Advertise on podcast: Bite Size Security

I got fired the day my son was born. Two more terminations later, I started NCX Group with about $3,000 and a wife who believed in me. As NCX Group heads into its 25th year, host Mike Fitzpatrick tells the story he's hesitated to tell: losing a $40 million commission, crisscrossing the country from Michigan to Hawaii, watching 9/11 wipe out a company's plans, and launching NCX Group the day after being told he was "the best business development person" his boss had ever met. Along the way, one question kept coming up: if Fortune 500 companies with every resource are struggling with information security, what chance does everyone else have? That question still drives NCX Group today. In this episode: Why getting fired three times turned out to be the push to start something of his own What Mike saw inside the Fortune 500 that shaped how NCX assesses risk Why information isn't the goal, decisions are The six months it took to land the first client The person who made it all possible: his wife If you're going through hell, keep going. Don't linger. Always forward. Every business has a story behind it, and every one is worth protecting. If you'd like to talk about protecting yours, schedule a conversation at https://ncxgroup.com/contact-ncx-group/ Connect with NCX Group: Website: https://ncxgroup.com Podcast: https://ncxgroup.com/podcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ncx-group/ X: https://x.com/ncxgroup Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ncxgroup YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ncxgroup Byte-Size Security is presented by NCX Group, the leader in cyber risk consulting. Stay smart, stay savvy, and protect what you've built.

Episode Summary:Most companies have an incident response plan, but very few have one that actually works at 2 in the morning when everything goes sideways. In this episode, Mike Fitzpatrick breaks down the real reasons IR plans fail, why untested playbooks become liabilities, and how CEOs can turn a paper plan into a real business protection strategy. Drawing on recent industry research and 24 years in cybersecurity, Mike explains why people and communication—not technology—determine the outcome of an incident. He also shares how unclear roles, bad assumptions, and untested processes turn small problems into multimillion-dollar disasters. If you are a CEO, business owner, or executive who believes your company “has a plan,” this episode will challenge you—in a good way. What You’ll Learn:• Why untested IR plans create false confidence• The number one reason incidents drag on: lack of clear authority• How communication breakdowns cause more damage than the breach itself• What recent vendor outages taught every business about fragility• Why incident response is a financial issue, not a technical one• What leaders must put in place long before an incident occurs Who This Episode Is For:CEOs, business owners, CIOs, CISOs, CFOs, and anyone responsible for keeping a company operational during crisis events. Connect With Mike Fitzpatrick and NCX Group:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ncxgroupNCX Group Website: https://ncxgroup.comFree Cyber Risk Readiness Assessment: https://training.ncxgroup.com/riskBite Size Security Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7168971909802442752/ If this episode helped you see your own readiness differently, share it with another business owner or leader. One conversation could save them millions.

If Cyber Can Move a Stock Price, It Can Move a Deal Price Host: Mike Fitzpatrick A single cyber issue can cut your valuation before you ever reach the negotiating table. Most advisors won’t mention it. Buyers won’t announce it. But the discount shows up anyway. In this episode, Mike Fitzpatrick breaks down how cyber risk shapes deal pricing in the mid-market, why buyers model exposure long before diligence begins, and how sellers lose millions simply by failing to prove their security posture. Cyber won’t decide your future. It will decide the number attached to it. And in most exits, that number is the difference between what you built and what you walk away with. What’s Inside: • Why cyber is now a valuation metric • How uncertainty shows up as an immediate price cut • The hidden impact of MSP breaches on deal exposure • Why insurance cannot replace real risk reduction • Why proof protects value — and assumptions don’t More insights: https://ncxgroup.com Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ncxgroup Mike on X: @ncxceo NCX Group on X: @ncxgroup

