From Homeschool to Hacking — And Reflections on Readiness and Resilience

Clinton Spencer
Jul 23, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Aug 21, 2025

Clint looks out at images that represent family, home educating, cyber security, and decision models.

Hi, I’m Clint, founder of C-Sure Consulting. This week’s edition of C-Shorts looks at some big transitions: wrapping up our homeschool journey, embarking on exciting new projects, and exploring the increasing importance of getting the basics right in cyber resilience...

🎓 Farewells, Family, and Future Focus We’re now into the final days of schooling here at home, and what a journey it’s been. Looking back over the past 12 months, it’s incredible to see how much our eldest has grown, not just academically, but in confidence and resilience too. To be honest, I don’t think we’d have seen anywhere near this level of growth if he’d spent this past year in a mainstream school setting. I have nothing against mainstream schools at all, but this was exactly what he needed.

This week has been emotional at times as we’ve been pulling together photos, projects, and all those memories and milestones we've shared along the way. It’s been a privilege to spend this extra time together, and it’s something I’ll genuinely miss. But I’m also excited for the new adventures that secondary school will bring for him, and I'm looking forward to moving into the next chapter in our lives. 🖥️ Building Branches and Breaking New Ground

Speaking of transitions makes me think about the amount of time I've been spending switching from one step to the next (and then back again) while developing our new Cyber Resilience Simulation. The branching logic behind these interactive scenarios is intricate, challenging, and sometimes it really makes my head hurt! But it’s a special feeling when the scenarios finally come together and the click-throughs run seamlessly. With a deadline now agreed, the pressure is definitely on, but the reward is seeing it come alive. It shouldn't be long before we can start showcasing it at trade events, and with some potential partnerships in the works, I'm genuinely excited about what this might mean for the future of C-Sure Consulting.

🔐 Password Pitfalls and Protecting Your Business

On the topic of cyber resilience, I recently came across a sobering news story on the BBC about a logistics company called Knights of Old; a name I'm sure many of you will recognise from the distinctive trailers that have been on our roads for decades. Despite its long history, the 158-year-old company faced an irreparable downfall due to one simple mistake: weak passwords.

A cyber-attack triggered by a hacker guessing an employee’s password allowed criminals to infiltrate Knights of Old’s IT systems. Once inside, the attackers encrypted critical data and demanded a significant ransom. Unable to recover, the company was eventually forced into administration and has now ceased trading. Over 700 jobs were lost, all due to something as seemingly minor as weak password management.

If there’s one key lesson here, it’s the importance of getting the basics right. Password security is fundamental. To strengthen your sign-in security, make sure you do the following:

Set complex, unique passwords that are hard to guess
Never reuse passwords across multiple accounts
Consider using a secure password manager
Enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible
Regularly review and refresh your passwords

📞 Scams, Schemes, and Silver Linings

Interestingly, in just the past two weeks, I’ve personally been targeted by four different scams: two phone calls, an email, and even a convincing enquiry through the C-Sure Consulting website’s standard contact form. They're getting smarter and more realistic every time. But there is a silver lining to this, as each attempted scam gives me fresh, realistic scenarios to incorporate into our Cyber Resilience Simulation. So thank you, scammers, for helping us improve our content! 👍😊

🛒 More Reasons to Mirror Morrisons

On a related note, I also spotted some positive industry news this week: Morrisons supermarket is investing in a 'living digital model' (digital twin) of their supply chain. A digital twin essentially mirrors your supply chain in a virtual, data-driven environment, allowing companies to spot vulnerabilities and predict outcomes in real-time, rather than after the damage is done. It’s a proactive, forward-thinking approach, and a great example of how companies can step up their cyber resilience efforts.

Beyond digital twins, here are a few additional practical steps businesses can take to protect their supply chains...

Supply chain mapping Understand exactly where your risks are, including cyber vulnerabilities at supplier and partner levels
Scenario simulations Regularly stress-test your supply chain's resilience using realistic cyber threat scenarios
Employee training Equip your team with the knowledge to recognise and respond effectively to threats such as phishing, ransomware, and social engineering attacks
Incident response plans Ensure your crisis-response plans are up-to-date and tested regularly so your team knows exactly what to do when these threats materialise Cybersecurity isn’t a one-off exercise; it’s a continuous process. And it pays to stay vigilant.

🧢 Hats, Hustle, and the Human Side of Business

As I juggle all these hats, I realise just how much I do enjoy the variety and challenge of it all. But as we transition out of homeschooling, I’m looking forward to focusing more deeply on the areas where I can add the most value. There’s real joy in being able to specialise, build long-term relationships, and deliver lasting impact. It’s an exciting thought, and one that genuinely motivates me. For me, that’s what it’s really all about: doing meaningful work and making a real difference.

🤝 Let’s Keep Connected

What challenges are you seeing right now in your own business?

Are you struggling to keep your systems secure, or facing difficult transitions in your business or personal life? I’d love to hear from you — comment below or get in touch with us directly. Until next time...