I spoke with a federal employee on Thursday who mentioned that he would be off work today for Veteran’s Day. I remember those good old days of working for the Navy when we were off for Veteran’s Day, Columbus Day, and all the other holidays when most people were off work or school.
My mom also worked for the Navy, so she and I would start our Christmas shopping on Veteran’s Day. Of course, November 11 is much more important than that. It marks the day that we should take time to think about the extreme debt of gratitude we owe our veterans. Those men and women who fought (and died) for our freedoms.
It also reminds me that our military never takes a day off. They are on duty, protecting us while we continue to live our lives, enjoying those freedoms. Just like the first responders who work 24-hour shifts, missing holidays and birthdays. Emergency room staff who do the same. Cyber security specialists keep watch in the 24/7 Security Operations Centers (SOC), monitoring networks for malicious activity. The IT staff are called in over weekends and holidays to respond to a ransomware attack because that’s when cyber criminals know the systems may be less likely to be monitored.
I may get a few folks who cringe that I compare cyber security personnel to our military or even our first responders. But think about what they are protecting us from.
Attacks on our water systems. The 911 call centers are being taken offline. Air traffic control at an airport. The electric grid is taken down in the middle of winter. A national gas pipeline was attacked with ransomware. A communications satellite blacked out.
These people are indeed behind the scenes, stressing about the newest vulnerabilities and trying to patch them before the bad guys can breach our systems. Not only are they taken for granted, but they genuinely are overworked because the threats grow faster than defenses can be developed, and the global cyber security workforce gap continues to grow.
In 2021, the shortage of cyber security professionals was 2.72 million. However, in 2022, it has increased 26.2% to 3.4 million.
Adding to this grim situation is the recent trend that a third of cyber security leaders are quitting their jobs, and a third are planning to quit in the next six months. They cite the struggle to keep up with evolving threats, the lack of work-life balance, and that much of their time is spent responding to attacks rather than in strategic planning.
When a cyber security professional is supported by management and the employees are part of the team, the job can be more enjoyable and fulfilling. But those without support and appreciation are then blamed when something bad happens and are halfway out the door.
So, remember to thank those who are working to protect your company from faceless criminals. Offer them your support and pay attention to the security training and policies. Report suspicious activity. Your gratitude will go a long way and may help someone decide that their job is as fulfilling as when they were first starting out.
Last but not least, be sure to thank a veteran today. I want to take a moment to thank my dad, Ron Roederer, a Vietnam Veteran (1965-1967). His service and example have been the north star that my brother and I have always followed to work to help others and be good stewards of our community.
Thank you to all Veterans and their families! God Bless America!