Cyber Insurance in 2025 and Where It’s Headed in 2026 Bite Size Security Cyber insurance has changed. Quietly.And most businesses haven’t noticed yet. In this episode of Bite Size Security, Mike Fitzpatrick breaks down what cyber insurance really means in 2025 and as we head into 2026, why insurers no longer care about what you say you do, and why everything now comes down to what you can prove. This isn’t an IT conversation.It’s a leadership one. Mike explains:• Why cyber insurance used to be easy• Why that model collapsed• How insurers think today• What “proof” actually means• Where cyber insurance is heading next If you assume your policy will “just work,” this episode is for you. Mike Fitzpatrick is the Founder and CEO of NCX Group, a cyber risk management consulting firm helping organizations align cybersecurity with business risk, insurance, and leadership decision-making. Mike FitzpatrickLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ncxgroupX: https://x.com/ncxceo NCX GroupWebsite: https://www.ncxgroup.comX: https://x.com/ncxgroup Bite Size SecurityShort conversations.Real risk.No checkboxes.

Episode Summary:If you plan to sell your business in the next three to five years, cyber risk may be the biggest threat to your exit that no one is talking about. A single breach, a hidden vulnerability, or an untested environment can delay your deal, cut your valuation, or kill the transaction outright. In this episode, Mike Fitzpatrick breaks down why cyber risk has become a deal-breaker for buyers and lenders, why internal IT reports are no longer enough, and how independent validation can protect the value of your life’s work. Whether you are selling or acquiring, this is the episode every CEO and business owner needs to hear. What You’ll Learn:• Why cyber risk now shows up in every serious due diligence review• How untested environments, MSP blind spots, and hidden breaches derail deals• The three numbers that matter for sellers: readiness, remediation, and insurability• Why buyers should demand independent assessments every time• How sellers can protect valuation and shorten the closing timeline• What to do now if you plan to exit in the next three to five years Who This Episode Is For:CEOs, business owners, founders, private equity partners, and anyone planning to buy or sell a company in the near future. Connect With Mike Fitzpatrick and NCX Group:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ncxgroupNCX Group Website: https://ncxgroup.comFree Cyber Risk Readiness Assessment: https://training.ncxgroup.com/riskBite Size Security Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7168971909802442752/ If this episode helped you, share it with another business owner preparing for an exit. You might save them a very expensive lesson.

Episode SummaryCyber risk has quietly moved from a technical concern to a financial metric that directly affects business valuation. In this episode, Mike Fitzpatrick explains why buyers, insurers, and regulators now treat cybersecurity as part of the valuation formula — and what that means for CEOs preparing for growth, investment, or an eventual exit. You don’t need a breach to lose value.You only need a lack of evidence. Mike breaks down the self-evident truth every CEO needs to understand:Cyber risk protects what you’ve built… or silently erodes it. • Why cyber risk is now part of your valuation• How buyers use uncertainty to gain leverage• The difference between being secure and being able to prove it• How a lack of documentation can cost millions• The single question CEOs must now be able to answer Cybersecurity is no longer just an operational responsibility.It is now one of the ways the market decides what your business is worth.Proof protects value. Assumptions don’t. If this episode made you think about your own business, share it with another business owner you care about.You might save them from an expensive mistake. Website:https://ncxgroup.com LinkedIn — Mike Fitzpatrick:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ncxgroup/ NCX Group Free Cyber Risk Assessment:https://training.ncxgroup.com/risk YouTube (optional to include):https://www.youtube.com/@NCXGroup Have a question you want Mike to cover on a future Bite Size Security episode?Send it in at https://ncxgroup.com or reach out on LinkedIn.

Cyber Risk Advisor – Every CEO’s Missing Batman Every CEO has their trusted advisors: A CPA for the books An attorney for legal risks An insurance broker for disasters But when it comes to the #1 risk in 2025—cyber—the seat at the table is still empty. In this episode of Bite Size Security, Mike Fitzpatrick explains why a Cyber Risk Advisor is the Batman every CEO needs—the protector who sees threats before they strike and keeps your business alive when others don’t. We’ll cover: Why cyber risk now outranks natural disasters and supply chain failures (Allianz Risk Barometer 2025) The brutal truth about what happens when CEOs wait until AFTER a breach How a Cyber Risk Advisor strengthens—not replaces—your CPA, attorney, and insurance broker Why the smartest CEOs will move first while others scramble to catch up 🔗 Learn more about NCX Group: www.ncxgroup.com🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn: Mike’s LinkedIn | NCX Group LinkedIn🔗 Follow us on X (Twitter): Mike on X | NCX Group on X🔗 Subscribe to the Bite Size Security Newsletter: Bite Size Security News🔗 Watch on YouTube: NCX Group Channel Don’t wait for disaster to strike. Be the CEO who brings Batman to the table.

