When I started AQ’s Corner, I wasn’t trying to build a cybersecurity empire, I just wanted to protect my daughter, empower families, and make digital safety make sense. I believed cybersecurity education should be accessible, relatable, and rooted in real life.
I wanted parents to understand threats without fear.
I wanted schools to teach more than just “don’t click the link.”
I wanted small businesses, especially the ones run from kitchens, classrooms, and side hustles, to know how to defend themselves.
But here’s the plot twist…
While browsing the North Carolina Secretary of State website for LLC resources (yes, the boring-but-necessary side of entrepreneurship), I stumbled across something that stopped me in my tracks: The Cyber Readiness Institute’s free Cyber Readiness Program.
I was already knee-deep in developing a customized Incident Response Plan for AQ’s Corner. I had the bones, but I needed muscle. The CRI Playbook was exactly that: an actionable, clear, and empowering tool that helped elevate everything I was building.
So I jumped in.
I Did the Work, and Then Some
- I enrolled in the Cyber Readiness Program.
- I studied every section.
- I customized the Playbook around my mission: to turn kids into CyberHeroes and help families stay safe online.
- Then I submitted my plan for official certification.
What happened next was nothing short of powerful.
The Review That Changed Everything
I had the honor of reviewing my entire Incident Response Plan with a Certified Cyber Readiness Coach. And let me tell you, it wasn’t just a technical audit. It was a conversation full of purpose. We walked through my Playbook, line by line. I got helpful insights, made a few minor tweaks, and received something rare in this world: affirmation. My reviewer told me my plan was well-structured, clear, and strong, proof that I wasn’t just checking boxes. I was building something with backbone.
At the beginning of the call, he asked me:
“So, what exactly do you do at AQ’s Corner?”
And in summary, I said:
“We teach kids to become CyberHeroes and help their families build digital confidence. We’re raising the next generation of defenders. Teaching social responsibility and digital citizenship.”
A Seat at the Table, Earned, Not Asked For
I came for certification and walked away with a seat at the table. By the end of the conversation, I wasn’t just approved. I was invited to join the Cyber Readiness Institute’s Small Business Advisory Council because they recognized that my voice could help shape the future of national cybersecurity for small businesses.
No pitch. No ask. Just recognition.
Within hours, I was introduced to CRI’s Deputy Managing Director and received the agenda for the next council meeting. I’ll now be contributing to the national conversation, offering insight as someone who’s not just talking about cybersecurity but actually living it every single day.
Why This Matters
The CRI Certified Cyber Ready badge is more than a badge on my website.
It’s a public declaration that AQ’s Corner is committed, capable, and ready.
Ready to serve families.
Ready to support schools.
Ready to guide small businesses and solopreneurs who just want to feel secure without hiring an entire IT team.
We’re here to make cybersecurity understandable. To make it human. To make it matter.
What I’m Bringing to the Council
I’ll be sharing the voice of:
- Moms who run businesses between school pickups and recitals.
- Teachers who want to teach tech safety but don’t know where to start.
- Entrepreneurs building dreams on tight budgets and even tighter timelines.
I’ll speak to real challenges:
- Helping people recognize phishing attacks.
- Building secure habits around passwords and software updates.
- Knowing what to do when something goes wrong, because we know it will.
💥 And here’s what makes it even more powerful:
This is the first official certification I’ve earned under AQ’s Corner LLC, and it couldn’t be a more perfect fit.
To learn more about the Cyber Readiness Institute, click here → https://cyberreadinessinstitute.org
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