How do Cybersecurity professionals prioritize their work?

Risk analysis, risk analysis and more risk analysis. It all starts with risk analysis, which is an ongoing process. We also need to seize opportunities to do cyber business as soon as a window of opportunity and interest opens up. So we need to keep abreast of the latest cyber news, as well as company and business news, to try and promote our field in discussions of risk assessment.

Assessing risk in cybersecurity is like being the guardian of a digital fortress. We're constantly evaluating the potential threats knocking at our gates. Are they mere nuisances or serious breaches in waiting? Tools like NIST Framework and OWASP Top 10 are our telescopes, helping us spot dangers from afar. We assess not just the likelihood of an attack, but also its potential impact. Could it be a data leak or a full-blown system shutdown? This risk assessment is our North Star, guiding us to focus our defenses where they matter the most.

Cybersecurity professionals prioritize their work by assessing the criticality and potential impact of tasks or threats they need to address. They consider factors like the severity of vulnerabilities, the sensitivity of data, and the potential for breaches. They also prioritize based on industry compliance requirements, active attacks or incidents, and the overall security posture of the organization. Regular risk assessments and threat intelligence analysis help professionals allocate resources and prioritize their efforts effectively.

The maturity of the organization really influences this. Often in a larger, well-established organization, the risk landscape is equally established and quantified. In a younger or smaller company, there is an increased likelihood that risks are less defined or have a more volatile potential impact. Frameworks like NIST and OWASP provide a measuring stick, but I think the biggest first step is to simply quantify the Threats. Its really easy to just focus on the tech present in the organization, and try to make it as secure as possible; but assessing Risk starts with threats and the vectors they like to use for attacks; not simply what you are familiar with, and employing your favorite tactics.

Cybersecurity threats are categorized into three levels: zero, medium, and high. The most important initial step is to identify the medium and high level threats. It's quite simple to concentrate only on the technology that's already present in the company and work to make it as safe as possible, but risk assessment begins with threats and the attack vectors that they prefer to utilize, not just what you know and how you like to do things. By making a list of all the technological resources related to the processing, storing, or transmission of information, sorting probable data breaches based on the harm they could have, compiling all systematic hazards related to the region, you can be able to assess the risks.

I start with goal alignment apply a basic script to my work twice a day. There are three steps to aligning with my organizational goals. 1. List out all the tasks I need to complete. 2. Rank the tasks in order of how much impact they have on clients. 3. Rank the tasks in order of importance to my org. Then I cross reference 2 and 3 to find the tasks that will have the greatest impact on my clients and that are most important to my organization. One example is Risk Exams. They have a huge impact on my clients and they need to be done at least once per year. Those are tier 1 goals on my daily tasks. Other tasks I prioritize are emergency situations such as Incident Response and high reward projects such as Conditional Access implementation.

Aligning cybersecurity tasks with organizational goals is akin to fitting puzzle pieces into the bigger picture of the company's mission. We're not just tech experts; we're business enablers. Understanding the company's heartbeat – its goals, vision, and strategy – helps us tailor our cybersecurity armor. It's a balancing act, ensuring our efforts resonate with stakeholders' expectations. This alignment ensures that our cybersecurity initiatives are not just technically sound but also strategically aligned, making our role pivotal in driving the business forward.

It's important to note that this happens at the Strategic level. Most mid and lower level Cyber folks won't see the discussions over this take place. Planning typically follows a 1,3,5 year plan, so when you see risks that must be addressed strategically, (not just enforcing the patch cycle) You have to figure out where it fits in with a budget that is shared with the rest of the IT department, and the larger budget for the whole organization. Being able to show how money spent is going towards governance requirements, or has a demonstrable ROI to the organization is definitely a practice everyone should become adept at. Just because it makes sense to you, doesn't mean it will to other leaders who will have goals of their own.

Cybersecurity is not merely a technical necessity; it is a strategic imperative for organizations. Aligning cybersecurity tasks with overall business goals ensures a holistic approach, where protection is seamlessly woven into the fabric of operations. This alignment not only safeguards against cyber threats but also enhances business resilience. Cybersecurity professionals must transcend technical jargon, comprehending the organizational context to proactively contribute to the mission's success. In a world increasingly reliant on digital infrastructure, cybersecurity becomes integral to maintaining trust, meeting regulatory standards, and preserving the overall integrity of an organization's vision and strategy.

Automating and delegating in cybersecurity is like orchestrating a symphony. Our instruments are the tools and technologies that handle routine tasks - scanning, patching, monitoring. This automation is the rhythm that keeps our operations smooth. Delegation is our harmony, entrusting tasks to capable hands within the team. This approach clears the stage for us to focus on high-stake maneuvers that demand our expertise and judgment. It’s not just about doing more; it’s about doing what matters most efficiently.