Most CEOs feel confident about their cybersecurity—until they get blindsided by risks no firewall can stop. In this episode of Bite Size Security, Mike Fitzpatrick breaks down the hidden vulnerabilities that turn good quarters into crises. From deepfakes that trick your team, to ransomware that shuts down operations for weeks, to vendors who open the door for attackers—these are the blind spots that cost businesses millions. You’ll also hear practical moves you can make before quarter-end to reduce your risk without trying to turn your company into Fort Knox overnight. If you're ready to make cybersecurity part of your business strategy—not just a checkbox in your IT budget—this episode is for you. For more insights or to start a conversation about your own risks, visit ncxgroup.com. Follow NCX Group:Website: ncxgroup.comLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/Twitter/X: twitter.com/ncxgroup

AI’s a Game-Changer—But Are You Ready for the Catch? AI is showing up faster than your policies can catch up—already embedded in your CRM, your help desk, and maybe even your compliance workflows. It’s powerful. It’s profitable. But it’s also risky as hell if you’re not paying attention. In this episode of Bite Size Security, Mike Fitzpatrick breaks down why AI isn’t just a new tool—it’s more like a teenager with a license: brilliant, fast, and a little reckless. And if you don’t teach it the rules, it could steer your business straight into a ditch. You’ll learn: Where AI is creeping into your business without you realizing it The 3 areas every executive team must address: Governance, Risk, and Compliance Real-world examples of how AI goes wrong—fast The 5 things you need to do right now to get back in control If you’re leading a business that wants the upside of AI without the mess, this one’s for you. 🎧 Listen now—before the crash.

🎙️ Episode Title: The Silent Threat to Your Bottom Line Podcast: Bite Size Security with Mike Fitzpatrick Episode Summary: In this episode, Mike Fitzpatrick, CEO of NCX Group, pulls back the curtain on one of the most underestimated risks to your business: the assumption that cybersecurity is “just an IT problem.” Mike shares real-world insights from 20+ years in cyber risk consulting—including a cautionary tale from a mid-sized business that learned the hard way how cyber threats impact operations, trust, and revenue. You’ll learn why cybersecurity must become a leadership priority, how to reframe it as a business risk (not a tech project), and what steps you can take to protect your bottom line. If you’re a CEO, CFO, or business owner who’s tired of the jargon and wants clarity on what actually matters in cyber risk—this is your 6-minute wake-up call. Links & Resources: 🌐 Visit us: www.ncxgroup.com 🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ncxgroup 📣 Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): x.com/ncxgroup 📘 Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/ncxgroup Subscribe to stay ahead of cyber risk—and take the risks that grow your business with confidence. Need help understanding where you stand or how to start? Schedule a call with NCX Group today.

In this episode of Bite Size Security, Mike Fitzpatrick—CEO of NCX Group and 25-year cyber risk veteran—dives into one of the most common and costly misconceptions in business today: the belief that compliance equals security. We explore: Why simply passing audits or meeting regulatory checklists leaves your business vulnerable Real-world stories of companies that were compliant… but still got breached The dangerous gap between compliance frameworks and active threat defense What business leaders actually need to prioritize to protect revenue, reputation, and resilience If you're a CEO, CFO, or IT leader who’s been told, “You’re good—you passed the audit,” this is the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed. Listen in and learn why compliance is just the beginning—not the finish line—when it comes to cybersecurity. 🔗 Follow NCX Group and stay connected: X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ncxgroup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ncxgroup Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ncxgroup

