Cybersecurity is my Super Power!

As you may already know, October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Cybersecurity is a special topic to me, as I’ve devoted my career to this wild ride.

When I joined the field in 2015, I was immediately surrounded by a team of people (mostly men) who seemed more technically savvy than me. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how well I would fit in the cybersecurity world. But as a life-long learner who loves a good challenge, I took a chance on myself, despite my fear that I lacked the technical acumen. I'm thankful I was drawn to cybersecurity because I soon found my place.

Fast forward to six years later. The industry has evolved - perhaps exploded - and I realize now that cybersecurity isn't a technology profession at all; it's a business enablement profession. Insert Katie at her finest.

It’s widely known that a successful cybersecurity program is a combination of people, processes, and technology. However, many organizations are still using an old, technology-heavy recipe. Therefore, my daily mission is two-fold: ensure clear communication of risks to business leaders, and also educate all employees on their role in security and why it matters. Without these essential human connections, even the most sophisticated (and expensive) enterprise security tools are doomed to fail.

Cybersecurity is a big problem and it’s obviously a growing concern and creating threats around the globe. It’s scary to think there are cyber-crime groups operating like Fortune 500 companies and making loads of money on the dark web! Remember, there's more than one way to make an impact against this looming digital threat to our society. I’m playing my part by educating our associates and distilling complex cyber-security issues so our business leaders can focus on what they do best while still making sound risk decisions.

Now, do I think I am successful in my career because I’m a woman? Absolutely, I do – in part. There are many different paths and diverse backgrounds that can provide value to this cross-discipline field. A cyber-security program requires diversity to survive in today's ever-evolving threat landscape. It cannot function successfully with tunnel vision. As they say, "it takes a village." There are roles in compliance, operations, customer service, and project management – the list goes on! And there are likely even some roles that are desperately needed but have yet to be discovered and formalized.

An added bonus: You don’t have to have a degree in cybersecurity to get started. I am proof of that! You can gain security knowledge on-the-job all while bringing your other business skills to the table along the way. A slew of highly accreditable certifications are available, too, if you need a confidence boost before taking that leap of faith into your first role. ?

The best perk of all: my kids think it's pretty cool that Mom is fighting cyber-crime (Hello, Wonder Woman!). And that’s worth the world!

What's your professional super power? ?