--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think every organization needs to…" description: "\"I think every organization needs to assume that they are compromised.\" — Dmitri Alperovitch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/dmitri-alperovitch-16448_i-think_i-think-every-organization-needs-to-assu_1942642.jpg" --- # I think every organization needs to assume that they are… ![“I think every organization needs to assume that they are compromised.” quote by Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/dmitri-alperovitch-16448_i-think_i-think-every-organization-needs-to-assu_1942642.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/dmitri-alperovitch-16448_i-think_i-think-every-organization-needs-to-assu_1942642.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/dmitri-alperovitch-16448_i-think_i-think-every-organization-needs-to-assu_1942642.jpg) > “I think every organization needs to assume that they are compromised.” [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Assuming compromise as a baseline strengthens security vigilance and proactive defense. **In simple terms:** Assume systems are compromised. Key Takeaway Adopt a zero‑trust mindset. Themes security trust risk management Mood cautious analytical Type technical strategic When to use this quote - IT infrastructure - software development - policy making Key Concepts zero trust threat modeling defense in depth Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance security and convenience? - What signals indicate a breach? A Different Perspective Over‑cautiousness may hinder usability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) ## Related quotes > [One of the things I had to really work on is, when you're the leader of an organization, people look at the expression on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-yong-kim/one-of-the-things-i-had-to-really-work-on-is-when-you-re-the-leader/) [Jim Yong Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-yong-kim/) > [I think in any organization you want your manager to have a strong opinion. 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If I've gotten anywhere in my life it's been on my own merits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cher/i-ve-never-compromised-who-i-am-not-ever-if-i-ve-gotten-anywhere-in/) [Cher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cher/) > [Everyone in this world will say: You have changed a lot, But, No one in the world will look in to your eyes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/everyone-in-this-world-will-say-you-have-changed-a-lot-but-no-one-in/) Unkown > [Apple does magical things, but it does magical things that are a combination of a product, a service, a system, and an experience with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sculley/apple-does-magical-things-but-it-does-magical-things-that-are-a/) [John Sculley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sculley/) > [“I could no longer be equated with the Virgin Mary. I had been corrupted. I was like everyone else. My stone-casting credibility had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/i-could-no-longer-be-equated-with-the-virgin-mary-i-had-been/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [We will compromise and compromise and compromise but we will never be compromised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanis-varoufakis/we-will-compromise-and-compromise-and-compromise-but-we-will-never-be/) [Yanis Varoufakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanis-varoufakis/) > [If our governments are so compromised that they will not tell us the truth, then we must step forward to grasp it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-harrison/if-our-governments-are-so-compromised-that-they-will-not-tell-us-the/) [Sara Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-harrison/) > [What nature of being are we that even our dreams can be compromised?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tan/what-nature-of-being-are-we-that-even-our-dreams-can-be-compromised/) Alex Tan > [I imagine like most of us that I'd like obscene amounts of money but the people I met and worked with who have those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isaacs/i-imagine-like-most-of-us-that-i-d-like-obscene-amounts-of-money-but/) [Jason Isaacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isaacs/) > [“A sudden flash of his partner Wyte, telling him he was compromised, him replying, "I don't have an opinion on that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/a-sudden-flash-of-his-partner-wyte-telling-him-he-was-compromised-him/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [“There was an intruder on a forbidden part of the island, and the security system was compromised." Another image of Archer's sword slicing through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/there-was-an-intruder-on-a-forbidden-part-of-the-island-and-the/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [ I felt really compromised. I think legal marriage is unnecessary and I would not have formalised the relationship \[with husband Peter Davis\] except for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-clark/i-felt-really-compromised-i-think-legal-marriage-is-unnecessary-and-i/) [Helen Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-clark/) ## More by Dmitri Alperovitch > [The difference between theft and destruction is often a few keystrokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/the-difference-between-theft-and-destruction-is-often-a-few-keystrokes/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [AI is going to be extremely beneficial, and already is, to the field of cybersecurity. It's also going to be beneficial to criminals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/ai-is-going-to-be-extremely-beneficial-and-already-is-to-the-field-of/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [Russia is a Tier 1 cyber power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/russia-is-a-tier-1-cyber-power/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [The GRU is used for both tactical intelligence collection in the battlefield in support of Russian military operations and also strategic active measures or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/the-gru-is-used-for-both-tactical-intelligence-collection-in-the/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [Obviously, you have the DNC engaged in communication with lots of different parties, and anything you can use to gain intelligence about what's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/obviously-you-have-the-dnc-engaged-in-communication-with-lots-of/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [Transnational organized cybercriminal groups have stolen hundreds of millions of dollars from financial institutions and ordinary citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/transnational-organized-cybercriminal-groups-have-stolen-hundreds-of/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [You have a very large population of hackers in Eastern Europe in general and Russia especially. A lot of them consider themselves patriotic individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/you-have-a-very-large-population-of-hackers-in-eastern-europe-in/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [In the physical world, we would never blame the victim of the assault for that assault taking place, but yet we do so all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/in-the-physical-world-we-would-never-blame-the-victim-of-the-assault/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [Cyber espionage is very lucrative for economic benefit to a nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/cyber-espionage-is-very-lucrative-for-economic-benefit-to-a-nation/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [With Fancy Bear, we have medium-level confidence it's GRU, which is Russia's military intelligence agency, and with Cozy Bear, we have low-level confidence it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/with-fancy-bear-we-have-medium-level-confidence-it-s-gru-which-is/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [We should enable the private sector to engage in self-defense in the cyber world like we do in the physical world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/we-should-enable-the-private-sector-to-engage-in-self-defense-in-the/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [Organizations, whether they are nonprofits or enterprise, need to be aware that nation-states are coming after them for political espionage, economic espionage, or destructive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/organizations-whether-they-are-nonprofits-or-enterprise-need-to-be/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [The U.S. government is actually exceptionally vulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/the-u-s-government-is-actually-exceptionally-vulnerable/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [A lot of people who are born here don't appreciate the freedoms we have, the opportunities we have, because they've never had it any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/a-lot-of-people-who-are-born-here-don-t-appreciate-the-freedoms-we/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [It's been really hard to watch the news of this Anonymous and LulzSec stuff because most of what they do - defacing Web sites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/it-s-been-really-hard-to-watch-the-news-of-this-anonymous-and-lulzsec/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) [Explore all 40 Dmitri Alperovitch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) ## More Assume quotes > [We only call at ducks when their rear ends are towards us. If I'm looking at you and you call my name, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jase-robertson/we-only-call-at-ducks-when-their-rear-ends-are-towards-us-if-i-m/) [Jase Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jase-robertson/) > [Nobody really knows everything, and they can only assume.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/nobody-really-knows-everything-and-they-can-only-assume/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [Partisanship is our great curse. We too readily assume that everything has two sides and that it is our duty to be on one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/partisanship-is-our-great-curse-we-too-readily-assume-that-everything/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [“I just mean, sometimes two people do something unexpected and then by that simple act alone, it just seems they automatically assume it's now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-amo/i-just-mean-sometimes-two-people-do-something-unexpected-and-then-by/) [Thomas Amo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-amo/) > [I think that we have a number of different health care challenges in our country, and certainly addressing the uninsured is one, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-stabenow/i-think-that-we-have-a-number-of-different-health-care-challenges-in/) [Debbie Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-stabenow/) > [Is it philosophical, is it quite allowable, to assume without evidence from fossil plants that the family or any of the genera was once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-gray/is-it-philosophical-is-it-quite-allowable-to-assume-without-evidence/) [Asa Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-gray/) > [Let's assume for the moment that the logic behind Presidents Day is actually sound for certain presidents. Why not have a separate holiday for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/let-s-assume-for-the-moment-that-the-logic-behind-presidents-day-is/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [We should not assume; however, that just because something is unexplainable by us, it is unexplainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-should-not-assume-however-that-just-because-something-is/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [I think a lot of fans immediately go, 'ugggh' when they hear that someone is doing a prequel or a remake, they sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-winstead/i-think-a-lot-of-fans-immediately-go-ugggh-when-they-hear-that/) [Mary Elizabeth Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-winstead/) > [You can never assume that something is going to do well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lopez/you-can-never-assume-that-something-is-going-to-do-well/) [Robert Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lopez/) > [What we assume, what we have never clearly thought out, controls us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morton-t-kelsey/what-we-assume-what-we-have-never-clearly-thought-out-controls-us/) [Morton T. Kelsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morton-t-kelsey/) > [Do not always assume the other fellow has intelligence equal to yours. He may have more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-thomas/do-not-always-assume-the-other-fellow-has-intelligence-equal-to-yours/) Terry-Thomas > [Americans assume all British people have at least one servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/americans-assume-all-british-people-have-at-least-one-servant/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [It is a mistake to assume that if everybody does his job, it will be all right. The whole system may be in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-is-a-mistake-to-assume-that-if-everybody-does-his-job-it-will-be/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [ If \[Barack\] Obama or the boss or the newspapers or anyone else tells you they're doing this, that, or the other thing, dismiss it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-barack-obama-or-the-boss-or-the-newspapers-or-anyone-else-tells/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) Browse all 542 Assume quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think every organization needs to assume that they are compromised.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dmitri Alperovitch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/i-think-every-organization-needs-to-assume-that-they-are-compromised/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assume" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/i-think-every-organization-needs-to-assume-that-they-are-compromised/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/dmitri-alperovitch-16448_i-think_i-think-every-organization-needs-to-assu_1942642.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/dmitri-alperovitch-16448_i-think_i-think-every-organization-needs-to-assu_1942642.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/dmitri-alperovitch-16448_i-think_i-think-every-organization-needs-to-assu_1942642.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think every organization needs to assume that they are compromised.” — Dmitri Alperovitch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dmitri Alperovitch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think every organization needs to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/i-think-every-organization-needs-to-assume-that-they-are-compromised/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/i-think-every-organization-needs-to-assume-that-they-are-compromised/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```