Russ Horn

When you’re a technology company celebrating Star Wars Day on May 4th… but your CFO, Tia Clary, shows up with a Star Trek cake instead. 🤦‍♂️ There’s clearly been a disturbance in the Force. #MayTheFourthBeWithYou

New guidance released today on the careful adoption of agentic AI services is a timely reminder that innovation must be matched with control. As AI systems move from generating outputs to taking actions, the risk profile fundamentally changes. We’re no longer just concerned with what AI says, but what it does. This guidance reinforces a few critical principles: • Establish clear governance and accountability • Define guardrails before deployment • Start with low-risk use cases and scale deliberately • Continuously monitor for security, privacy, and operational risks Agentic AI presents enormous opportunity, but only for organizations that treat it as both a technology and a risk management challenge. Well worth a read for anyone exploring AI adoption: cyber.gov.au/business-gover…

At @CoNetrix Security, we are proud to recognize the impact our team members have for the institutions we serve. Today we are highlighting Tony Rosas, Information Security and Compliance Consultant. Tony goes above and beyond to support our clients and here are what a few of our clients recently said about him: * Tony was a great partner! Swift responses and valuable knowledge. - IT Manager at bank in CA * Our VISO, Tony Rosas, is very knowledgeable and has changed our Information Security Program for the better. We have weekly meetings that keep us on task and ensure that we meet the requirements of regulations and audit. His suggestions for reporting and tracking tasks has been a game changer for me as well. We have open communication and he is involved in all projects. - VP Bank in TX * Tony has been a valuable resource for the bank to help address our information security challenges. - President at Bank in MA Thank you, Tony, for your dedication and the value you bring to our clients every day!

Celebrating a decade of excellence! 🎉 This month marks 10 years with Samantha on our team. She began her career with our Tandem company, supporting our @TandemLLC software. Today, she serves as an Information Security and Compliance Consultant with @CoNetrix Security. Samantha consistently puts our clients’ interests first. Below are a few comments clients have shared over the past few months about the service she provides. We’re grateful for Samantha’s dedication, integrity, wisdom, team spirit, and the positive impact she’s made over the past 10 years, and we look forward to many more! The project was quick and easy with Samantha. - COO at a bank in FL Samantha and Joseph were very helpful! - Security Officer at a bank in TX Samantha was great to work with......she was very patient, knowledgeable, and informative. - President at a bank in OK Sam was great! I appreciate the pre-meeting so we could focus on exactly what I wanted to cover for best practices. I appreciate her flexibility to accelerate the timeline. This was great because once we got into it we were on a roll and I was able to get all my questions answered in one session. Now I can take what I learned and implement the best practices we discussed. - VP at an organization in MT Collaborating with Sam and Bridgett to draft several risk assessments was an excellent experience. Their expertise with the Tandem risk assessment platform saved us valuable time and provided deeper insight into our overall risk posture. Their combination of professionalism and friendliness made this process both efficient and enjoyable. They offered thoughtful and insightful suggestions that strengthened our overall risk assessment approach, and the process was seamless from start to finish. - AVP at a bank in MD #CustomerService #InformationSecurity

Following our @CoNetrix Security engagements, we send report cards to our clients to ensure we are meeting expectations and delivering meaningful value. I personally review each one, and it’s especially rewarding to see our team members recognized for their impact. Below are a few comments shared by clients over the past couple of months about Bridgett Turner’s work in our Boost information security consulting engagements. Bridgett was great to work with. She was able to guide us through the risk assessment creation process nicely and provide us with guidance on how to continue. She was willing to set up follow-up meetings with us to make sure we had a good handle on the process. She was a pleasure to work with on this project. - COO at a Bank in IA Bridgett and team were extremely helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend one of these Boost Consulting engagements to anyone. - CTO at an Organization in CA We came out of this [Boost engagement] with a much better foundation, a realistic set of expectations for growth, and a newfound appreciation for the interconnectivity of the Tandem, LLC platform. I feel guilty putting A+ in each area, as personally I find A+ isn't helpful feedback, but I must say, I have no notes to give. Bridgett was a huge asset to us, and very supportive and friendly throughout. I'd be more than happy to work with her again... - CIO at a Credit Union in WI I've worked with Bridgett previously for Risk Assessment module training, and the BCP training was just as useful, and our sessions were quite productive. She provides good direction and allows open conversation. Bridgett was quick to respond to emails with questions in between our training sessions. It was good to have her as an ongoing resource as I was working on it after our training sessions. She is very easy-going and pleasant to work with, and very knowledgeable of the topic. She provided good insight into the BCP module, and I accomplished what I intended from the training sessions. - VP at a Bank in IA #customerservice #informationsecurity #vISO

