Practical technology advice, regional cyber security reporting and reflections from my work in Townsville.

For family stories and everyday life, visit my personal blog on a separate site.

North Queensland Cyber Watch: The Gentlemen claims a Charters Towers school as a ransomware victim

The original All Souls St Gabriels ransomware claim, updated with the school’s confirmation and ABC reporting. A cyber incident is confirmed; theft of personal information remains unconfirmed in the cited reports.

Beyond the Essential Eight: cybersecurity governance for Australian schools

A practical approach to school cybersecurity governance: connect purpose, risk and accountability to NIST CSF 2.0, the Essential Eight and security investment.

Cyber security careers in Townsville: local opportunities and the next step

An October update on Townsville cyber security careers: Council's operations vacancy, an education IT pathway and the case for more regional government roles.

Nick and Nicholas Townsville: the Google experiment is moving

Nicholas Townsville on page one, Nick Townsville around pages one and two: my latest Google checks and 28 days of data on the stories people find.

Following the drums: Townsville's Full Moon Drum Circle

A family evening at Townsville's Full Moon Drum Circle brings back memories of filming Alex Salvador and Luke Anear at TEDxTownsville in 2015.

How Australian education runs security operations, and what boards should ask next (Part 4)

WA Education, Brisbane Catholic Education and independent schools show different ways to combine assessment, a SOC and managed response, and what schools still own.

Paying for improvement, not another report: getting results from school cyber security spend (Part 3)

Why schools should judge cyber security spending by what measurably improves between audits, with indicative costs for testing, workshops and managed support.