As a first-time dad, I find myself inspired by the profound joy of my recent venture into fatherhood. Blessed with a daughter I shall affectionately name Miss Mango; I am awe-struck at her brilliant mind and calm demeanor. Life has an intriguing way of presenting us with unique moments to cherish, moments that serve as stepping-stones on our life journey. The importance of pausing to reflect on these recent experiences should not be overlooked - they arm us with life-enhancing lessons, enabling us to navigate life's hurricanes and peaceful harbors alike.
During a recent reflection, I noticed the parallelisms between the whirlwind experience of becoming a first-time parent and hurdling through the intensity of a cybersecurity event or incident. Both roles require an equal measure of preparedness, teamwork, patience, and care. As a cybersecurity professional and first-time dad, I've learned valuable lessons: Patience is crucial in both scenarios. Just as Miss Mango will have her crying bouts requiring calm and gentle support, so does a cybersecurity incident require a measured approach, not swayed by panic. Carefully crafted response strategies must be swiftly actioned in alignment with the risk of the scenario to help prevent further vulnerability. Similarly, in my week as a first-time dad, a rushed decision (like enforcing a strict feeding schedule) may not cater to Miss Mango's unique needs and can lead to vulnerabilities like malnourishment or overfeeding. By carefully observing and understanding Miss Mango's hunger signals, I could create a more balanced and healthy feeding pattern, helping mitigate potential health issues. Bonding plays a critical role in establishing and nurturing crucial relationships. In parenting, it fosters companionship, growth, and developmental milestones. Similarly, team bonding in cybersecurity incident response helps to build trust, more effective communication, and better collaboration. Miss Mango has undoubtedly established herself as a proficient communicator, leaving me continually fascinated with her dynamic range of facial expressions, heart-warming smiles, and consistent upward thrust of her arms. This particular gesture, akin to victory salutes in the world of sports, makes me envision her kicking footballs on the pitch or leading boardroom meetings with the same triumphant fervor. Just as LeBron James had his iconic chalk toss, Dikembe Mutombo his signature finger wag, and Stephen Curry his notable shimmy, so too does Miss Mango exhibit her unique, celebratory style. In her world, her small but mighty hands and arms serve as proof of metaphorically kicked goals and achieved milestones. Self-care cannot be overstated. Amid the pressure in managing cybersecurity threats, prioritizing mental and physical health is paramount. It builds resilience and helps to establish optimal operating conditions. This notion aligns with parenting – prioritizing our wellness helped us to effectively cater to Miss Mango's needs. Support is a cornerstone in both these roles. Just as supporting Miss Mango involves diaper changing, bath time, and emotional encouragement, so does support in a cybersecurity team require assisting colleagues with tasks, ideating together on mitigation strategies in the face of a pressing threat, and fostering a positive team environment. Mistakes are inevitable. Whether it is managing a complex vulnerability or underestimating the amount of baby formula – it happens. The key is not to get lost in self-criticism - the goal should be to learn and build resilience against repeating the same mistakes. Teamwork is another essential element. Parenting is, without question, a team endeavor, as is responding to and recovering from a cybersecurity incident. The team's combined expertise is usually what helps mitigate threats and steer us to safety. In both parenting and cybersecurity, asking for help and advice is not only recommended, it is necessary. Reaching out to more experienced parents, friends, or medical professionals can help us navigate parenthood. Likewise, reaching out to fellow team members or external subject matter resources (SMRs) where appropriate for advice can help resolve events and incidents more effectively. Cherishing every moment is vital. In the rollercoaster journey of parenthood or cybersecurity, it is important to acknowledge and appreciate the high moments that come with resolving a complicated cybersecurity incident, hearing Miss Mango's first coo, or seeing her first smile. Despite the challenges, these moments make the journey truly rewarding and beautiful. Relishing this dual role as a cybersecurity professional nurturing a safe technological environment and a first-time dad nurturing Miss Mango, I am reminded of the common groundwork they share. It is within this comparison that my role in these two different worlds becomes more apparent. The lesson they both echo is - we plan, prepare and always brace for the worst, but we do so with an underlining sense of hope and a promise for a better tomorrow for our loved ones and the organizations we protect. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.
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AuthorElliot is a Senior Manager in the Cybersecurity practice at EY where he enables organizations to build in risk thinking from the onset, enhancing global innovation with confidence. He leads global teams to reduce response times and minimize the impact of security incidents by building and operating mature security, logging, monitoring, alerting, and incident response practices. He successfully led response to and recovery from complex security incidents, such as data exposures, third party compromises, and vulnerability exposures, by coordinating across large enterprises through effective incident response procedures to minimize business impact. Archives
March 2024
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