Responsive Design Demo
A long-form responsive page showcasing full media-query behavior and adaptive typography.
Professional Computing & Technology Consulting
Consulting that favors clarity over complexity.
I can assist you all the way through to shipping. From modernizing legacy systems and designing offline-first tools to right-sizing deployment, cross-checking governance, and verifying data practices, the goal is pragmatic progress and verifiable outcomes.
Explanations
Explanations in areas of computing and technology, with links to examples and demos.
Web Browser and JavaScript Overview
An explanative page on web browsers, javascript, and some of the "flavors" available within the JavaScript world.
OSI Model & Hosting Setups
An explanative page on web browsers, javascript, and some of the "flavors" available within the JavaScript world.
Firewall & Network Security
An explanative page on firewalls and network security.
Troubleshooting Prompts
A resource page for troubleshooting with scenarios and prompts.
Encapsulation Playground
A resource page for looking at encapsulation examples created alongside ChatGPT
Tips & Insights
Short, actionable notes. Each card includes a concise source so teams can go deeper.
Adopt MFA Everywhere First
Enable phishing-resistant MFA for admins and remote access as a first control. It reduces common credential-theft risk and raises the bar for attackers.
Source (APA): CISA. (2021). Implementing phishing-resistant MFA. https://www.cisa.gov/
Prioritize Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Patch cycles should explicitly track the “known exploited” list in addition to vendor advisories. Treat those items as expedited changes.
Source (APA): CISA. (2024). Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog. https://www.cisa.gov/
3-2-1 Backups With Restoration Drills
Keep three copies, on two media types, with one off-site or offline. Test restores quarterly to verify objectives and operator familiarity.
Source (APA): NIST. (2010). SP 800-34 Rev.1: Contingency Planning Guide for Federal Information Systems. https://csrc.nist.gov/
Log What You Want To Answer
Define questions first (who did what, from where, and when), then instrument systems and retain logs long enough to investigate effectively.
Source (APA): NIST. (2006). SP 800-92: Guide to Computer Security Log Management. https://csrc.nist.gov/
Build Against the OWASP Top 10
Use the Top 10 as a lightweight threat model for web apps and APIs. Add automated checks for injection, auth, and sensitive data exposure.
Source (APA): OWASP. (2021). OWASP Top Ten. https://owasp.org/
Use an SBOM for Dependency Risk
Generate a software bill of materials during CI to surface vulnerable components and license issues before deployment.
Source (APA): NIST. (2022). SP 800-218: Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF). https://csrc.nist.gov/
Role-Based Access, Least Privilege
Map roles to tasks and grant only what is necessary. Review high-risk permissions on a schedule and require approvals for escalation.
Source (APA): NIST. (2014). SP 800-53 Rev.4/5: Security and Privacy Controls. https://csrc.nist.gov/
Clarify Cloud Shared Responsibility
Vendors operate infrastructure; customers own identity, data, and configuration. Document this early to prevent gaps.
Source (APA): Cloud Security Alliance. (2017). Security Guidance v4. https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/
Approach
Lightweight process, strong communication, documented handoffs.
01 — Discovery
Understand goals, constraints, compliance drivers, and current pain points. Inventory systems and data flows.
02 — Roadmap
Define a minimal, high-impact sequence of changes with owners, risks, and success criteria.
03 — Delivery
Iterate in small slices with demos, tests, and clear release notes to minimize disruption.
04 — Uplift
This is where you want someone who has S.C.R.U.M. or SIX-SIGMA
Frequently Asked Questions
What sizes of engagements are supported?
Short assessments, multi-month delivery, and fractional advisory. Work is scoped to measurable outcomes.
Do you work in regulated environments?
Yes. Experience includes controls mapping and pragmatic compliance alignment (for example, NIST SP 800-53, SP 800-171, ISO 27001).
Can you collaborate with in-house teams?
Yes. The preferred model embeds alongside research and development, IT, and security, with paired delivery and documentation.
About
I am Scott Owen, a consultant focused on secure, reliable computing for real-world constraints. My work spans all types of systems, offline-first design, practical security review, and practical chain of assignments (delegation) for small organizations and public-interest projects.
Values: clarity, calm delivery, plain language, and leaving clients with a more solid understanding.
Security & Networking Checklist
Security & Networking Checklist Example
Contact
Send a short note about your goals. I will reply with a time to talk.
Prefer email? Write to scott.