CYBERISKIQ from the CARE-Report: Quantifying Small Business Cyber Risk with Ralph Pasquariello and Craig Sekowski (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 915)
On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes cyber risk specialists Ralph Pasquariello and Craig Sekowski of the CARE-Report. Ralph and Craig explain why small and mid-sized businesses are far more exposed to cyber threats than they realize, not only from data breaches, but also from business interruption and extended downtime that many leaders never quantify until after an incident happens.
They describe how the CARE-Report’s CYBERISKIQ offering gives owners and CFOs a quantitative look at their exposure, translating cyber scenarios into dollars and days. Instead of selling IT services, the CARE-Report sits between cybersecurity and cyber insurance, running thousands of simulated scenarios, analyzing policies for exclusions and gaps, and helping clients right-size coverage based on real risk rather than guesswork.
Ralph and Craig also share why traditional “assessments” often stop at a technical checklist and how their work complements MSPs, attorneys, and insurance brokers by giving everyone a financial risk model they can work from together. They offer examples of companies that believed they were protected because they carried a certain cyber limit to satisfy contracts, only to discover that a serious incident could quickly exceed that limit once business interruption and remediation costs were added.
This conversation serves as a practical guide for any owner, CFO, or advisor seeking to safeguard revenue and enhance cyber coverage prior to an attack.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
- Why small and mid-sized businesses often underestimate cyber risk when they focus on compliance instead of financial impact
- How the CARE-Report’s CYBERISKIQ models thousands of cyber scenarios to put a dollar value on potential losses and downtime
- The difference between a technical cybersecurity assessment and quantitative cyber risk analysis
- How the CARE-Report works alongside MSPs, attorneys, and insurance brokers to align cybersecurity, contracts, and cyber insurance
- Common policy gaps and exclusions that can leave companies exposed after a breach, especially around business interruption and recovery costs
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
00:28 Guest Introduction: Ralph Pasquariello and Craig Sekowski
01:54 The CARE-Report: Cyber Risk and Coverage
02:31 Cyber Risk IQ: New Product Launch
02:53 Understanding Cyber Risk Assessments
05:41 The Importance of Cyber Insurance
08:14 Challenges in Cyber Insurance Policies
11:15 Ensuring Proper Coverage
14:58 Real-World Examples and Solutions
17:31 Cyber Insurance Coverage Gaps
18:04 Evolving Cyber Threat Landscape
18:38 Impact of Cyber Attacks on Businesses
21:37 Cyber Risk Assessment Process
27:50 Success Stories in Cyber Risk Management
29:58 Conclusion and Contact Information
30:37 Additional Resources and Closing Remarks
Craig Sekowski, Managing Partner, The CARE-Report
Craig Sekowski is a seasoned executive with almost 30 years’ experience in IT and FinTech.
Craig’s strategic collaboration with corporate CIOs drives innovation, product delivery, and key partnerships with companies like Enlace Health, Fiserv, Truist, Ethos Labs, TIAA, Home Depot, AT&T, Carrier, and British Telecom.
Craig’s results-driven approach makes him a respected leader in IT innovation and strategy.
Ralph Pasquariello, Managing Partner, The CARE-Report
For the past 16 years, Ralph Pasquariello has been moderating and speaking at dozens of conferences and panels on cyber liability & data breach risk management. He has hosted educational seminars on cyber exposure for professional associations of all industries, including operational technology and intellectual technology. Ralph’s cyber liability expertise has qualified him to present at over 100 events.
Ralph works with the FBI, GBI, and US Secret Service on the Atlanta Cyber Fraud Task Force. He is the former Executive Committee Chairman for the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Tech400 Board and Cyber Symposium and an advisor to the Georgia Tech Research Institute.
Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio
Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $26 billion in assets and more than 280 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from the commitment of each banker to invest in the communities they serve, which helps them better understand the people. At Renasant Bank, their banking professionals understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.
Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube
Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio
Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.
Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.
Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube
About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray
With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!
The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their markets, communities, and professions. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
The studio is located at 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
You can find the complete archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.
John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.
John is the author of the five-star rated book, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.