Alyssa Pugh and Savannah Richardson recently published an AI Risk Management workbook for financial institutions. They developed this resource to help institutions navigate the evolving risks posed by AI and promote its responsible use. This is a practical, highly functional tool designed specifically for financial institutions. If you work for a U.S. financial institution and would like a complimentary electronic or physical copy, feel free to send me a private message and I’ll be happy to get one to you. #AIRiskManagement

Join me in celebrating Chad Jackson. Chad won the Team Spirit Core Value award at our annual @CoNetrix company meeting this week. Here are a few comments Chad's coworkers shared about him: Chad’s point of view is always a "we" and he finds ways to enrich all our experiences, whether that's cooking BBQ tirelessly through the night for celebrating our Engineers or finding ways to maintain our customers' satisfaction. Chad does a great job of bringing people together. If you've been around the Technology area in the mornings, you know that he goes around to every single person's office to greet them, give them a fist bump, and have a short conversation (which could turn into a long conversation if you bring up college football or Lord of the Rings). This lifts everyone's spirits and brings joy and energy to the office. Chad is always quick to lift others up and point to the success and contributions of others. As sales manager for Technology, he is always the first to celebrate his team members' success. Chad consistently demonstrates honesty, accountability, and strong ethical standards in everything he does. Chad follows through on commitments, communicates transparently, and makes decisions based on what is right. His integrity builds trust within our sales team, but more importantly with our customers. Chad is a wonderful leader and friend. He's always willing to share his insights and provide wisdom in dealing with tough situations. It has been a pleasure to see Chad take hold of his role as Sales Manager for the Technology team. He brings the strategy needed for success but most importantly he brings the energy needed for the team to stay connected and inspired. He does well to connect engineers with sales and encourage both in their successes along the way. He treats people with genuine respect and fairness, keeping his commitments and taking accountability when things don't go as planned. His actions consistently align with his words, whether dealing with internal team matters or customer relationships. Chad's leadership as Technology Sales Director is evident in several ways. In addition to improving the overall performance of the Sales group, he was instrumental in our transition to Halo. He has improved the processes that happen both before, during, and after the sale. He has been willing to take on any issue that comes up, big or small, and work to both develop and implement any needed changes. Not only does Chad have ambition for himself and his own goals, but he also passes that along to his team. Always wanted the best for us and wanting us to be the best we can be at our job as well. #CoreValues #TeamSpirit

