How can you be a better security manager?

To become a better security manager, focus on continuous improvement in several key areas. First, stay updated with the latest security threats and technologies by regularly attending training and industry conferences. Second, foster a strong security culture within your organization, emphasizing the importance of security to all employees. Third, conduct regular risk assessments and implement appropriate controls. Fourth, establish clear incident response protocols and practice them regularly. Lastly, collaborate with other security professionals and organizations to stay informed and share best practices. Constantly evolving in these areas will enhance your effectiveness as a security manager.

Emphasize Emotional Intelligence: Security management isn't just about technical know-how; it's about human interaction, too. As a security manager, you must deal with people across various departments and sometimes even with external partners. Understanding people's emotions, motivations, and concerns can make you more effective in your role. Invest time in building relationships, showing empathy, and navigating conflicts. Emotional intelligence can help you foster a positive security culture where everyone feels engaged and responsible.

Bruce Schneier mentioned and I quote, "Security is not a product, it's a process," meaning: Security is all about managing risk. Identify your organization's most critical assets and the threats to those assets. Then, implement appropriate controls to mitigate those risks. Embrace continuous improvement. The security landscape is constantly changing, so your security program should too. Regularly assess your security posture and make improvements as needed. Most of all, Security is about diplomacy with all departments to make the changes that we need to.

Good security managers stay updated on the latest security trends and technologies. They enhance skills through regular training and communicate clearly with team members and stakeholders. They set clear, achievable goals and lead by example. They support and mentor the team to build their skills and motivation and regularly review performance and adjust strategies based on feedback.

Communication strategy and plan are key success factors to foster collaboration from all involved in the Security Program, prepared to use solutions in a safe way and empower them to become the human firewall increasing overall security resilience.

A robust security team is the greatest asset, demanding equipped resources, tools, and training for optimal efficiency. Fostering collaboration, trust, and feedback enhances creativity and fortifies defence. Recognition of achievements boosts morale and shared success. Active mentorship ensures progressive defence against evolving threats, and making investments in a security team is synonymous with the resilience and longevity of any organisation.

Embrace a Holistic Approach to Security: Security today goes beyond just technology. It's a combination of technology, processes, and people. Consider all security aspects, including physical, administrative, and technical measures. Understand how they interlink and support one another. By recognizing that security is multifaceted and that weaknesses in one area can affect others, you'll be in a stronger position to create a comprehensive security posture that can adapt to the complex challenges of today's cyber environment.

Additionally, delegating responsibilities to capable team members is essential for effective security management. It fosters accountability, encourages skill development, and enhances team efficiency. This liberates the manager's time for higher-level decision-making, instils confidence, and creates a culture of leadership that inspires everyone to be their best. To delegate responsibilities effectively, a security manager should prioritise outcomes over processes, allowing flexibility in approaches. Empowering team members to determine HOW to complete a task while staying focused on WHAT needs to be done can drive innovation and adaptability, ultimately achieving effective results.

Mentoring and coaching helps, 1) Create strong trust as its win win for both Manager and team members. 2) It helps bring best from members as you know strength and focus area that every team member is excited and ready excel and contribute. 3) Empowering team member and backing them on day to day basis helps them gain confidence to take larger and complex challenges in return they help you go up in the chain as they are ready to take care as your delegate.

Encouraging users to participate in regular security training is crucial in developing a robust security culture. In addition to the initial orientation for new employees, they should also have access to resources that will help them identify potential risks associated with different applications and allow them to play an active role in defence. By enabling employees to make informed decisions about the applications they use, it not only fosters collaboration but also simplifies security processes.

In my opinion, the ability to navigate both technical and business jargon is akin to a superpower. When unlocked, it elevates both parties involved. This two-way communication street fosters alignment and cohesion. As a Blue Team Defender, our focus is on effectiveness and efficiency, which is why it's crucial to establish alignment with the business. Likewise, it's essential for the business to understand the technical foundation that supports risk management and security posture maintenance efforts.

Business owners and stakeholders are usually skilled at managing risks, but the technical nature of cybersecurity can create a divide. To bridge this gap, security managers can translate security jargon into the language of business risks. This approach links security priorities to broader business goals, allowing stakeholders to apply their risk management expertise to cybersecurity decisions. Speaking the same risk language fosters a common understanding and enables more effective communication. While not a magic solution, it's a powerful way to unite security with business strategy, ensuring the protection of digital assets.

In short, try to put yourself in your audience's shoes. Not everyone knows the context behind security metrics like you do so translate them to valuable info for your audience. Are you asking for more staff? Show your partner how that would positively impact the organization as a whole. Asking for a new but very expensive toolset? Align that need to organizational goals and even regulatory compliance. Use examples, have them imagine a scenario-it helps our brains connect new knowledge to knowledge we already have. This one is probably a given but please do not use jargon that is not a part of your partner's industry. Our brains will naturally start trying to make sense of those terms and distract us from the what is being presented.

