What do you do if your Cybersecurity performance falls short and you need constructive feedback to improve?

You hire a hacker as a consultant for some 'byte'-sized advice! If my Cybersecurity performance falls short, I seek constructive feedback to enhance my skills and protect our digital assets effectively.

Conduct a self-assessment of your performance. Identify areas where you feel you could improve. Approach your supervisor or mentor and ask for specific feedback on areas where you can improve. