Category: Raxis In The Community

  • Raxis in the Classroom: Giving Back by Looking Forward

    “Brice noted the different ways that students could get into cybersecurity and pointed out that students need to put in work to qualify for jobs and explained the certification process and how to determine which certifications are valuable to possible employers.”

    Georgia’s Putnam County School District takes cybersecurity seriously — not only as an administrative safeguard, but also as an important new skillset to teach the next generation. Regardless of their ultimate career choices, today’s students will be tomorrow’s workforce and cybersecurity will be a critical component of every job.

    It was in that context that Ed Ozols, a computer science and cybersecurity teacher at Putnam County High School invited Raxis lead penetration tester Brice Jager to speak to his students about the role of pentesting and how it keeps networks safe.

    Some Words from Ed:

    Brice was a great help to my cybersecurity class. This is the first time that Putnam County High School has offered cybersecurity and we will be providing the full pathway that ends with a certification exam to our students. We are one of the few districts in Georgia that offers the full pathway. Brice spoke with students who are taking their first cyber class. He was able to outline what life was like for a cybersecurity specialist (in his case, as a pen tester).

    Brice noted the different ways that students could get into cybersecurity and pointed out that students need to put in work to qualify for jobs and explained the certification process and how to determine which certifications are valuable to possible employers.

    The students had numerous questions that Brice answered for us, and his explanations were understandable to my students who have just begun to get their toes wet in cybersecurity and do not have a depth of cybersecurity knowledge.

    They were glad to hear from him. One student, who is normally shy, came up to me and talked with me about a future in cybersecurity. I have other students who plan on pursuing a career in cyber and this helped cement those plans.

    I am helping develop the future of cybersecurity and Brice was an important part of this development in the students that he was talking to. My students and I thank you for connecting us with Brice. It is two weeks after his discussion and my students are still relating things that he said with the concepts I am teaching in my class (as in “Brice said…”).

    Ed Ozols' Cybersecurity class at Georgia’s Putnam County School District

    Georgia’s Putnam County School District takes cybersecurity seriously — not only as an administrative safeguard, but also as an important new skillset to teach the next generation. Regardless of their ultimate career choices, today’s students will be tomorrow’s workforce and cybersecurity will be a critical component of every job.

    According to Brice, the experience was very rewarding for him as well.

    “I’ve been an instructor in some of my previous jobs, so it feels natural to ease back into that role,” he said. “What made this experience unique is that I had an opportunity to introduce young people to the field of penetration testing and, I hope, sparked a deeper interest in cybersecurity among them. It’s rewarding to think that one or more of those students could decide on a career in cybersecurity because of this introduction.”

  • Raxis Supports Pensacola ROV Team

    Pensacola Catholic High School’s “Crubotics” team won MATE’s North Gulf Coast regional remotely operated vehicle (ROV) competition and is headed for the world championship in California. Raxis proudly celebrates this wonderful accomplishment by helping sponsor the journey.

    Next week, 14 students and two teachers from Pensacola Catholic High School will travel to Long Beach, California to match their remotely operated vehicle (ROV) – designed to probe the ocean below the arctic ice – against other regional winners from around the world.

    The competition is conducted by MATE (Marine Advanced Technology Education) whose mission is to use the development of the ROV to teach students both STEM skills as well as help develop an entrepreneurial mindset so that they develop the technology with an eye toward forming companies and creating jobs around it.

    Crubotics – a portmanteau of robotics and the CHS Crusader mascot – has competed in the Northern Gulf Coast regional competition for the past five years, with the exception of a break for COVID.  In April, the team bested the field and earned the right to travel to California for the world challenge.

    “Of course, I was proud of the victory, but I was even more impressed by how they handled adversity. When things started to go wrong, they pulled together as a team, quickly and calmly developing a solution. It was incredible to watch.”

    CHS Science Teacher Dana Lupton, team mentor

    The ROV must enter the water through a hole in the ice, navigate to the ocean floor, and monitor and report back conditions in real time. As an added layer of difficulty, the ROV’s software must incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) that can identify schools of fish and estimate their numbers, locate and retrieve any dead fish, and stitch together a composite picture of the surroundings.

    The Crubotics ROV ready for competition.

    From California, the team won’t be testing the ROV in actual arctic conditions, but the challenges are formidable even in the controlled conditions of a swimming pool. For example, the ROV must enter the water through a hole in the ice, navigate to the ocean floor, and monitor and report back conditions in real time. As an added layer of difficulty, the ROV’s software must incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) that can identify schools of fish and estimate their numbers, locate and retrieve any dead fish, and stitch together a composite picture of the surroundings.