Of all the skills required of a security leader, the most useful and the one that usually is scarce is the ability to communicate. The most successful leaders are also the ones who listen attentively building the context of information protection. The context, especially when the business needs what information to succeed in what activity is the king to define how security shall be defined. And using this knowledge, they need to communicate how the information is protected, how the business can access the securely, and how unauthorized access can be responded to in an effective manner. The communication needs to be concise, clear, comparable, and repeatable.

I have always found trying to keep things simple is the best way to deal with people. The ability to take a complicated set of steps and reduce it as simply as possible is key because not everyone understands instructions the same way (much like not everyone shares the same sense of humor, not everyone understands things the same way). The old adage KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid).

Security is not just a checkbox to tick off, but a critical component that drives the success of any organisation. It is essential to align security objectives with the business goals and priorities. By understanding the context, needs, and expectations of stakeholders, we can demonstrate how security can support and enhance business objectives. To truly be effective, we must measure and report on the outcomes and benefits of security efforts. This allows us to showcase the value we bring to the organisation and its reputation. By highlighting the positive impact of security initiatives, we can gain support and resources to further strengthen our defenses.

As I said earlier, context is the king. Investment in security must be aligned to how the business intends to change information, especially the information it must share with partners, customers, and regulatory agencies to perform business as usual. And there are many stakeholders. The context of information protection must include the stakeholder expectations and the issues and challenges to impose internal and external security controls. For example, until the Enterprise ChatGPT version was released, enterprises were worried about data leaks onto a public model. Now, the threat has moved to direct and indirect prompt injection possibilities. Because chatGPT can be used to attack, simple text can be used for internal attacks.

Security management involves a nuanced approach that considers economics, psychology, and risk management. It involves creating a security culture that supports business objectives, understanding human behaviour, and societal impact. It also involves anticipating potential threats, integrating security into the business's strategy, and balancing technology implementation with business operations. In dynamic environments like Australia, context-specific strategies are essential.

Apply only the essential security standards and best suitable solutions to your product without losing your expenditure. Avoid using unnecessary security solutions that might not fit your business or product. So, if you have medium business and cannot afford applying the ISO standards, you can use NIST, which will fit your security needs. Understand your product to know what security measures you need to use and save your resources while adequately protecting your assets.

As technology changes so fast, only those who adapt will be able to best secure their businesses and also their job. If you want to be ahead on the curve for compliance follow this, “Compliance is the byproduct of good security”

Organisations must stay updated and flexible in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape to protect their digital assets and reputation. The need for continuous education, adaptability to societal norms, and understanding cyber threats is essential. I personally recommend a practical, hands-on approaches in updating security protocols. Risk management is crucial in this context. For a security manager, especially in a dynamic and unique landscape like Australia, this approach is not just about protecting digital assets; it’s about safeguarding the very integrity and future of the organisation.

One of the most extensive areas of learning is from the community. We need to work more closely, if necessary sign up Non-Disclosure Agreements and share incidents, learnings and seek help from industry experts irrespective of the organization they work with, as long as they are known for their expertise. Experts in the field tend to ignore such opportunities, but these can be very enriching. Not every situation is the same, and not every innovative solution will work. However certain foundational elements like firewalls and micro-segmentation can be considered basic building blocks.

I agree that there is a difference between leading and managing...BUT we should be both. In my view with regard to being a better manager the key is consistency. Set a task or tasks and consistently monitor and manage those tasks and see them through or ensure they are consistently completed. Just coming up with an idea to help things improve will only fail and get kicked into the long grass by your line reports if consistency and monitoring of those tasks is not maintained.

You become a better security manager by becoming a security leader. ?? First, you need to have the right mindset and understand that we do not do security for the sake of security but the goal is to protect the organization thus security becomes embedded in everybody's daily activity. A holistic approach and understanding of security together with a focus on awareness, creates a strong security culture and cultivates a robust security culture. Now, with great results, you become not only a better security manager but an amazing one??

I'm not fond of the Manager title, I prefer leader and that leads to the age old question of what's the difference? I believe to make that transition you need to look further into the future and establish what risks your organisation is likely to face, you can then work backwards and design in a plan for the future. Remember no man is an island, so communicate. consult and above all listen to those around you and in the wider business. Security to be effective has to sit within a business and not on top of it, remember that when you have the need to say NO! Enable and not disable and use the NO word sparingly, it's your job to get to a YES, ensuring that the solutions are safe and robust. I wish all good luck on their own adventure.