What are effective ways for cybersecurity professionals to build relationships with government officials?

It is necessary to understand the other party's position, check the conditions and laws required by the other party, and decide on priorities.

From my 20 years of experience in having worked with government officials from over 40 countries, at many different level, I can confirm that they all have one thing in common: they are human beings. This is not a joke, because I have seen countless times that when we try to build relationships with others - we focus to much on the function and weight it carries, which often makes it even more difficult to build relationships. Of course you need to know what their mandate is, what regulations drives their portfolio and what their overall responsibilities are. But you also need to build relationships as one person to another, it does wonders for trust building.

Building relationships with government officials as a cybersecurity professional involves a strategic approach. Actively engage in industry forums, conferences, and events where government officials participate to establish a presence and demonstrate expertise. Seek opportunities to provide insights on cybersecurity matters through white papers, webinars, or expert panels that align with government priorities. Collaborate with relevant government agencies on initiatives, sharing knowledge and contributing to policy discussions. Establish a proactive communication strategy, keeping officials informed about emerging threats and best practices. cybersecurity issues.

To build relationships with government officials, cybersecurity professionals can start by attending relevant events and conferences where officials may be present. Engaging in open communication, using simple language to explain security issues, and demonstrating the importance of cybersecurity in protecting critical infrastructure can help bridge the gap. Collaborating on initiatives or providing educational resources can establish credibility. Building personal connections through networking and staying informed about government policies and priorities will also contribute to effective relationship-building with government officials.

Simplify technical complexities without compromising depth. Utilize a mix of presentations, reports, and workshops to convey cybersecurity essentials, emphasizing real-world implications. Engaging storytelling and visual aids help contextualize the significance of cybersecurity in protecting sensitive information and infrastructure.

The person on the other end is not a security expert, so you need to get a thorough explanation. In other words, you need to be creative in explaining things in a way that is easy for the average person to understand, using specific examples.

This is a rule of thum when engaging with any stakeholder, not only government officials. However, when it comes to government officials you need to take into account their public service tenure and their responsibility versus public interest. It is a different mindset than when you are managing cyber risk with shareholders or board members. The other caution is not to assume, because government officials are often extremely well read and educated as they have to be thorough within their area of portfolio responsibility. As with any stakeholder, don't speak from your ego but speak from a place of common interest and apply curiosity rather than judgement.

Showcase the tangible outcomes of cybersecurity measures through quantifiable metrics and impactful case studies. Actively contribute expertise in policy formulation or regulatory discussions. Participating in industry certifications or standards-setting bodies bolsters credibility and showcases commitment to excellence.

Verify the malware through previous penetration tests and clarify it with data. It is also important to provide numbers to show evidence.

I am not sure if I am misunderstanding this part, but should this not be the case with all stakeholders? Not only government officials? If anything, government officials are indeed very careful in how they are perceived due to the nature of their public office tenure. But I believe focusing more on building trust from one human being to another, authenticity, will get you further than stressing about showing up. The better you understand their portfolio and area of responsibility, the more able you will be to influence and shape your collaborative relationships.

Soft skills such as sincerity and seriousness are important for a relationship of trust. In particular, high communication skills are required. Others are responsiveness to change, teamwork, and empathy.

Feedback is Submit a report. It is important to include past data, lessons learned, and predictions of future cybercrime damage as part of the report. It is also necessary to review incident countermeasures and security policies.

Like any sales prospecting, the follow-up is critical to long term success. Continue asking them for ways you can support their teams and programs while concurrently finding ways to increasingly provide value to the relationship. Something as simple as letting them know you're just a quick text or phone call away as their personal cybersecurity consultant goes a long ways. Outside of what you've already discussed for a specific product or service offering, look to help them expand their knowledge in other arenas so they develop their overall awareness of what goes on in the cyber world - this may open up additional avenues for you to continue providing support.

Think about the outcome you want to achieve. What is important to the government official you are dealing with? It is hardly the technicalities of cyber security, but the impact it has on their national critical infrastructure services, on meddling with election campaigns, on political influence from other state and non-state actors. Once you understand what they care about, than it will be much easier to communicate cyber risk within their map of the world. Than you have their attention.

- Contributing to local law enforcement by providing your skills, knowledge and time as a volunteer. - Reporting bugs & vulnerabilities to govt. websites/authorities as part of the responsible disclosure program and building new connections from it.