    “This is a very complex blend of hardware and software that would challenge adults trained in these disciplines,” Lupton said. “To see a group of young people step in and take on the roles that emerged based on needs is a real inspiration.”

    The trip to California is being underwritten in part by a sponsorship from Raxis, an Atlanta-based penetration testing firm with strong ties to Pensacola and the CyberCoast.

    “It was intense curiosity about how things work that led me to a career in pentesting and ultimately to create a company of like-minded professionals. I’m absolutely thrilled to see high-school students taking on challenges like this because the payoff for them – and for our planet – will be immeasurable.”

    Mark Puckett, CEO, Raxis

  • Guiding the Next Generation of Cyber Pros

    “After graduation, I’m heading to the United States Naval Academy and plan to major in cyber operations.”

    Cameron Colavito

    At Raxis, we love what we do, and we relish any opportunity to share our passion with the next generation of cyber professionals, so I was thrilled when Cameron Colavito, a senior at the Lovett School in Atlanta, asked to interview me for her senior project focusing on cybersecurity. 

    During the interview Cameron asked what I believe is the most important trait for cybersecurity leaders to possess. I knew my answer immediately – integrity, without a doubt. Businesses, schools, individuals, and families all trust cybersecurity professionals to protect their most sensitive data from attacks, leaving these cyber pros with an extreme amount of power. And as we all know, with great power comes great responsibility. 

    We take the responsibility we’ve been entrusted with very seriously at Raxis, and we’re so glad to see that schools are giving students the opportunity to learn ethical practices as well. Judging from her project description below, Cameron will be more than ready for a future in this field.

    “The concept of my senior project is to learn about how cyber security professionals handle ethical hacking, leadership, and education. I have the opportunity to interview professionals in the field, as well as take up a spring internship with Curricula. During my internship, I will experience how they lead and educate their customers on important cyber issues such as ransomware, social engineering, information security, etc.

    “After graduation, I’m heading to the United States Naval Academy and plan to major in cyber operations. I am excited to see how this field of study becomes a reality in businesses such as Curricula, Raxis, and this growing industry.”

    Cameron Colavito

    I will add that Cameron has earned a great honor with her acceptance into Annapolis. If she sticks with cybersecurity, she will have an opportunity upon graduation to be an officer in the Navy’s information warfare community. In that role, she will help lead the ongoing fight against nations and non-state actors in an ongoing battle to protect our critical information systems.

    It has never been more important for us to encourage the next generation’s best and brightest to pursue a career in cybersecurity. Given the threats we face from within and from abroad, the opportunities are limitless. For those like Cameron, who answer the call with initiative and integrity, I expect that future will be incredibly rewarding.

  • What’s it Like to Work at Raxis?

    One of the great things about being a penetration tester is explaining what we do to people inside andoutside the world of cybersecurity. Having done this work myself and now managing others, I can’t imagine a more fascinating job. However, I also can’t imagine doing this job for any company other than Raxis.

    That’s because we’ve assembled a team of outstanding professionals with wildly diverse backgrounds that range from film and television to law enforcement to web design to IT administration and software development. We are, of course, expert hackers, but working for Raxis means that we all bring much more to the table.

    Over the next several weeks, we’ll be offering up a series of videos that will show you what our company and our work is truly like. These videos will likely be helpful if you’re interested in penetration as a career. They must-watch material if you want a career at Raxis.

    In addition to an advanced skillset, we expect an incredibly high degree of integrity. The nature of our works means that we only bring on people who have held positions of trust and who have proven themselves worthy of ours. 

    Integrity is essential, but it’s only one part of the larger picture that is culture. Beginning with our founder, we’ve brought on people who work well together, naturally. We have created a culture that places a high value on creative thinking, problem-solving, and above all, teamwork. 

    Please take a look at our inaugural video above. Raxis’ chief technology officer Brian Tant and I will explain how each penetration test demands presents different issues and opportunities. If you think you have what it takes to join our ranks, keep watching in the weeks ahead as other members of the Raxis team discuss different aspects of life in our world.

    Also, keep an eye on our careers page. Occasionally, we have openings for people with the right skills, determination, and attitude to join our team.

    Want to learn more? Take a look at the next part of our Working at Raxis discussion.

  • Bonnie Shares Words of Working Wisdom with Westminster Students

    “I have literally walked past security guards who assumed that a petite, professional woman couldn’t possibly be up to anything nefarious.”

    Raxis Chief Operating Officer, Bonnie Smyre

    At Raxis, we believe in giving back to our community and especially to the young people who are our future workforce. That’s one reason why I was very excited for the recent invitation to deliver a video message to students of Atlanta’s Westminster Schools, a private academy for kindergarten through 12th grade students, as part of its Conversations Around Race and Equity (CARE) initiative.

