Ep. 152 - Security Awareness Series - Sharing With Your Frenemies with Bernie Acre

In this episode, Chris Hadnagy and Ryan MacDougall are joined by Bernie Acre.  Bernie is the Chief Information Officer for the City of Bryan, TX where he’s responsible for all technology and communications systems, including the Fire, Police, Public Works, the municipal electric utility, and a myriad of general support organizations.  Bernie is currently an appointed Member of the Texas Cybersecurity Council. Bernie has a combined 41-years of experience in information technology; including 20+ in the US Air Force and 21 years in the electric utility industry and municipal government. August 16, 2021

00:00 – Intro 

www.social-engineer.com 

Managed Voice Phishing   

Managed Email Phishing   

Adversarial Simulations   

Social-Engineer channel on SLACK   

CLUTCH   

www.innocentlivesfoundation.org 

03:34 – Bernie Acre Intro

04:43 – How did your transition into this position take place?

08:18 – What makes you proud of the culture that you created around employee awareness?

12:25 – How do you get all senior management on board?

14:24 – What did it take to find the people to make such a great team?

15:35 – What were you looking for in these people

17:15 – Setting the bar 

19:15 – Team Advocate vs. Adversary 

23:59 – Was your senior management always on board with being part of the testing? 

27:06 – So the third hour of their required training is something the employees choose? 

27:54 – Have you always had the philosophy that the security training you do at work should become personal? 

29:21 – What are three things you would tell someone beginning in the field to focus on? 

32:51 – Taking the time to grow 

34:49 – What do you do to help combat burn out?  How about promoting self-care? 

37:31 – What lacks the most sometimes in an organization is communication

37:43 – Who in this industry do you respect the most? 

• One of Bernie’s commanders in the service, for overall leadership 

• For this industry: 

• Chris Hadnagy 
• Roger Grimes (KnowBe4) 
• Stu Sjouwerman (KnowBe4) 
• Kevin Mitnick (KnowBe4) 

40:13 – Book Recommendations

• Winning America by Allan Eckert 
• All works by James Michener 
• Valor Across The Lone Star by Charles M. Neal 

43:55 – What got you so heavily into history? 

44:38 – Finding Bernie on the internet: 

• www.linkedin.com/in/bernie-acre-cgcio-7838375a/ 
• www.bryantx.gov 

47:04 – Outro 

Thanks to Bernie 

www.innocentlivesfoundation.org