Intrusion Detection by Chip Thornsburg

Congratulations to Chip Thornsburg on the publication of Intrusion Detection: An Introductory Guide—a technically rigorous work that reflects the realities of modern cybersecurity education.

A Note on Publishing Technical Books Like Intrusion Detection

Books like Chip Thornsburg's also highlight an important reality for technical and academic authors: format matters, especially when content includes citations, tables, and complex visuals. Based on our experience supporting similar projects at 9 Iron Media, three concerns consistently matter most.

1. Citations Don’t Behave the Same in eBooks and Print

Citation-heavy books are often written with print in mind, but eBooks introduce structural limitations.

• eBooks rely on reflowable text, which disrupts traditional page-based references

• Footnotes are typically converted to linked endnotes

• “See page X” references may no longer make sense

For textbooks and technical guides, print editions often serve as the authoritative reference, while eBooks require thoughtful adaptation to preserve usability.

2. Tables Rarely Translate Cleanly to eBooks

Tables are essential in technical fields, but they are one of the most common failure points in digital formats.

• Wide or multi-column tables may collapse or wrap unpredictably on eReaders

• Some tables must be redesigned or converted to images for readability

• What works perfectly on a printed page may become unreadable on a phone

Print formats provide the fixed layout necessary to preserve analytical clarity, especially for instructional or data-driven material.

3. Image Control Is Format-Dependent

Diagrams, figures, and technical illustrations are used to convey meaning, not for decoration.

• eBooks scale and reposition images based on device and reader settings

• Color rendering and resolution vary widely across platforms

• Print allows exact placement, consistent sizing, and deliberate grayscale or color decisions

For books that teach through visuals like network diagrams or detection workflows, print offers predictability that eBooks cannot always guarantee.

Why This Matters

Intrusion Detection is a strong example of why technical publishing is not “one file, two exports.” At 9 Iron Media, this is exactly the kind of work we specialize in helping authors publish complex, technical content without compromising clarity, accuracy, or reader experience.