Establishment and tweaking of processes, adoption of tools that will increase efficiency, and ensuring your team are trained and proficient in these tasks are all important parts of managing a team. Arguably, this stage is the meat and potatoes of managing a cyber team.

Automating and delegating routine cybersecurity tasks enhances efficiency, allowing professionals to focus on critical issues. Utilizing tools for tasks like scanning and patching reduces manual effort, while delegation ensures a streamlined workflow. This strategic approach not only optimizes time and resources but also strengthens overall cybersecurity posture by allocating experts to high-impact tasks. It aligns with the evolving nature of cybersecurity, emphasizing the importance of both technological advancements and human expertise in safeguarding digital landscapes.

Effective communication and collaboration in cybersecurity are akin to building a strong alliance. It’s about breaking down silos and sharing intelligence across the board. We're in constant dialogue with our team, management, and stakeholders, turning individual insights into collective wisdom. This collaboration is the backbone of our situational awareness, helping us stay a step ahead of threats. It’s not just about individual prowess; it’s about forging a united front against cyber threats.

AKA the "trust but verify" part of our job. We will issue reports, make recommendations, and consult all day long. But often getting stuff done requires that we be involved and even hand-hold a team through making changes that meet security requirements. Soft skills are very much a necessary component of this.

Effective communication and collaboration in cybersecurity are paramount. Sharing insights and findings among team members enhances collective awareness, ensuring a coordinated response to threats. Regular communication with managers and relevant stakeholders fosters transparency, enabling better decision-making. Collaboration leverages the diverse skills of the team, creating a robust defense against evolving cyber threats. Building trust through open communication establishes a solid foundation for a proactive cybersecurity culture within the organization.

Learning and improving in the realm of cybersecurity is like being a lifelong student of a rapidly evolving digital world. Each completed task is a lesson; each resolved issue, a milestone. We reflect on our actions, celebrate our wins, and more importantly, learn from our setbacks. This continuous self-improvement cycle boosts our competence and confidence. It’s not just about fixing problems; it’s about growing into seasoned cyber warriors, ready for tomorrow’s challenges.

In the dynamic landscape of cybersecurity, continual learning and improvement are paramount. Regular reviews of completed tasks, identification of strengths and weaknesses, and a proactive approach to skill enhancement not only boost professionals' competence but also fortify confidence and credibility. In an ever-evolving threat landscape, this commitment to growth ensures cybersecurity experts are well-prepared to tackle emerging challenges, staying ahead in the relentless pursuit of securing digital environments.

As a consultant when having multiple clients and balancing separate stakeholder needs, it's important to establish a task formula. Level of Priority = Deadline Date + Estimated Project Time. I found it more effective to establish daily instead of weekly to be prepared for inevitable change.

Prioritization in cybersecurity is a dynamic and ongoing process, influenced by a range of factors including risk assessments, compliance requirements, the nature of emerging threats, and the organization's specific context. Cybersecurity professionals must balance immediate reactive tasks with proactive strategies and long-term planning to effectively protect their organizations from cyber threats.

Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher is the one that originally wrote, "The only constant in life is change." In this case, its important to understand that this whole discussion covers a snapshot in time. But life keeps going, plans change. So a security team needs to maintain situational awareness, and be ready to anticipate and acknowledge when priorities are shifting.

In cybersecurity, adhering to the guideline of balancing and prioritizing tasks is paramount. Regularly evaluating the evolving threat landscape, assigning priority based on risk and impact, and setting realistic deadlines ensures that resources are efficiently directed to the most critical issues. This approach not only enhances overall security posture but also enables cybersecurity professionals to proactively address emerging threats, optimizing their efforts for maximum effectiveness in safeguarding organizational assets.

I'm a huge fan of "The Eisenhower Matrix". It is a time management tool that helps prioritize tasks by categorizing them into four quadrants based on their urgency and importance: - Quadrant 1 includes urgent and important tasks, needing immediate action. - Quadrant 2, for important but non-urgent tasks, allows strategic planning. - Quadrant 3 covers urgent but unimportant tasks, often linked to others' priorities. - Quadrant 4 involves neither urgent nor important tasks, typically low-priority distractions. In the context of cybersecurity professionals, this matrix can be crucial for effectively managing and prioritizing security-related tasks and threats.

I have successfully mitigated or prevented a high-risk scenario is when I detected and blocked a phishing campaign that targeted our organization. I used the NIST Cybersecurity Framework to identify the threat source, which was a malicious actor who impersonated a legitimate sender and tried to trick our users into clicking on a malicious link or attachment. I used the OWASP Top 10 to protect our web application from the injection attack that the malicious link or attachment would execute, by implementing input validation, output encoding, and parameterized queries. I used the CVSS scoring system to detect the vulnerability that the malicious actor exploited, which was a buffer overflow in a third-party library that we used.