People Over Policies: The Director’s Guide to Building a Culture-Driven Security Program

Cybersecurity isn’t just a framework—it’s a mindset. For over 16 years, I’ve led enterprise IT and security operations at Select Data, helping transform a legacy infrastructure into a resilient hybrid-cloud environment. Along the way, I’ve learned that real security doesn’t start with a policy—it starts with people. As Director of IT Infrastructure and Cybersecurity, I’ve […]

Resolving SQL Server Performance Issues: A Case Study

It was February 2022.We had just finished installing and configuring our Dell PowerStore 500T SAN — the next step in modernizing our infrastructure. I started migrating workloads from the old Dell Compellent SAN to the new PowerStore. What used to take minutes suddenly took hours. The system crawled. Something wasn’t right. At first, I assumed […]

The Morning Everything Froze

I still remember the exact moment I found out we’d been hit with Ransomware.It was May 2018. I was at the breakfast table when my phone buzzed—a text from Eddie, our Chief Product Officer. It was a photo of his computer screen: “If you want the encryption key to your data, transfer 0.8 Bitcoin per […]

The Latency That Wouldn’t Die

It was February 2022. We had just installed and configured our new Dell PowerStore 500T SAN — a big step forward in our modernization journey. I started migrating workloads off our outgoing Dell Compellent array. What used to take minutes suddenly took hours. Migrations crawled. Systems lagged. Something wasn’t right. At first, I assumed it […]

Why I Still Love Static Routing (Don’t Tell [Redacted])

The author expresses a fondness for static routing despite the advantages of dynamic routing protocols like BGP. Static routing is praised for its predictability and reliability, contrasting with dynamic protocols that can err or misunderstand configurations. The piece highlights the beauty of simplicity in networking amidst complexities in dynamic environments.

Data Recovery Insights: Learning from Mistakes

The author reflects on their experience with data backups after a sysadmin’s mistake led to production downtime. They emphasize the importance of understanding storage systems over merely having backups. While snapshots offer quick recovery, true resilience comes from validated backups. Knowledge in system restoration is crucial for effective data management.

Why Firewalls Wish the ‘Evil Bit’ Was Real

“There’s an RFC for that.” That’s something my colleague and resident networking genius, Jefferson Cowart, says right before my brain prepares for impact. We were in the middle of a migration from static routing to dynamic (BGP) when Jefferson casually dropped, “You should probably be aware of the evil bit.” Now, I didn’t say it […]

From Sysadmin to Cybersecurity: My IT Transformation

All Systems Argo: A Journey Through Technology, Security, and Storytelling There’s something poetic about the phrase All Systems Argo. When I registered this domain years ago, it was a playful mashup:“All Systems Are Go” — the phrase you hear before a rocket launch — and Jason and the Argonauts, my dad’s favorite story. The name […]

All Systems (Are) Go.

This blog was created originally for me to share my experiences, problems, failures and ultimately successes with other like minded individuals that also work in various IT departments around the world.

Month: October 2025