Join me in celebrating Jaedon Pachicano. Jaedon won the Ambition Core Value award at our annual @CoNetrix company meeting this week. Here are a few comments Jaedon’s coworkers shared about him: Jaedon exemplifies the value of Ambition. He invests a substantial amount of his personal time to learning, developing new skills, and pursuing many certifications. Jaedon has ambitious goals and works hard to achieve them. Over a short period of time, he has gone from being a new employee with limited experience to being highly knowledgeable about the more technical aspects of the team’s work. Jaedon is a valued member of our team, and I greatly appreciate the work he does. Jaedon loves to learn and take on new projects and tasks. He has shown ambition by blazing new paths in a way that will change this company! Jaedon's ambition and dedication to his job and quest for knowledge is unmatched at CoNetrix. In his short time at the company, he has grown his knowledge and skillset exponentially. I am inspired by Jaedon and the ambition he approaches every day with. Jaedon has been the poster boy for ambition since he arrived at CoNetrix. He started as a Security Technician two years ago and quickly decided that penetration testing was what he wanted to do. He was warned that pen testing is a specialized set of skills, so it could be a long road. Jaedon took that as a challenge. He passed every certification needed, including the difficult OSCP. He volunteered for pen test tasks. He joined project teams. He actively engaged every chance he got. And he did this in a way that lines up with the CoNetrix culture. He encouraged others. He built relationships. He celebrated others' achievements. He challenges himself to do his best in order to serve and encourage others. He works for a greater purpose and knows he needs others around him to achieve it. Jaedon is a freight train! His journey since joining CoNetrix has been nothing less than astonishing. He is the hardest working person I know. I could go on and on about how incredible Jaedon is, but none of our words are going to be able to hold a light to his actions. Jaedon has fully bought into this place and has taken every opportunity to excel. He honestly could fall under Team Spirit or Ambition because he has demonstrated both so well. Ambition because Security set a long term goal for him and he was like watch me get it faster. I love the spirit! He is also such a connector of people and often draws people into projects, learning, or fun. I have enjoyed watching his journey unfold. Jaedon has exceeded all expectations over the past year. Although the bar he set for himself was high, he cleared it like a pole vaulter with a spring loaded pole. His ambition is contagious, motivating those around him, and his refusal to settle is genuinely inspiring. Jaedon has a reputation for studying hard, working hard, and being a great friend to all who know him. #CoreValues #Ambition

Join me in celebrating Lori Bogart. Lori won the Wisdom Core Value award at our annual @CoNetrix / @AccountingWare company meeting this week. Here are a few comments Lori’s coworkers shared about her: When I think of wisdom at CoNetrix, I think of Lori. Lori has a fine eye for detail and can understand the complex needs of each individual customer. She can recall details about accounts from many years ago. When I bring a question to Lori, she always comes back with great detail and wisdom in her reply. Lori consistently demonstrates wisdom in how she supports our customers, thoughtfully adapting her approach based on customer personalities, project complexity, and situational needs. She regularly provides insightful solutions and practical workarounds that address the root of the problem rather than just the symptoms. Through her dedication and sound judgment, Lori ensures the best possible approach is used to meet customer needs, making her an invaluable part of the implementation team. I appreciate her helpful comments and regularly seek out her wisdom to assist with new projects. Lori is an amazing leader, and I am so glad that I get to be on her team. She approaches every client she works with deep thought, the best intentions, and a plan that will not only be accurate but also create a relief for our clients. Lori's wisdom and experience is prominent in her problem-solving abilities. She always seems to have ideas and answers to our questions in AccountingWare! Lori is continuously strategic and thoughtful about what is going to be the right solution for our clients and inspires the rest of the team to do the same. Lori is a fount of knowledge and an amazing resource for the AccountingWare company. Her knowledge of our products is a key advantage in ensuring we are taking care of our customers while at the same time protecting our company by predicting the impact of changes and illuminating the issues long before reaching them. Her focus on teaching and raising up the next generation of employees is seen and felt daily. Her "Learning with Lori" emails instruct senior employees as well as new employees and push the newest concepts out to our team. Lori Bogart is the company’s go-to expert on ActivityHD, known for her exceptional memory, strong critical thinking, and sound judgment. She willingly shares her knowledge, mentors others, and consistently elevates the team’s ability to serve customers. Her knowledge of accounting and ActivityHD is second to none, but what impresses me even more is her ability to effectively communicate this knowledge to developers, support, and customers alike. I'm a huge fan, just don't tell her I said that :). #CoreValues #Wisdom

