2011 was a banner year for security breaches, including thehighly publicized Lockheed Martin, FBI, Sony Play Station Networkand Citigroup breaches. Lesser-known but collectivelydamaging attacks against lower profile targets, including creditunions, were also on the rise as 2011 ushered in a measurableincrease in breaches targeting smaller organizations.

Today's cybercriminals are banding together – learning from eachother, devising new ways to attack our security defenses andwreaking havoc on their targets as well as entire industries. Inthe last six years, we have witnessed year-over-year growth in thescope and impact of breaches. As a result, many are left wonderingif the good guys stand any chance against these cybercriminals.

As the founder and CEO of Wisegate, a private onlinecommunity for senior-level IT executives, I have the privilege ofworking with some of IT's best and brightest security professionalswith a ringside seat to the private discussions that unfold in theaftermath of these attacks.