    Westminster aims to instill in its students a strong belief that they can do anything they put their mind to, as long as they create meaningful goals and work hard to achieve them. In the US today, their choice of profession isn’t limited by anyone else. So, it’s important for young people to open their minds and explore a wide range of career options.

    As a woman in the male-dominated field of information security, I was able to talk about my experience and how, through hard work and focus, I have earned the respect of my (all-male) colleagues along with the position of chief operating officer (COO).

    I also had some fun explaining how being a penetration tester allowed me use my gender to my advantage. I have literally walked past security guards who assumed that a petite, professional woman couldn’t possibly be up to anything nefarious. Some cheap surgical scrubs from Walmart were all I needed to enter a nurse’s station and access a hospital’s computer network. A birthday cake was my ticket onto a secure elevator and directly into the office of a corporate vice president.

    My intention was to present the infosec field as a fun, challenging, and meaningful career choice. It’s also a field that is inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of race or gender, as long as they are willing to invest the effort.

    Congratulations to Westminster Schools for introducing students to a broad range of career options and for teaching them that all are within their reach. I was proud to be a part of that effort.

    If you’d like to learn more about our work as ethical hackers, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and stay up to date on all our latest tips, tricks, and commentary.

  • Picking Up the Pieces After Hurricane Sally

    Hurricane Sally has hit Raxis close to home, as we watched our colleagues and friends in Pensacola make it through the storm & begin clean up. Raxis’ Scottie Cole tells us how disconnected people feel as they wait to regain power and internet access.

    In some ways, this disaster reminds us of what companies (and people) go through after they have gone through a breach or a “hack.” At times like this, the important thing is understanding that the unexpected happens in business and in life. You prepare as best you can in order to recover as quickly as you can.

    Hurricane damage in Pensacola

    Pensacola, FL Credit: Jim McClellan

    Our hearts go out to everyone affected by Hurricane Sally.

    Title photo: Niceville, FL; Credit: Eddie Herring

  • When There’s More than Money on the Line

    In our line of work, reading about the latest cybersecurity breach instinctively raises the questions of how many records were lost or how much money did it cost to recover. Hackers are most always after the big payoff, either directly or indirectly, so we’re conditioned to think mainly in terms of economic losses, privacy issues, or damage to a company’s reputation. However, as more and more devices are connected to the Internet, the stakes can be much higher.

    Computer Weekly reported in June that cyberattacks against healthcare facilities had increased 15-fold between January and March of 2020 — coinciding with the COVID-19 outbreak. Think about that for a second. With our hospitals and medical personnel facing a global pandemic with overburdened resources, the bad guys seized the opportunity to ramp up their attacks. Not only hospitals, but the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) were targets as well.

    Although we at Raxis enjoy our jobs, we never forget the true nature of the people we’re trying to stop. And we always remember the hard-working people we’re trying to help.

    One such person is my friend, Judy Chang, a senior nurse in a local hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). As I thought about the potential impacts of a major health care breach, I thought it might be a good idea to introduce Judy to our friends and readers, so I set up a conversation with this front-line hero who works with some of the most vulnerable patients anywhere — the newborn babies who need intensive care in the first hours and days of their lives.

    I encourage you to watch the interview and hear Judy describe her work to help these struggling infants. As you do, consider the impacts of a cyber breach that impacts her team and the sensitive equipment they rely on. As much as I enjoy my work, her story helps me remember that cybersecurity doesn’t just protect networks — it also protects innocent lives.

  • Raxis Cares: When COVID-19 Comes, Creatives Pivot

    Penetration testing experts are perfectly poised to work within our new social distancing guidelines, but performing artists have been uniquely impacted by COVID-19: without an audience, the show simply cannot go on.  

    As a presenting sponsor of the Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theatre, Raxis was heartbroken when their recent performance of Coppélia and the Magical Toy Shop was canceled, but we are at least able to share one special element from the program – and introduce you to the work of Amy Rust, an aspiring graphic designer who is passionate in the performing arts as well. Amy collaborated with Raxis to produce our program ad for Coppélia, seen in this stunning layout: 

    Coppélia Ad by Amy Rust

    Coppélia Ad by Amy Rust

    Amy will attend the University of Georgia in the fall, where she plans to combine her creative energy and expertise with a major in graphic design and a minor in dance. Here’s how she created her original design: 

    “Being a ballerina, I was already familiar with Coppélia and the storyline, so I was very excited to get started right away! I first started off by writing down all my ideas, and, after much deliberation, I was able to narrow it down to a single one. Then I moved onto the visual part of the ad by looking online and watching the ballet as inspiration, and then sketching out different designs for the ad until I created a sketch with which I saw great possibility. Using my graphic design skills, I took to Adobe illustrator to create my masterpiece in vector form. I made the base image using my sketch and then, after careful consideration, chose the colors based off the cover to ensure the ad was visually complementary. Last, I made finishing touches to the layout of the ad and added small details that really brought the ballerina to life.” 