Welcome Back to Bite Size Security I hope you are all Healthy and well as we End 2020.   It’s been a Difficult year for everyone.  Especially for Small businesses everywhere in this changing world of growing risks, and now forced into a remote workforce and having to adjust on the fly.   In this episode I layout the plan and focus for this podcast going forward and I want to help those Fortune 5 Million Businesses.  Those businesses with less than 100 employees that have been greatly impacted by the shutdowns of this pandemic.  I hope you join me on this journey in this coming  year.   Show Notes Links To Visit the NCX Group Website Please Click Here. Follow NCX Group On Twitter Use This Link To Follow me and Ask Questions on X Use This Link.   For a Free Cybersecurity Assessment Click Here.

When it comes to protecting your business, cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls and fancy tech—it starts at your front door. In this episode of Bite Size Security, Mike Fitzpatrick pulls back the curtain on the often-overlooked role of physical security in keeping your digital assets safe. From the jaw-dropping story of a data center “protected” by refrigerator doors to a mortgage company where we mingled our way into their server room, these real-world examples will leave you shaking your head—and hopefully locking your doors. Get ready to rethink your approach to security with practical insights, a dash of humor, and actionable takeaways. Spoiler alert: if your perimeter, access control, or employee training isn’t up to par, you’re leaving the welcome mat out for threats. It’s time to bridge the gap between physical and cybersecurity—and it starts here. For more resources, tips, and strategies to safeguard your business, visit us at www.ncxgroup.com. Join the conversation and follow us on X and LinkedIn for the latest insights into managing cyber risks. Don’t just listen—take action. Security starts with you! #Cybersecurity #PhysicalSecurity #DataProtection #BusinessSecurity

EP 12: Practical Steps for CEOs to Lead the Charge in Cybersecurity In this episode of Bite Size Security, Mike Fitzpatrick, Founder and CEO of NCX Group, dives into the key steps CEOs need to take to turn cybersecurity from a headache into a competitive advantage. From asking the right questions to understanding the ROI of a strong cyber posture (hint: it could help you win billion-dollar contracts), Mike explains why cybersecurity isn’t just about defense—it’s about business growth. He also highlights how NCX Group’s MyCSO Assurance can simplify the journey and protect your business with confidence. Ready to lead the charge in cybersecurity? Tune in for actionable insights, a few laughs, and a clear path to securing your business. Visit us at www.ncxgroup.com to learn more about how we can help you simplify cyber risk and grow your business. Follow us on Social Media: 📍 X (Twitter): @NCXGroup 📍 LinkedIn: NCXGroup 📍 Facebook: NCXGroup Stay secure, stay savvy, and don’t miss this episode! 🎙️🔐

Episode Title: Aligning Business, Cyber, and Financial Risks: A CEO’s Guide for 2025 Host: Mike Fitzpatrick, CEO of NCX Group Episode Snapshot: CEOs, it’s time to stop treating cybersecurity as just an IT issue. In this episode, I’m breaking down why aligning your cyber strategy with business and financial goals is the game changer you didn’t know you needed. Plus, I’ll share a story that’ll make you reconsider your coffee if it comes with a side of ransom notes. What You’ll Learn: How a proactive cyber strategy can save your bottom line (and yes, even cut your insurance premiums by up to 25%). Why AI is your new best friend in security. The secret sauce to building a cyber-aware culture that stops threats before they become headlines.Teaser Takeaways: Cybersecurity isn’t an expense; it’s your business’s silent hero. Compliance isn’t just a burden—it’s your hidden asset. Your best defense isn’t just tech; it’s your people.Ready for actionable insights with a dash of humor? Hit play and find out why aligning cyber, business, and financial risks isn’t just smart—it’s essential for 2025. And remember, keep your coffee ransom-note free. P.S. If you’re ready to align your cybersecurity with business goals, schedule a chat with an NCX Group consultant.