Section 1.1: The Importance of Management Skills

In 2015, Tom was exceptionally skilled in cybersecurity. He possessed a comprehensive understanding of his environment and became the go-to person for resolving technical security challenges. Recognizing his talent, management promoted him to a leadership position. This marked the beginning of his difficulties. While Tom excelled at achieving personal goals, he soon discovered that managing team members' expectations presented a whole new set of challenges.

Conflicts among team members caused him significant stress, and he often found himself micro-managing, insisting that tasks be executed precisely to his specifications, which created friction. Additionally, Tom struggled with communication; he realized he was sometimes too direct when expressing his viewpoints.

Fortunately, Tom recognized these shortcomings and took leadership courses that focused on effective communication, delegation, and team dynamics.

What Tom Learned:

Never underestimate the value of management skills in your cybersecurity career. People may forget your technical prowess, but they will always remember how you treated them.

Section 1.2: Keeping Technical Skills Relevant

By 2018, Tom had found his rhythm with team dynamics and began to enjoy the collaborative process. Team meetings, strategic sessions, and budget management became less of a burden. However, he faced a significant issue. As he became more engrossed in higher-level responsibilities, Tom increasingly distanced himself from the technical aspects of his job.

One day, amidst a sudden security incident, he realized he was completely unaware of how the issue had originated or what needed to be done. This was a crucial moment when his team looked to him for direction!

After the crisis was averted, Tom took proactive steps to reconnect with his technical roots. He participated in hackathons and workshops alongside his team to regain his technical insight. He even asked his team to recreate his access credentials within the security systems so he could monitor performance regularly.

What Tom Learned:

Never lose sight of your technical skills in the cybersecurity realm. The threat landscape is constantly evolving, and each challenge can present unique demands.

Section 1.3: The Need for IT Risk Management Expertise

With numerous achievements under his belt, Tom typically enjoyed considerable backing from management for his decisions. However, in 2020, as the company aggressively expanded through acquisitions, he was overwhelmed with choices that lacked clear answers.

Saying "no" could derail important projects, while saying "yes" might expose the company to unforeseen risks. Tom found himself in a challenging position due to his failure to cultivate an essential skill: Risk Management. While he was familiar with the concept, he had primarily used it for compliance purposes on spreadsheets.

His lack of risk management expertise led him to focus on the wrong areas during the acquisition process, concentrating on perceived risks rather than the most significant threats. As a result, resources were stretched too thin, leaving critical security issues unresolved.

Realizing the need to enhance his IT risk management skills, Tom sought assistance from the risk management teams to determine the most pressing areas to address based on detailed analyses rather than relying on instinct. He also enrolled in specialized courses related to risk management in cybersecurity.

What Tom Learned:

You cannot address every issue in cybersecurity; it’s essential to prioritize effectively. Developing risk management skills is vital for formalizing this prioritization process.