You’re a new Cybersecurity team leader. What are the most common mistakes you should avoid?

A key problem that Ive encountered as a leader qhen setting goals - is the falsely perceived contradiction - of value delivery vs security. While security in and of itself is a parameter of strategic and functional value, the delivery of features that do not have security stitched into the fabric is a liability. From a goals perspective this translates into a key set of guiding principles for security teams - that goals can align to, are derived from or are adapted to - based on organizational needs.

As new leaders, typically those who transition from individual contributor roles do some common mistakes. Most common mistake is overlooking the big picture or failing to consider the holistic view. Often, as IC , we tend to focus on solving specific problems without fully grasping the broader context. Secondly, underestimating the human factor and relying solely on technology can be detrimental. Effective leadership involves valuing and fostering strong bonds with your team, prioritizing transparent communication and feedback. Finally, we often miss to build relationships with other teams , as well as external partners and vendors. It is crucial for sharing information and collaborating effectively on security initiatives.

Stepping into a leadership role within a cybersecurity team is both a significant opportunity and a challenge. To be effective and foster a robust and productive team, it's crucial to be aware of common pitfalls that new leaders might face. Here are some mistakes to avoid: Overlooking Team Input Failing to Set Clear Expectations Neglecting Team Development Not Prioritizing Team Morale Underestimating Communication Importance Ignoring Feedback Mechanisms Being aware of these common pitfalls and actively working to avoid them can help you become a more effective leader. Leadership in cybersecurity involves managing threats and technologies and leading, supporting, and developing a skilled and motivated team.

In order to set clear goals you need to first do some ground work. It is critical to understand where you are now with regards to metrics to be able to set proper goals for the future.

Not setting clear goals in a cybersecurity team is a big mistake. Clear goals give direction and purpose, helping everyone understand what needs to be done and why. Without them, team members may feel lost or unmotivated, leading to wasted time and effort. Clear goals also make it easier to measure progress and success, ensuring the team stays on track. When everyone knows the objectives, they can prioritize their tasks better, collaborate effectively, and respond quickly to threats. Ultimately, clear goals are essential for maintaining a focused, efficient, and proactive cybersecurity team.

Time to ditch the 'If you want it done right, do it yourself' mentality. Jumping in the trenches with your team builds respect, but equally important is trusting them to deliver. Opt for 'divide and conquer'. It's not just efficient—it prevents burnout and boosts team trust. When you constantly shoulder the workload alone, you're not just wearing yourself thin—you're also inadvertently signaling that you might not trust them enough to handle it. This can really undermine their sense of value and contribution. So, let's flip the script: delegate wisely, support fully, and trust deeply. I may need to put this last part on a T-shirt.

Being a fresh cybersecurity leader, it's crucial to avoid the blunders of not assigning duties. Failure to delegate can lead to burnout, inefficiency, and missed opportunities for skill development. Failure to delegate can also lead to missed opportunities for skill development. Assemble tasks based on team members' strengths and capacity. Delegate with care, laying out precise instructions, demands, and the essentials. Give team members autonomy and faith, but keep an eye on them. Communicate and offer help often to tackle obstacles that arise. Effective delegation fosters teamwork, productivity, and professional growth within the team by fostering effective delegation.

Concentrar tarefas em si é uma característica de uma pessoa despreparada ou inapta à lideran?a de equipes. Uma pessoa "concentradora" pode até trabalhar bem quando a equipe é formada por ela mesma, sozinha, e mais ninguém. Porém, a arte de exercer lideran?a de forma inspiradora, essencialmente, consiste em delegar tarefas. Delegar é empoderar por meio da confian?a. Líderes de verdade que pensam no futuro s?o capazes de delegar sem medo de perder território. Eles sabem que n?o s?o eternos. Pessoas inseguras promovidas a cargos de lideran?a refletem sua inseguran?a na maneira de gerir seus times. Elas promovem uma cultura de desonra, concentra??o de tarefas, dependência emocional e controle das pessoas.

Effective delegation ensures that all team members are utilized to their full potential, preventing burnout and inefficiencies. When a leader tries to handle everything, it can lead to missed details, slower response times, and a bottleneck in decision-making. Delegating tasks empowers team members, boosts their confidence, and promotes skill development. It also allows the leader to focus on strategic planning and high-priority issues. Overall, delegation is crucial for a balanced, agile, and high-performing cybersecurity team.

Um líder eficiente de seguran?a cibernética delega tarefas para concentrar-se em quest?es estratégicas, promover o desenvolvimento da equipe e melhorar a eficiência geral do trabalho. Isso permite distribuir responsabilidades de acordo com as habilidades individuais, criando um ambiente colaborativo e produtivo.

Loosing trust, talking the talk without walking the walk. Loosing sight on the people's best efforts; not encouraging diversity of thoughts, list is long

Not putting your team first above all else. They are the ONLY people who will deliver the outcomes you need. Treat them well, be truly genuine, trust them and their abilities, and show integrity.

