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Pillar6 PodcastAuthor: Roman Polnar
This is the Pillar6 Podcast. Where we talk about important topics around money, life, success and the balance of it all. Language: en Genres: Business, Education, Investing, Self-Improvement Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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IT Security Essentials for Business Owners and Individuals With Arash Shokouh
Thursday, 17 April, 2025
Arash Shokouh is the Founder and Managing Principal of Ophtek LLC, a company specializing in cybersecurity, managed IT security and support for small- and medium-sized businesses. With over 18 years of experience in computer technology, his background includes roles at several startups and a tenure at IBM, where he contributed to developing some of the world's fastest computer processors and holds patents in computer architecture. Beyond his professional endeavors, Arash has served as a small business development commissioner for the City of San Jose and teaches computer engineering at his alma mater, San Jose State University. In this episode… Cyberattacks are no longer just a risk for large corporations — they’re an everyday threat to individuals and small businesses alike. With phishing emails, AI-powered scams, and persistent system intrusions growing more sophisticated, what can the average person do to protect our data and avoid becoming the next target? Cybersecurity expert and IT professional Arash Shokouh outlines the essentials for fortifying digital systems, drawing from over two decades of experience. Arash emphasizes adopting a Zero Trust mindset, which means verifying every request — even those from familiar contacts — and avoiding convenience at the cost of security. With riveting anecdotes, including his recruitment by the CIA, he demonstrates the increasingly sophisticated nature of cyber adversaries and why individuals should migrate to secure platforms like Gmail and install trusted tools such as Malwarebytes. For businesses, he advocates consolidating services under platforms like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 and hiring professionals to strengthen account security, monitor systems, and ensure compliance with best practices. In this episode of the Pillar6 Podcast, Roman Polnar interviews Arash Shokouh, Founder and Managing Principal of Ophtek, on IT security essentials for businesses and individuals. Arash shares insights into persistent cybersecurity threats, the critical shift toward Zero Trust, practical steps to secure communications, and how to vet managed service providers. Resources mentioned in this episode: Roman M. Polnar on LinkedIn Pillar6 Advisors Arash Shokouh: LinkedIn | Email | Phone no.: (650) 731-7154 Ophtek: Website | Blog | LinkedIn Malwarebytes Check if Your Email Was Part of a Breach: Have I Been Pwned? 1Password The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
