Cybersecurity for Everyone: A Human-Centered Approach to Protecting Yourself and Your Community (Apress Pocket Guides)

In a world where cyber threats are growing exponentially in number and complexity, it’s time to ask the tough question: What are we doing wrong? We’ve been tackling cybersecurity the same way for years, yet the bad actors continue to stay ahead. Financial losses mount, and the talent gap in the cybersecurity industry remains a persistent challenge. It’s time to break the cycle.

This book takes a bold, fresh look at cybersecurity by shifting the focus away from the technical jargon and putting the spotlight on the people who matter most—you. Whether you’re a student, a professional, a parent, or a business leader, this book is designed to help you understand cybersecurity’s role in everyday life and how you can make a difference. From the classroom to the boardroom, there’s a shared responsibility in keeping our digital world safe.

Unlike traditional cybersecurity books filled with complex terminology and tech-heavy concepts, this book humanizes the topic. It provides practical, real-world solutions for protecting yourself, your family, your workplace, and your community. You’ll learn not just the how but also the why—why cybersecurity matters and why it's a people-first issue that concerns all of us, regardless of our background or profession.

Whether you’re just starting your cybersecurity journey or you're looking to build a security-first culture within your organization, this book equips you with the knowledge and confidence to make an impact. With a focus on democratizing cybersecurity knowledge, this guide is your call to action, offering accessible insights to foster a more secure digital future for everyone.

What You Will Learn

• Protect yourself and the people you care about
• Journey into cybersecurity without having to break anything
• Educate students about keeping safe in the digital world
• Build bridges between the educational and professional worlds
• Establish a cybersecurity culture as a business leader

Who This Book Is For

Whether you’re a student, professional, parent, or business leader, this book is designed to help you understand cybersecurity’s role in everyday life and how you can make a difference. From the classroom to the boardroom, there’s a shared responsibility in keeping our digital world safe.

Cathy Olieslaeger founded The Triangle Net LLC with the vision of a world where cybersecurity is embedded in society’s educational and organizational practices, where social equality and meritocracy are the norm, and where all misfits are given an opportunity to reach their full potential. The primary and most urgent objective of The Triangle Net is to fight cybercrime as a collective movement that addresses the talent gap. The Mission of The Triangle Net is to make a large-scale and immediate impact on the cybersecurity talent gap through collaboration, structural change, social engagement, and early education. The Triangle Net connects people with opportunities to learn, work and support others in cybersecurity. To raise awareness of the endless opportunities in cybersecurity, Cathy started a podcast called Journey into Cybersecurity. This podcast provides a diverse cast of role models so young people can see them in their shoes. You can’t be what you can’t see.

Before becoming an independent Cybersecurity Advisor with a specialization in the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and focus on National Security, Cathy was employed by CyberSaint Security as their Customer Success Director, supporting organizations and cybersecurity consulting firms to strengthen and mature their cybersecurity risk management practices from a reactive compliance-driven project to a proactive forward-looking and risk-based program. She also worked for Agio Inc., Verizon Business, Orange Business Services and Belgacom North America.

Cathy is also a founding board member of Tweens & Technology, an NC-based non-profit dedicated to early STEM education. She leads Cybersecurity Day during the annual summer camp hosted in Garner welcoming tweens from less fortunate families.

Cathy is an eternal student of everything cyber, recently completing the CCP and CISSP certifications. She completed her Executive MBA with the Jack Welch Management Institute, ISACA’s CISM, CompTIA’s Security+ and Microsoft Security, Compliance and Identity Fundamentals certifications in recent years to prepare herself as a CISO candidate. 

Cathy lives by the motto taught by Brendon Burchard: Live, Love, Matter.