Ghostscale

What a great event at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee! DJ Vogel from Ghostscale moderated the Midwest Cyber Security Alliance “Inside #Cybersecurity” panel last week, and it delivered genuine conversation about what it will take to inspire the next generation. Jennifer Urban from Foley & Lardner LLP helped kick off our amazing lineup of panelists: 🛡️ Siva Balu from Quartz Health Solutions 🛡️ Aaron Hurt from Summit Credit Union 🛡️ Andrea Kittelson from HealthEquity They didn’t sugarcoat it. Career paths aren’t always linear. Building strong teams can be messy. The lessons that stick are usually the ones that hurt first. That’s the kind of honesty that actually helps people, and it resonated with the experienced professionals in the crowd. The students showed up with insightful questions and perspectives that made everyone think differently, which is exactly why these events matter. Their curiosity gives us confidence that the field is headed in the right direction. Thanks to the Midwest Cyber Security Alliance for organizing and UWM School of Information Studies for the great space. Making connections between experienced professionals and emerging talent is how we build something stronger.

DJ Vogel from Ghostscale will be moderating the Midwest Cyber Security Alliance “Inside #Cybersecurity” panel on November 12 at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies. “Inspiring the Next Generation of Talent” is a mission close to our hearts. The future of cybersecurity depends on bringing diverse perspectives and fresh thinking into the field, and events like this facilitate important connections. If you’re a student exploring cybersecurity careers or a professional invested in developing the next generation, this is a great opportunity to connect with industry leaders and peers.

You should know that we ain’t afraid of no ghosts. In fact, we got into this business because we love a good ghost hunt. While most run FROM #cybersecurity threats lurking in the shadows, we run TOWARD them, including: 🛡️Credential-stealing phantoms 🛡️Ransomware monsters 🛡️BEC attacks dressed in disguise 🛡️Zero-day specters The best defense against things that go bump in the night is having someone who’s brave enough to investigate the noise. So who you gonna call? If you’d rather be prepared instead of scared, let Ghostscale help. We see what others can’t. We follow trails others miss. And we’re definitely not afraid to help you exorcise the demons found in the dark corners of your infrastructure. Happy Halloween from Ghostscale! (We've been waiting all year to send this one out!)

The scariest thing in #cybersecurity as we close out #Cybersecurity Awareness Month? Tomorrow. And no, we don’t mean Halloween. Research from IBM shows that over half of #breached organizations faced severe #security staffing shortages. That means that everyone’s trying to solve tomorrow’s problems with yesterday’s resources and today’s skeleton crew. The traditional approach (hire more security people, buy more tools, cross your fingers) isn’t scaling with the #threat landscape. It’s like trying to bail out a sinking ship with a coffee mug. Smart organizations are rethinking the entire model. Instead of playing catchup with the endless cycle of new threats, they’re building adaptive security strategies that evolve with their #risks. We are Ghostscale, and we follow trails others would overlook, including the path to sustainable, future-ready security programs that scale. If you’re done playing cybersecurity whack-a-mole, let’s build a strategy that’s ready for whatever comes next.

What a great day in Appleton! Emily, Brad, and Thomas represented Ghostscale as part of our sponsorship of the Women in Technology Wisconsin (WiT) #cybersecurity workshop today. The “Outsmarting a Crisis” theme couldn’t have been more relevant. What really stood out was the caliber of questions and engagement from attendees. This is exactly the kind of thoughtful, collaborative community that makes cybersecurity stronger. Thanks to WIT Wisconsin for putting on such a valuable event. To us, supporting women in technology means investing in the people who will shape the future of our industry. To everyone we met today, let’s stay connected and keep the conversation going.

During #Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it’s important to acknowledge that even the smartest people can fall for seemingly obvious scams. SANS Institute research reveals that 40% of successful social engineering attacks are sophisticated business email compromise schemes. Instead of random #phishing attempts, they’re psychological manipulation campaigns that would make behavioral economists proud. Modern attackers leverage cognitive biases: authority (fake CEO emails), urgency (deadline pressure), and social proof (everyone else is doing it). They’re basically weaponizing Psychology 101. The irony is that, once you understand the psychology behind these attacks, they can become laughably transparent. It’s like learning magic tricks… once you know how it’s done, you won’t be fooled again. We love #security and hate #threat actors, especially the ones trying to turn basic psychology into your biggest #vulnerability. Ghostscale is here to help you turn your team into your first line of defense.

