How can you use flexible deadlines to improve Information Security?

1 Benefit: More time for testing and fixing

One of the main advantages of flexible deadlines is that they give you more time to test and fix your code, systems, and processes. Testing is a crucial step in information security, as it helps you identify and eliminate vulnerabilities, errors, and bugs that could compromise your data, privacy, or functionality. Flexible deadlines allow you to allocate more resources and attention to testing, and to address any issues that arise before they become critical. This way, you can improve the quality and security of your deliverables, and reduce the chances of breaches, incidents, or failures.

2 Challenge: More complexity and uncertainty

However, flexible deadlines also come with some challenges for information security. One of them is that they increase the complexity and uncertainty of your project. Flexible deadlines mean that you have to deal with changing scopes, dependencies, and expectations, which can affect your security planning and execution. For example, you may have to integrate new features, technologies, or partners that introduce new security risks or requirements. Or you may have to adjust your security controls, policies, or standards to match the evolving needs and expectations of your stakeholders. These changes can make your security tasks more difficult, time-consuming, or unpredictable.

3 Tip: Use a risk-based approach

So how can you use flexible deadlines to improve information security without compromising your project goals? One tip is to use a risk-based approach. A risk-based approach means that you prioritize your security activities based on the level of risk that each task, feature, or component poses to your project. For example, you may focus on securing the most critical or sensitive parts of your system, or the ones that have the highest likelihood or impact of being exploited. A risk-based approach helps you allocate your time and resources more efficiently and effectively, and to address the most important security issues first.

4 Tip: Communicate and collaborate

Another tip is to communicate and collaborate with your team and stakeholders. Communication and collaboration are essential for information security, as they help you share information, align expectations, and coordinate actions. Flexible deadlines require you to communicate and collaborate more frequently and transparently, as you have to keep everyone updated on the status, progress, and changes of your project. You also have to collaborate with your team and stakeholders to identify and manage security risks, requirements, and solutions. Communication and collaboration help you build trust, accountability, and feedback loops, and to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or gaps in your security strategy.

5 Tip: Review and learn

A final tip is to review and learn from your flexible deadlines. Reviewing and learning are important for information security, as they help you evaluate your performance, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and improve your skills and processes. Flexible deadlines offer you an opportunity to review and learn from your security outcomes, challenges, and best practices. You can use various methods, such as retrospectives, audits, or surveys, to collect and analyze data, feedback, and lessons learned from your project. You can then use this information to improve your security planning, execution, and delivery for future projects.

Flexible deadlines can be a powerful tool for information security, if you use them wisely. They can help you improve your testing and fixing, but they can also increase your complexity and uncertainty. To use them effectively, you need to use a risk-based approach, communicate and collaborate, and review and learn from your experience. By following these tips, you can use flexible deadlines to improve your information security and deliver value to your project.