Join me in celebrating Carl Cope. Carl won the Integrity Core Value award at our annual @CoNetrix company meeting last week. Here are a few comments Carl’s coworkers shared about him: I’m nominating Carl because he’s one of the most thoughtful and wise people I know. He’s patient and gracious, and he has a way of making even difficult situations feel a little less heavy. I know his door is always open, and whenever I stop by, I leave with clarity and a smile thanks to his wisdom and kind heart. Carl embodies all of our core values, but especially integrity. He cares deeply for employees and helps ensure details are correct so that they feel at home. Carl is sincerely who I want to be if and when I "grow up." He is selfless, compassionate, humble, considerate, and is a man of his word. I have seen him go out of his way to help people in all types of situations, even when those people had made significant mistakes. He is never judgmental; always supportive. The true embodiment of a person of integrity. Anyone that knows Carl has experienced the incredible human that he is. He has been an integral part to team at CoNetrix for many years and displays all of our core values to the T! I'm nominating him for this award, because he is one of the most trustworthy people that I know, both inside of work and out. He can always be relied upon to do what he says he will do. When I have questions about people, processes, complex challenges, or even everyday decisions, Carl is the person I seek out. His strength goes beyond simply knowing facts; he has a rare ability to apply knowledge with perspective, open-mindedness, and practical wisdom. That wisdom is evident in the way he reflects, learns from others, and consistently guides situations toward thoughtful and positive outcomes. Carl deserves this award because he has been a stable source and example of integrity for our company for so many years. I get the honor of seeing him share his career story with the Cultivate class every year and the participants come away from that so encouraged to hear from someone in leadership who is willing to be so very honest. He is honest about what matters, about his missteps, and about how welcomed you are in his presence (in a good way!). Carl continues to teach us all what integrity means. Carl deserves every core value award, but since I believe Integrity is our most important core value, I want to nominate Carl for Integrity. His hard work, servant heart, wise counsel, and most important, his love for others shines in everything he does. Carl has had a meaningful impact on both my work life and my life in general. He is one of the most consistent people I know and genuinely lives out our core values through his leadership and care for others. His authenticity and vulnerability have shaped how I show up at work and reminded me of the importance of being present and building strong, supportive community. He is someone I deeply admire and hope to mirror in my own leadership.

Proud to celebrate my friend, @CoachCrow_LCHS, on his 600th career win tonight. 12 trips to the state tournament. 6 state championships. And 5 straight titles. The wins tell an incredible story, but they don’t fully capture who Coach Crow is. His commitment to investing in young people, leading with integrity, and loving others well is what sets him apart. Congrats Brad, I’m thankful to call you a friend.

One of the most rewarding parts of my role is reading feedback from our clients about our team. After every @CoNetrix Security IT Audit, we send a short report card, and the comments we received in Q4 2025 were too good not to share. With our clients’ permission, here are a few highlights.

To my Healthcare IT and cybersecurity friends out there, I am excited to share that @TandemLLC recently added some free cybersecurity frameworks to our Tandem Cybersecurity Assessment product. While we’re not ready for a big marketing push, I’m eager to get these 3 free ready-to-use healthcare cybersecurity frameworks into your hands. The frameworks we added include: HIPAA Security Rule, the HHS Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices (HICP), and CISA Health Sector-Specific Goals (SSGs). You can get access to a fully functional, no-cost version at lnkd.in/gcDiAX9v I would love to hear your feedback about how else we can support the healthcare sector in cybersecurity. Our goal is to help organizations like yours improve security and simplify compliance. #HealthcareCybersecurity #HealthIT #Cybersecurity

Two weeks ago, Lori Bogart, our Senior Project Lead for @AccountingWare, received the following email from a new customer who just finished transitioning from their old accounting software to #ActivityHD. Can you believe someone would actually say a conversion of their ERP software was a "wonderful experience"? I believe this just shows what a power software ActivityHD is and what an incredible implementation and support team @AccountingWare has!

"What is the difference between Risk Assessments and Cybersecurity Control Self-Assessments?" That was a question posed during one of @TandemLLC recent "Ask Me Anything" webinars, and it is one we have been hearing pretty regularly recently. So Alyssa put pen to paper and drafted a blog to help answer the question. tandem.app/blog/differenc…