Being a fresh head of a cybersecurity team, it's crucial to avoid squandering trust. Lack of trust can hinder collaboration, communication, and team effectiveness by hindering trust. Foster trust by being honest, consistent, and transparent in your actions and decisions. Show off your skills and commitments to prove you're competent and trustworthy. Actively listen to team members concerns and encourage open dialogue. Treat everyone with respect and fairness, recognizing their contributions, and fostering a positive work environment. Strong team cohesion, morale and cybersecurity efforts are enhanced by building trust.

Um líder pode construir confian?a sendo honesto, transparente, respeitoso e consistente em suas a??es e palavras. Incentivar a comunica??o aberta, colabora??o e feedback também é fundamental. Reconhecer as conquistas, desafios e contribui??es da equipe, e demonstrar interesse genuíno pelos membros como indivíduos, fortalece os la?os de confian?a.

In today's fast-paced cybersecurity scene, keeping up with the latest threats is crucial, especially with the added complexity brought by AI-driven attackers. Team leaders and members must stay sharp, continuously updating their skills to match the evolving attack surfaces. Regular skill testing exercises are essential to ensure our teams are well-prepared to tackle new challenges effectively. By staying proactive and vigilant in refining our abilities, cybersecurity professionals can effectively thwart the ever-changing tactics of cyber threats, ensuring the safety and security of vital systems and data.

As a team leader it is critical to lead by example and set the standard. You should be update on all your skills. Not only that, but you should be on top of all the latest cybersecurity news. I recommend website like TheHackerNews, Bleeping Computer, and Dark Reading for staying on top of all things cyber.

As a new cybersecurity team leader, it is crucial to avoid the mistake of neglecting to update your skills. Staying abreast of the latest developments in cybersecurity can hinder your ability to lead and guide your team. Continuous learning can be accomplished by attending training programs, obtaining certifications, and participating in industry events. Keep your knowledge relevant and up-to-date by staying informed about emerging threats, technologies, and best practices. Investing in your abilities not only enhances your knowledge but also instills faith and trust in your team.

To avoid this mistake, complete an NIST CSF assessment as part of the AS-IS assessment. That information should provide the context and capabilities you can position in a Cyber Resilience Strategy to the Executive Management/Board.

Feedback is a continuous cycle. It is critical as a leader that you provide feedback to your team. It is also critical that you seek feed back from your team. I lets your team know that you are open to improvement and being a better leader. It also shows that feedback is not meant to be insulting or punitive, but instead a means by which everyone can grow together.

Security has a responsibility to protect what's valuable to the company, and you can't do this without listening closely to your stakeholders in your organization. Know what is and what isn't considered an important asset. Protect what matters.

One of today's popular workflow frameworks is CI/CD, Continuous Improvement / Continuous Development. The underlying tenet to this is that our product, no matter if it is a service, a widget, whatever, can be improved objectively and in alignment with the business' goals. This requires feedback. CI/CD absolutely applies to people and specifically tech and cyber workers, who must learn new things all the time. Continuous feedback, when applied correctly, fosters collaboration and provides the insights that can make the entire organization better.

As a new leader, it is crucial to approach your role with both humility and strategic foresight. One common pitfall is to prematurely criticize the decisions made by your predecessor. Instead, prioritize gathering comprehensive feedback from your team. This should encompass a 360-degree review of the existing challenges, the aspects that are functioning effectively, and the areas where the team needs immediate support. Such insights are invaluable in helping you formulate well-informed strategic goals. It is advisable to undertake this feedback-gathering process at the outset of your tenure before establishing new objectives for your team. This approach also fosters a culture of trust and collaborative improvement.

New cybersecurity leaders should keep in mind : 1. Dont over rely on technical skills, build business acumen 2. Dont change what already works 3. Dont hesitate to ask for help 4. Make best use of resource 5. Partner with business teams 6. Manage risks during entire life cycle

Here are some things to avoid: 1. Micromanagement: Micromanaging team members can hinder creativity, autonomy, and morale. Provide guidance and support but avoid excessive oversight. 2. Only Focusing on self-growth: Neglecting your team members' professional growth can lead to skill gaps and low morale. 3. Underestimating Cybersecurity Risks: Underestimating the severity & complexity of cybersecurity risks can leave your organization vulnerable to cyber threats and attacks. Sometimes, paying attention to the context of small stuff can lead to significant security incidents. 4. Regulatory Compliance Requirements: Neglecting regulatory compliance requirements, industry standards can expose your organization to legal & financial liabilities.

Estoy de acuerdo con todo lo indicado, pero hoy en día uno de los errores, que me parece muy crítico, es no pensar en la formación de nuevos profesionales. En estos tiempos es crucial que un líder de ciberseguridad se enfoque en formar profesionales especializados, especialmente en el ámbito de OT (Tecnología Operativa). Dado que la ciberseguridad en entornos industriales es cada vez más relevante y compleja, la escasez de expertos en este campo subraya la importancia de la formación y capacitación para proteger infraestructuras críticas contra ciberataques.

My experience is that new cybersecurity team leaders try to deal with all cybersecurity-related duties and tasks simultaneously. They are forcing the team too much without having a reasonable plan omitting the truth that each sub-chapter of cybersecurity requires different expertise. It is good to give the team a reasonable time to digest the duties' requirements.