Why Digital Defense?
A few years ago, I lost my decades old website, momgeek.com to a hacker. Hundreds of blog posts about my business and cancer journey were gone. That was my wake-up call that digital defense is not just a tech issue for big companies. Cyber security is a real-life business issue for solopreneurs, too.
In episode 328 of Gratitude Geek, I’m talking with Rob Broadhead of RB Consulting. We chat about what digital defense actually looks like, why common-sense habits matter more than most of us think. Plus, how to protect your business without making it harder than it needs to be.
What is Digital Defense?
Digital defense, to me, is putting a cyber wall around your business. Closing the door open for the wrong people to walk in. It’s less about being overly suspicious and more about being smart. Bad actors exist. Use common sense, and taking simple steps to protect your website, your passwords, and everything you’ve built.
Key Takeaways
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Security awareness is the first line of digital defense.
- Small businesses and solopreneurs are still targets.
- Use AI and vibe coding carefully.
- If you get hacked, act fast and triage first.
- Tools like Cloudflare can add a useful protective layer.
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Security Awareness Comes First
Rob’s main message is that digital defense starts with basic awareness, not advanced tools. He says protecting yourself is “frustratingly common sense” and compares it to the way women already move through the world more carefully:
“Women are smarter about it. They do things like they don’t walk into dark alleys”.
The point is that small business owners should treat their online business the same way they treat real-world safety — with caution, habits, and a healthy respect for risk.
Small Businesses Still Get Targeted
One of the clearest lessons from the episode is that you do not have to be a big company to become a target. I lost over 20 years worth of content when my site was hacked, which makes the threat feel immediate and real. Rob reinforces that the motivation is often not personal; attackers may use a site as “a way point to do something else,” or simply “want to mess with you”.
AI Needs Guardrails
The conversation makes it clear that AI can be useful, but only when it is handled with limits. Rob describes vibe coding as working with AI like “having your own little junior developer,” which is helpful for speed but risky if you do not understand what the system is actually building. His advice is to keep it small and controlled. Put guard rails around it and start with simple tasks instead of giving it access to sensitive systems.
Hack Response Should Be Triage
If a breach happens, act quickly and focus on damage control. Rob says to “unplug what you can,” “shut it down,” and avoid trying to patch a compromised system if there may still be a back door. He also recommends contacting your host, checking backups, and assessing what was lost, because the first job is to minimize damage before you try to repair everything.
Protective Layers Matter
Another strong takeaway is that tools like Cloudflare can add a practical layer of defense for content-heavy sites. Rob explains that Cloudflare sits on top of your site like a copy that people access instead of going directly to the server, which can improve speed and act “as a firewall of sorts”. For solopreneurs and bloggers, that extra layer can make a meaningful difference without requiring a huge technical lift.
Meet Rob Broadhead
Rob Broadhead is a technology consultant, fractional CIO/CTO, and the founder of RB Consulting, where he helps leaders make clear, vendor-agnostic technology and AI decisions. He also founded the Develpreneur podcast and community, which focuses on helping developers and business leaders turn ideas into practical results.
He has more than 30 years of experience in software development, architecture, and business consulting. His work centers on clarifying business goals first, then building the right systems and processes to support them.
“Protecting yourself is actually frustratingly common sense.” – Rob Broadhead
Connect with Rob
- Website: RB Consulting
- LinkedIn: @robbroadhead
- Podcast: Develpreneur
- Book: Cancer vs. The Hockey Mom
Mentioned
- Rob created this co-branded Cloudflare Guide to help you keep your website safe
- 149: Contentment Is a Skill—How Intentional Systems Help Solopreneurs Thrive in Uncertain Times with Rob Broadhead
- 150: Beyond Cancer featuring Rob Broadhead
Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase. No added cost to you.
Final Thoughts
For me, this conversation is another reminder that business growth for women over 40 does not have to be loud, rushed, or exhausting. When we build with awareness, guardrails, and a little gratitude, we can protect what we’ve created and keep moving forward in a way that feels steady, sustainable, and true to who we are — especially when we are rebuilding after cancer, divorce, or loss.
If this episode gave you something useful, go download Rob’s Cloudflare guide at kandasrodarte.com/cloudflare. It is a simple next step if you want to strengthen your own digital defense.
Stay Groovy!
Gratitude Geek Podcast is made possible by:
MacKenzie Circle, Goddess Approach, Marketing Podcast Network, HoneyBook, SendOutCards, The Super Patch Co., Riverside.FM, Podmatch
and listeners like you.
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