    Amy Rust

    We wish Amy and her fellow class of incoming UGA Bulldogs the best of luck in 2020 and can’t wait to see all our GMDT dancers soon on stage! 

  • Raxis Cares: Passing Along the Passion

    Our work at Raxis is highly specialized, often mysterious, and sometimes even suspicious to those outside our field. That makes it exceptionally rewarding when we have an opportunity to share what we do with the next generation.

    Alexis is a senior in high school this year, and the COVID-19 emergency has caused her to miss out on some of the memories that make that such a special time in life. We’re very proud that she got to be a part of the Raxis family for a little while during her last semester and even prouder that it was the rewarding experience she describes in her note below.

    “For my senior project I chose a topic that was so complex and one that I had no prior experience with — penetration testing. I had an awesome mentor, Bonnie Smyre, who is chief operating officer at Raxis, and she made it so interesting to learn all about the world of cyber security – specifically, what pen testing is and the whole process behind it. The folks at Raxis were so sweet and kind and they just made it a fantastic time to both learn and have fun. As I move on to college, I want to have a work environment just like they have at Raxis, where everyone is so welcoming to others, where communication is completely transparent, and a place that is just overall fun to be around! I want to thank both Bonnie and all the others at Raxis for giving me this opportunity to be able to see and learn the behind the scenes of it all. It was so much fun having Bonnie as my mentor and I had a complete blast learning everything!”

    Alexis Chiem
    Hillgrove High senior Alexis Chiem and Raxis COO Bonnie Smyre

  • Raxis COO Shares WFH Cybersecurity Tips on Columbus, Ohio’s Fox 28

    “Protect your data in the same way you protect your health.” That’s the main message our own Bonnie Smyre delivered today in an interview on Good Day Marketplace, a popular television show in the Columbus, Ohio area.

    Raxis COO, Bonnie Smyre, on Good Day Marketplace

    Bonnie explained to host Shawn Ireland and her audience that hackers and scammers know that Americans are worried about COVID-19 and are hungry for reliable information now. That’s why it’s important to only visit sites you know are safe and never click links inside unsolicited emails. She also talked about the importance of keeping personal information off your work devices.

    Bonnie cautioned that, even though slow Internet speeds can be frustrating, don’t disable spam and virus filtering or endpoint protection in hopes of speeding things up.

    Check out Bonnie’s full interview below here: https://myfox28columbus.com/sponsored/good-day-marketplace/gdm-raxis-information-security

  • Raxis Presents at the (ISC)² Atlanta Chapter Meeting

    Brad Herring and Scott Sailors had the pleasure to present at the (ISC)² Atlanta Chapter Meeting last Thursday. The topic was on Social Engineering and understanding how the high success rates of social engineering impacts network security. Herring and Sailors shared the most common attack vectors, which include phishing, spear phishing, vishing, physical with a pre-text bias and physical with a technology bias.

    The members were shocked at the 90% success rate Raxis sees with social engineering across all verticals and business size. Further sobering is the fact that, once Raxis gains access to an internal network, our team is successful in achieving an “impactful breach” 85% of the time.

    Once the realization hit that determined and skilled hackers are commonly able to breach armed security, card keyed systems, numeric keypads and other physical controls, it became apparent the importance of achieving and maintaining a strong internal network security program.

    This engaging meeting facilitated many conversations about physical security as well as the effectiveness of a mature phishing campaign. The group was able to heighten their awareness of the types of attacks to which businesses often fall prey, understand the behind the scenes actions that take place once credentials or access is achieved, and discuss meaningful remediation steps for combating these attacks.

  • Our COO, Bonnie Smyre, Featured on Fox 5 News!

    Our Chief Operating Officer, Bonnie Smyre, was interviewed on Fox 5 News in Atlanta in a story regarding a Facebook scam involving Tyler Perry. Essentially, the scammers behind the Facebook sites and accounts are “data mining to get your information”.   If you clicked the Facebook scam link, it’s probably too late to reverse it, but try to avoid it next time – if something seems too good to be true, it almost always is.

    Click here to watch the video on Fox 5 Atlanta’s website