Galactic Research: Articles & Insights
The CMMC Suspension, Explained
Phase II is suspended, the rules still apply, and your compliance budget didn't get a refund Before you read on, watch this breakdown of what changed, what didn't, and what you should be doing right now. The Department of War ...
AI Security
Part 2: The Security Controls Behind a Safe AI Deployment
From the Map to the Hike: The Four Controls and the Client Conversations Behind Them This is Part 2 in a series that covers your AI enablement plan. Part 1 is here if you want the full map. The Little ...
Ten of Eleven AI Coding Agents Failed a Decades-Old Attack
What GuardFall Tells Us About Where AI Security Controls Need to Live Picture a security guard stationed at the entrance of a building. Their job is to check IDs. They're good at it, fast and consistent, and the building's occupants ...
Perfect AI Guardrails Are Impossible. That's Not an Excuse for Ignoring Them.
What a NIST Mathematician Proved, Why the Internet Got it Wrong, and What Your AI Security Program Should Look Like Years ago, running an MSSP, I had a vendor pitch us a next-gen firewall on a single promise: one hundred ...
Threat Intelligence
Threat Thursday: August 20th, 2026
Welcome to Threat Thursday, Galactic’s weekly threat intelligence roundup. Every Thursday, we cover the cybersecurity stories that matter most for protecting organizations from emerging threats, and we break each one down into what happened, what it could mean for your ...
Threat Thursday: August 13th, 2026
Welcome to Threat Thursday, Galactic’s weekly threat intelligence roundup. Every Thursday, we cover the cybersecurity stories that matter most for protecting organizations from emerging threats, and we break each one down into what happened, what it could mean for your ...
Threat Thursday: August 6th, 2026
Welcome to Threat Thursday, Galactic’s weekly threat intelligence roundup. Every Thursday, we cover the cybersecurity stories that matter most for protecting organizations from emerging threats, and we break each one down into what happened, what it could mean for your ...
Security Education
The Browser Became the Endpoint. Your Security Stack Didn’t Notice.
An employee clicks a box that says “verify you’re human.” A prompt tells them to press a couple of keys, so they do. What they have actually done is paste and run a command that a script slipped onto their clipboard the moment they ...
Vulnerabilities Are Now the #1 Way In. The Window to Fix Them Is Closing.
Most of the time, I didn't break into a network so much as let myself in through something with a fix already out (just not installed yet): the VPN concentrator three versions behind, the firewall with a known vulnerability fixed ...
Your OSINT Reality Check: Here’s What an Attacker Is Finding in 30 Minutes or Less
Today’s connected, AI-driven digital ecosystem has made it easier than ever to build a professional brand, network with peers, and share ideas with a wider audience. It’s opened doors for businesses that simply didn't exist before: new customers, new partnerships, ...
Strategy & Leadership
An Open Letter From Your Cyber Risk Advisors
After the Water Attacks Last month, attackers reached into water treatment plants across a dozen states and started moving the controls. Some of them found out what happens when you do. I've been thinking about what to say to the ...
Building Trust in Executive Relationships: Lessons from King Lear
A Framework for Establishing the Kind of Trust that Survives Budget Season Imagine the curtain going up and a group of players act out the opening scenes of Shakespeare's King Lear, just for you. An aging king sits in his ...
Your Jokes Were Funny. They Still Didn't Renew.
How MSPs Build the Kind of Client Rapport That Survives a Budget Review You walked out of the meeting feeling good. The handshake was firm, the small talk landed, and you even got a laugh with the printer joke. You ...
All Articles
What Happens After a Hacker Gets In?
I was at a book launch last night for a new release on how casinos can protect themselves in today’s world—where hackers and attorneys are both looking for a payout. As I made my way through the event, I ran ...
Think Clicking Links Is Your Biggest Security Risk? Think Again.
You’re a CEO, CFO, or executive, so you’re already on high alert. Every day, a new text pops up from an unknown number: “When will you get here?” “Your FedEx package is stuck in customs—click this link to resolve the ...
One Click, and It’s Over: The Silent Cyberattack Lurking in Your Office
Let’s set the scene. One of your employees is researching new conference room furniture. They’re scrolling through blogs, clicking links, maybe eyeing that “perfect” modern chair. Nothing happens. No warning signs. No flashing red lights. They move on with their ...
Your Computers Won’t Warn You—But Hackers Will Know the Second You’re Vulnerable
Here’s the problem: When Windows 10 reaches its end of support on October 14, 2025, nothing obvious will happen. Your computers won’t shut down. No flashing red lights. No warning pop-ups. Everything will look fine—until it’s not. No Updates = ...
What If Your Business Ran Like the DMV? Spoiler: It Can Happen
You’ve been to the DMV—right? Long lines, blank stares, endless waiting. No one’s happy to be there, nothing moves fast, and everyone’s silently regretting every life decision that led them to that moment. Now, imagine walking into your office tomorrow ...
If You Handle Sensitive Data, Hackers Are Already Watching—And So Are the Lawyers
Imagine walking into the office, coffee in hand, ready to start your day. Except nothing works. Your computer? Offline. Your phones? Dead. Your entire network? Locked down by hackers demanding a ransom. The next few days are a blur. Incident ...
If You Got Phished Right Now, Would Insurance Cover You—Or Would You Be Paying for the Loss?
Most business leaders assume they’re covered. They assume their business interruption insurance will step in. Then the nightmare begins. The fraudulent payment is gone. The bank won’t reverse it. Then they realize critical data has been stolen. Then the lawsuits ...
Cyber Attacks Are Coming—And No One Is Coming to Save You
For years, businesses have assumed that if a cyberattack was serious enough, the government would step in. That was never true. And now, with recent budget cuts, limited resources, and an increasing volume of attacks, the federal government is even less ...
Mac Users Are Getting Hacked—and They Never See It Coming
You wake up, make your coffee, and sit down at your desk. You open your Mac, check your email, and see a message from your vendor. “Where’s our payment? You’re late.” Wait… you paid them last week. You check your ...
Are You Paying for the Wrong IT Services?
I was just on a call with a security expert who asked me a tough question: “How do you tell a client they are at risk if they don’t implement everything you recommend?” Translation: They want security, but they don’t ...
The Importance of the Chief Data Officer
As a business owner, you’re dealing with more challenges than ever — especially when making sense of your data. Harnessing the power of those oceans of data can move your company toward ...
Your Taxes Are Almost Done—Now Secure Your Data Before Hackers Steal It
You are probably wrapping up your taxes. If not, you should be. Filing early reduces the chances of someone filing a fraudulent return in your name. If you can’t get it done early, at least set up an IRS Identity ...
