Now Hexatriaconta-Certified with GCWN Goodness. . .

From the SANS Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) on December 23rd, 2013:

"GIAC presents this certification to Christopher J. Marcinko who has met the necessary requirements and demonstrated a mastery of the subject matter and security skills to earn the GIAC Certified Windows Security Administrator - GCWN."

Date of Certification: December 23rd, 2013 Expiration Date: December 31st, 2021 Certificate Number: 2832

@securityguy23:

Back from both a Vulnerability Assessment and a separate HIPAA Security Policy review in Tampa -- returning to regularly scheduled programming, already in progress. . .

@securityguy23:

Back from Palo Alto training -- returning to regularly scheduled programming, already in progress. . .

@securityguy23:

Back from executing a HIPAA Security Assessment in New Jersey -- returning to regularly scheduled programming, already in progress. . .

Christmastime at the Fort (Part 2)

Thanx to a rare early December ice storm, it's looking more like Christmastime at the Fort. . .

All those LEDs glowing against the ice

From the driveway

The wreath had a light layer of ice on it too, as did all the bricks above the garage doors

Closeup of the lights reflecting in the ornaments hanging from the big tree

Looking towards the glow of the bushes

There's a sidewalk under here somewhere. Sleet/ice sheet was about an inch think in most places.

Bottoms of the bushes were buried

The lights made for some intriuging shadows against the ice

Up against the house, the sleet/ice drift was closer to 6 inches

Mr. Peabody standing knee deep in sleet/ice

Icebound Commute Home

Four hours earlier, I was in Philly where it was dry and 50 degrees. Get back home to find it's 26 and everything is covered with an inch of ice. Something doesn't sound right with that.

Getting out of the Remote North Parking lot ended up being the easy part as what normally takes 45 min to get between the airport and north to Denton/Fort Marcinko -- took every bit of 3 1/2 hours. Roads went from slick to rough/rutted/ice holed with no warning. Never saw any evidence that anybody had thrown down sand or salt. And never went more than a couple of miles without seeing (at least) one car in the ditch or a spun-out big-rig. Nearly fishtailed off at least a dozen times myself.

Good times

DFW Remote North parking lot was completely iced over

And walking up to the car -- this was the exact point when I realized how much this was really gonna suck. My ice scraper is in the trunk, but the ice has frozen it shut. . .

About 1/4 inch of ice built up on the rear window. Took about 10 minutes to scrape off this much with my handy dandy emergency window breaker tool.

Accumulation was much heavier on the northern facing side of the car

And for some reason, even more so on the northwest side as it kept me from being able to get my driverside door open. Was able to get in from the passengerside (thankfully).

Yea, a little too much for the defogger to handle

Parking lot lights through the driverside door window

Obligatory foot on the ice shot

An hour later, finally had a hole scrapped out in the front window ice

The Remote North bus drivers should be getting quadruple pay tonight