ABSTRACT FORWARD CONSULTING

Cyber Security, Risk, Process Improvement, & Data Privacy – Strategy Experts

SERVICES

We focus on all the below areas as “disruptive” thinkers from a management/leadership strategy consulting perspective:

ABOUT US

Here are the five little things that make us special!

Early Adopter Support

We focus on 360 security strategy (including deception) advisement which exceeds compliance requirements. We use cutting-edge technologies and frameworks and are ok questioning ones that are likely to become obsolete.

Personalized Service

We focus on quality over quantity which means we offer customized consulting services with an individual consultant or a team of consultants for your unique needs and industry.

Three-Pronged Synergies ©

Disruptive Thinking

Our consultants are sophisticated intellectuals and sought after technology and security trendsetters. This means we are focused on creating better new solutions, not copying the existing ones.

Early Risk Detection

Using machine learning, data analytics, and experimentation, we identify risks early before they become issues no matter the industry or regulatory frameworks.

The Problems Our Customers Face:
  • Poor digital strategy, poor cyber strategy, poor cybersecurity tools and processes, dangerous silos, poor cyber training, nebulous reorgs, too much risk, needless rework, compliance violations, redundant complexity, poor culture of technology and learning, ineffective bureaucracy, contradicting assessment findings, failure to understand the critical path, poor leadership, prior data breaches or incidents, and/or poor or ambiguous communication – all the while security and IT performance gaps worsen or stay flat with you footing the bill. There is a better way – the Abstract Forward way! 
The Solutions We Provide: 
  • Savvier than top-tier consulting firms without the excessive cost, more creative than top jazz artists, more premier than European automotive engineering, and an amazing ROI. A truly premier digital strategy and security management consulting firm. We bring together three consulting firms types for a disruptive solution: IT Nerd/Hacker, Creative Agency, and Risk Assurance. We are not afraid to be different and challenge status quo conceptions in business technology, because we prove the ROI, but don’t take our word for it see our A+ results and then contact us with your biggest challenge.

Leaving traditional assumptions behind is key at 30% because it has historically held organizations back. Disrupting what has been reduces organizational bias, opens siloed communication, and reduces needless office bureaucracy thereby reducing risk. It also means we are not limited by traditional frameworks, templates, or consulting approaches. In security, it’s about the now and understanding the threat actors approach.

Most organizations would admit that their security and business processes could be improved. Knowing where and how is the challenge we excel at. We do it in a disruptive way that requires organizations ready to improve. We do different, not to be different, but to be better amid the democratization of technology. We confront worst case scenarios so you are trained, defended, not surprised, and most importantly to maintain your customers with a competitive edge. Like the military, we must be realists to plan for the optimal outcome amid many risks. Mimicking your worst-case scenarios is key to putting policies, procedures, and the right people in place to reduce vulnerabilities. As most companies evolve over time, they become more dependent on technology while most vulnerabilities are tied to the internet. This is one of the reasons why we have a board definition of vulnerability: “Any weakness that can be exploited by an aggressor to make an asset susceptible to hazard or damage”.

  • Risk = threat * vulnerability * consequences.
  • This can be an 18-year-old hacker from Eastern Europe, an underpaid or demoted employee, a cryptic botnet, or anything else with means and intent.
    • We make no assumptions without solid evidence and reasoning supporting it – this is not checkbox compliance.
  • We can and will obtain good intelligence for our clients.
The following process diagram outlines the relationships that need to be understood for good risk management. This diagram could be successfully applied to most of our corporate clients.

This diagram shows the cross-functional relationships and sub-dependencies among critical infrastructure sectors.  We are DHS ICS CERT trained to help you navigate these complexities.

The organizations who have trusted us so far (diverse experience):

Over the years Mr. Swenson has been able to earn relationships with many civic, business, and creative industry leaders.  Today he strives to use these relationship management skills to advise executive clients how to influence change:

SPEAKING / WRITING

Mr. Swenson is open to independently write, co-author, commentate on radio or T.V., or be a source for journalists. He is also open to speak at companies, universities, non-profits, think tanks, and at private events on a selective basis. He can be a moderator, speaker, or panel member. If you are looking for a non-big-four opinion from someone with an exceptionally amazing background, with varied roles and responsibilities in business and a track record of authentic leadership and innovative thinking and writing, he offers the best millennial / xennial commentary from a disruptive thinking perspective. He has been an “outside the box” thinker his entire life. He knows leadership by going with the flow is the biggest mass social-cultural fallacy of modern times and that it is far more dangerous than most people realize. He has charisma, style, great speaking and story-telling skills, and he bridges gaps between diverse stakeholders to derive creative thoughts. If you are interested in having him speak at your next event contact him here. Below is a list of topics he specializes in:

  • economic creativity
  • how to have technological security without harming the business
  • the future of business and technology
  • managerial strategy
  • why variety: innovation vs. repetition
  • financial regulation and Fed. policy
  • risk management
  • emerging technological trends
  • what is true leadership and why most people fail at this
  • retail banking
  • the future of retail
  • the anti-big-four perspective (disruptive thinking)
  • sitting in a cube = yesterday
  • citizen journalism
  • how to inspire your team to the next level
  • free market economics
  • the music business
  • the Minneapolis music scene
  • digital currency
  • networking and lobbying
  • the danger of leadership by title

Selected speaking engagements:

Selected writing and press:

MISSION-VISSION-VALUES

Company Mission: We use abstract thinking on security, risk, and technology problems to move business forward!
Company Vision: To be the premier provider of technology and security consulting services while making the world a better and safer place.
Company Values:
  • Reliability
  • Teamwork
  • Relationship focused
  • Creativity that breaks the status quo (disruptive thinking)
  • Sophisticated intellectualism
  • Agility
  • Reason trumps title
  • Open communication
  • Honesty

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CONTACT US

612-568-6738

Private

Minneapolis, MN