Welcome to the Ghostscale family, Thomas Freeman! We’re thrilled to announce that Thomas is joining our team as a virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO), bringing 25+ years of IT leadership and #cybersecurity expertise to help our clients build security programs that actually work. WHAT MAKES THOMAS EXCEPTIONAL? 🛡️ He’s not just a cybersecurity expert – he’s a teacher, mentor, and community builder who’s spent years developing the next generation of security professionals 🛡️ His resume reads like a who’s-who of security certifications – GPEN, GCIH, GCIA, and more (we stopped counting) 🛡️ He’s done it all – from penetration testing and digital forensics to building security programs for health care, finance, and beyond 🛡️ He believes security isn’t just about technology – it’s about people, culture, and building teams that thrive But what really excites us about Thomas is that he brings the same philosophy we live by at Ghostscale: making cybersecurity understandable, actionable, and human. He doesn’t just find vulnerabilities; he helps organizations build lasting security cultures. Whether you need strategic #CISO guidance, help navigating #compliance requirements, or someone who can translate security-speak into business value, Thomas is your person. Welcome aboard, Thomas! We can’t wait to see the trails you’ll help our clients uncover.

While companies celebrate AI advances and digital transformation, cybercriminals are running their own R&D departments. Verizon data shows 88% of web application attacks involved stolen credentials, but these aren’t your basic dictionary attacks anymore. Today’s credential thieves use machine learning to crack passwords, AI to generate convincing #phishing content, and automation to test millions of combinations per second. So how do you stay ahead in this #cybersecurity innovation race? Kevin Bong from Ghostscale and Christopher Bartel from Landmark Credit Union are tackling this question at two upcoming events: 🛡️ Milwaukee ISSA - October 14, 2025 🛡️ SysLogic, Inc. Cybersecurity Summit - October 17, 2025 Their presentation, “Comparing, Choosing, and Effectively Testing EDR, MDR, SIEM, and MSSP Solutions,” will cut through vendor noise to help you select and validate the security tools that actually protect your business. We’re also sponsoring and running the Hardware #Hacking Village at the Cybersecurity Summit! As a bonus for attendees, you’ll be able to build your own ESP32 wireless and Bluetooth sniffing device out of our business card, because understanding how attacks work is the first step in defending against them. Build one before? Bring it with for an upgrade!

Ghostscale is celebrating #Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and we’re kicking things off with a $4.88 million wakeup call. According to IBM, that is now the average cost of a data #breach, up 10% from the previous year. That means, you could either buy yourself 10 Ferraris or... clean up one major #security incident (we’d lean toward the Ferraris). Verizon’s analysis of over 30,000 security incidents revealed a clear pattern: companies either invest thousands in prevention or spend millions on cleanup. It’s like choosing between buying quality smoke alarms or rebuilding your house after it burns down. The math isn’t complicated. Ghostscale helps companies see what others can’t, identifying #vulnerabilities before they blindside your budget. We’ll help turn your security spending into competitive advantage. Book a strategy session with us today!

A perfect mix of #tech leaders, a shared mission to support #STEM education, and a stunning course led to an unforgettable day at the 2025 SIM Wisconsin Charity Golf Classic.   Ghostscale was honored to sponsor a hole at this year’s event and join forces with so many passionate professionals dedicated to creating #community impact. We appreciate everyone who stopped by to chat #cybersecurity, grab a cold drink, or take their best shot at the chipping challenge. We loved seeing your competitive spirit and curiosity about what we do at Ghostscale.   A big thank you to SIM Wisconsin for organizing such a powerful gathering, and to the organizations it supports, including i.c.stars |* Milwaukee, NCWIT, and the Kate Kaiser Scholarship, for the vital work you do.   Until next time, let’s keep building safer, stronger, more connected communities.