It’s fair to say cyber security has a bad reputation.
It’s portrayed as an industry full of stress, where sleepless nights are a prerequisite, and defenders have the weight of the world on their shoulders, while a world of adversaries work determinedly against them.
As a frontline defender within the NHS, I can’t dispute some of this thinking. Cyber defence is a constant battle and taking your eye off the ball can have catastrophic consequences not only for organisations, but also our own loved ones.
However, I can testify that cyber security is unfairly tainted with a negative image it doesn’t deserve. This can put people off entering our industry and can impact the mental and physical wellbeing of those already in this exciting profession.
Organisations must work tirelessly to dispel this image.
Imagine working in an industry where no two days are literally ever the same. By that, I don’t mean evolving departments or hotdesking at different locations, I mean with every day comes with a completely unique challenge.
This could include identifying and protecting against brand new attack vectors, responding to security alerts, teaching others about cyber security risks, reviewing innovative new systems, understanding human psychology or even working with (or against) artificial intelligence.
In cyber, every day introduces new challenges to conquer. This keeps it exciting, fresh and unwaveringly eye-opening.
Few other industries boast such characteristics where jobs evolve at the pace of digital innovation, both for good and evil. In my opinion this is one of the most positive aspects about cyber and it’s a quality we, as an industry, must work harder to promote.
Yes, the job is high-pressured, yes, it may bring some sleepless nights, and yes, it can be overwhelming at times, but it’s also one of the most exciting industries to be a part of. Every day is a new learning experience, and every day presents an opportunity to fight back against cyber criminals and make the digital world a safer place for us all.
As an industry we must work hard to champion these positives.
Every malicious alert mitigated is a win in the fight, every attack thwarted is a push back against adversaries and every positive change in our cyber behaviour is a step forward in our improvement journey. These are situations that cyber defenders encounter every day, and they must be celebrated. Rather than only focusing on the negative outcomes, such as the alerts missed or attack volumes, organisations must focus on the positive impacts their security defenders have on their business.
I therefore encourage organisations to celebrate their security teams for the important role they play in safeguarding their operations and their employees.
Cyber security certainly is an uphill battle, but it’s a battle worth fighting. Let’s dispel the bad rep, let’s focus on the conquests, rather than the defeats, and let’s celebrate what it’s like to work in one of the most exciting spaces in the digital realm.
Join me at DTX London at ExCeL where I will be taking part in a panel session discussing wellbeing in the cyber and how organisations can nurture and support their teams of cyber defenders.
My session will be held on the Cyber Strategy Stage on Thursday 3rd October at 1430.
