Episode 33
Turn a Failed Cybersecurity Audit into a Budget Increase
January 30th, 2026
54 mins 48 secs
Season 3
About this Episode
This week, Richard, Brazos, Mario, and Joe tear apart the red tape of NIST 800-53, CIS Controls, and state-mandated audits. We discuss the disconnect between legislators in the capital and the reality of a one-person IT department in a small school district.
We also address the "Tech Support Brain" vs. "Auditor Brain" phenomenon and answer the burning question: Should you fudge your numbers to avoid looking bad on a state report? (Spoiler: No, and here is why). Plus, we reveal the "Malicious Compliance" strategy - how to use a low compliance score to force your board to finally sign that check for the tools you need.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The absurdity of "one-size-fits-all" government mandates.
- Why NIST and CIS controls often fail small organizations.
- The temptation to lie on self-assessments (and why you shouldn't).
- "Auditor Brain": Dealing with compliance officers who don't understand tech.
- Strategic Failure: How to use a bad score to get more budget.
- The Scinary "10 Commandments" of controls.
- Also... do golden toilets actually have better Wi-Fi?
If you are drowning in paperwork and compliance checklists, this episode is for you.
Connect with Scinary Cybersecurity:
https://www.scinary.com
https://x.com/scinarycyber
https://www.linkedin.com/company/scinarycyber/