New research reveals IT security professionals feel they’re seen as the ‘doom mongers’ or a ‘necessary evil’ by employees*.
The majority of UK IT security professionals feel they’re suffering from an image problem amongst fellow workers, according to new research. Nearly two thirds of respondents (63 per cent) feel that their security teams are either viewed as the company naysayers – specifically either ‘doom mongers’ or a ‘necessary evil’ (36 per cent). Also, 27per cent of respondents said company security and security professionals are just something that runs in the background which employees don’t really notice.
The research, which was conducted with 100 IT security decision makers within the UK, revealed that more than a third of respondents (38 per cent) believe that they’re viewed as the ‘policemen.’ Worryingly, when asked if they’d ever experienced negativity towards their team and their work, 13 per cent said this happens ‘all the time.’
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Almost three quarters (74 per cent) of security professionals reported negativity or indifference regarding the introduction of new security measures and policies: with employees believing it will hamper their work (35 per cent), or barely noticing them (39 per cent).
Security professionals are also struggling to promote their value to other departments in the business. The overwhelming majority of them (90 per cent) believe that other departments could have a better understanding of what they’re trying to achieve, whilst an equally high majority (88 per cent) feel that it could be easier to communicate their views to executive management in other functions such as HR and Finance.
Execs feel board perceives them as functional, not a force for competitive advantage
When it comes to how they’re perceived by the C-suite, there are further challenges: 56 per cent feel that they’re restricted by the board, which may be accounted for by the fact that only 41 per cent of organisations have a CISO in place on the board. Whilst the security team can be instrumental in business transformation, only 44 per cent believe that the C-suite sees them as a positive force for innovation and just one in 10 respondents (13 per cent) believe that the board sees them as helping the company to gain a competitive advantage.
It also suggests that boards may be paying lip service to IT security teams, as there is a disparity between what the board says and how this translates into investment. While 87 per cent of security professionals believe that the board listens to them and values their input, a considerable proportion (62 per cent) believe that the board can’t always see the business case for security investments.
Joseph Carson, Chief Security Scientist and Advisory CISO at Thycotic, commented,
At a time when security teams are under huge pressure and play an increasingly strategic role within the company, it’s disappointing that they’re not feeling valued either by their co-workers or by senior executives. The fact that negative opinions are rife amongst employees also suggests that security teams need to work harder to communicate the strategic importance of their roles to the business and reinvent themselves as ‘facilitators’ rather than ‘enforcers’ who enable the business to run smoothly.
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*from Thycotic
Aphrodite is a creative writer and editor specialising in publishing and communications. She is passionate about undertaking projects in diverse sectors. She has written and edited copy for media as varied as social enterprise, art, fashion and education. She is at her most happy owning a project from its very conception, focusing on the client and project research in the first instance, and working closely with CEOs and Directors throughout the consultation process. Much of her work has focused on rebranding; messaging and tone of voice is one of her expertise, as is a distinctively unique writing style in my most of her creative projects. Her work is always driven by the versatility of language to galvanise image and to change perception, as it is by inspiring and being inspired by the wondrous diversity of people with whom paths she crosses cross!
Aphrodite has had a variety of high profile industry clients as a freelancer, and previously worked for a number of years as an Editor and Journalist for Prospects.ac.uk.
Aphrodite is also a professional painter.
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