. I thought this would be more technically focused - on cybersecurity solutions. I was pleasantly surprised that this book took a different, non-status quo, approach to why we are losing the cyberwar. After reading the book, it's clear - it isn't a lack of tech or process - the root of the cyber issue is the people. We need to address intellectual bullying at the core and non-existent EQ skills, so we can actually stop cybercriminals. As a CISO myself, I thought this book was spot on and made me aware of many of the ways I contributed to the challenges in cybersecurity. If you're a cybersecurity leader, this book is a must-read. Don't just add it to your list - actually read it and take the time to reflect on the material.

"The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity" is a compelling book written by Christian Espinosa. In it the author helps readers to discover what are the weaknesses in any company to avoid cyber-attacks. With a total of almost 250 pages, Christian Espinosa shows readers how to harness the smartest minds in your company to become better humans and strong leaders who stand out. In my opinion, the images and graphics used in this book are essential to present the information to the reader in a clear and precise way. I strongly recommend this book to everyone who is interested in how to defend themselves from cyber-attack.

Decided to pick this up as I'm currently in school to be in Cybersecurity. I really liked how the author used language that non-technical people can easily understand. Usually reading books in this field authors tend to use language that only people in the field would understand. I recommend this book for all cybersecurity students and anyone interested in the field of cybersecurity.

The Smartest Person in the Room. Christian Espinosa is the Founder and CEO of Alpine Security, a cybersecurity engineer, certified high-performance coach, professor, and lover of heavy metal music. He’s also an Air Force veteran and Ironman triathlete. He used to value being the smartest guy in the room, only to realize that his greatest contribution to the fight against cybercrime is his ability to bring awareness to the issue through effective communication. Christian has a three-decade career in cybersecurity, is a speaker, coach, and trainer in the Secure Methodology, helping to make the smartest people in the room the best leaders in the field. The Smartest Person in the Room will help teach you and your technical staff the people skills, life skills, and basic methodology needed to succeed in your jobs and beat cybercriminals. This book will help you and your team to identify underlying issues and insecurities that keep them from thriving in the workplace, at home, and in day-to-day life. If your technical staff isn’t thriving in the workplace, your data is at risk. He believes that if you want the world to get better, you have to get better. Your inner world must improve before the outer world will improve. Secure Methodology will almost in every business that has a team of technical employees, contribute to the problems within the cybersecurity industry. Poor communication skills are one of the reasons your data is stolen, and not your lack of cutting-edge technology. So what’s the solution? How can you protect yourself? To strengthen our communication skills, we can use the method which includes seven different steps. An overview of each of them is given in this book. This book isn’t just for company executives and technical leaders; it’s also for people on the front lines of the cyberwar. If you are a technical employee, currently struggling to take your career to the next level, this book is for you, too. It will show how you can enhance your people and life skills so you’re happier, satisfied, and more fulfilled, both at work and at home. We are all fighting an internal war started by our own egos. Our insecurities stem from thoughts like, Am I good enough? Do I matter? What if I look stupid? What will everyone think? We can resolve these insecurities by growing internally and dissolving the ego, but until we do, we cannot effectively fight the cybersecurity. Secure Methodology is a step-by-step guide designed to show you exactly how to jump-start your technical staff’s people skills in order to have open, honest, and effective communication. This is a book about people skills and life skills, but it isn’t a book about resolving past traumas or psychology. Christian is a certified NLP practitioner, Time Line Therapy practitioner, and a Certified High Performance Coach (CHPC). He helps you to explore some of those theories and practices within the contents of this book, as a proponent of NLP presuppositions (beliefs); where relevant, these will be discussed at a very high level throughout this book. The so-called talent shortage exists because our technical hiring managers aren’t hiring qualified candidates. They wanted the academic cybersecurity degree. Cybersecurity in practice—or their ideas about cybersecurity are far removed from the reality. Tailored solutions to meet their clients’ requirements is gold. How likely is something going to happen (probability) and what’s the consequence (impact) if it does? If you don’t understand risk, how can you know what to protect? And without knowing what to protect, how can you do great work? If we can find, train, and retain the right talent, we can end this vicious, ineffective spiral. How to find the right people or teach the ones you have? These are Alpine Security’s core values and what they look for when considering whom to hire: Think flexibly to solve problems. Find the opportunity in every situation. Listen carefully, respond clearly. Grow beyond your comfort zone, obsess over critical details, own the problem, find the solution. Learn fast. Christian gives so many tips and tricks to form high performance habits. Scarlett Jensen 22 December 2021

This book was a great read, and one I would highly recommend to anyone – even if you’re not the “smartest person in the room.” Every chapter outlined something I could apply in my own professional life, and for that that I appreciate this book and the author. I’m definitely reserving a place on my bookshelf for this, so I can refer back to it for a dose of positivity and insight.