The Cybersecurity Days of Thunder: Driving Faster w/Good Brakes

This RVAsec 2021 keynote looks at the non-technical questions security leaders are asking after nearly two years of the pandemic. The speaker describes a run of pressures: disrupted remote work, hard-to-fill roles, an expected wave of resignations, and a flood of conflicting information. The framing is that overwhelm, more than any particular attack technique, is now the main problem to manage.

The talk is organized around five areas to look after. For teams, the advice is to check in regularly, listen, recognize routine work, allow flexibility, offer stretch opportunities, and benchmark pay, since recruiting replacements is costly. For the community, colleagues, career and health, it recommends volunteering for nonprofits, mentoring and teaching, sharing lessons learned through local peer groups, building virtual connections, finding mentors, and keeping skills current. A personal account of a health scare after many months of travel illustrates why self-care matters for leaders.

The takeaway is that meeting basic human needs and protecting your own wellbeing come before the technical work, and that leaders who look after themselves are better placed to look after others.