Our New Sky Security Annual Retreat: A Lesson in Cybersecurity and…Cleanliness?

What a week! The New Sky Security team just got back from our annual corporate retreat in beautiful Redmond, Washington. We found this amazing Airbnb with enough space for the whole crew, and let’s just say, we made the most of it. We brainstormed, we bonded, we coded, and, of course, we celebrated a fantastic year.

Our company party on the last night was one for the books. Let’s just say we had a really good time. The next morning, as the coffee started to kick in, we looked around and realized the house was, well, a disaster zone. We’re talking pizza boxes stacked to the ceiling, empty cans creating a modern art installation on every surface, and a general stickiness that I’m pretty sure wasn’t there when we arrived.

Panic started to set in. Our Airbnb host had been, shall we say, a little…uptight, and they made it clear they would fine us a lot. I could already see the scathing review and the astronomical cleaning fee he was no doubt dreaming of charging us. We started a half-hearted attempt to clean, but it was clear this was a job for professionals.

Then I went to google and just looked up a local maid service, NW Maids. I gave them a call, and within a few hours, a team of miracle workers descended upon our trashed rental. They were fast, efficient, and didn’t even bat an eye at the mountain of recycling we’d created. In a couple of hours, the place was sparkling clean, probably even cleaner than when we arrived. The best part? The cost was a fraction of what our lovely host would have charged us. We were able to check out with our dignity (mostly) intact and our security deposit on its way back to our bank account.

This whole experience got me thinking about my own industry: cybersecurity. So often, we see companies dealing with a data breach or a security vulnerability by slapping on a digital “band-aid.” They’ll patch the immediate problem, but they won’t address the underlying issue. They’ll clean up the mess, but they won’t fix the security flaws that allowed the mess to happen in the first place.

Just like our party aftermath, sometimes it’s better to call in the experts and tackle the problem head-on. Don’t just clean up the mess, fix the vulnerabilities that are letting the bad guys in. In the long run, it will save you a lot of time, money, and headaches. It might not be as satisfying as watching a team of professionals erase the evidence of your epic party, but it will give you something even better: peace of mind.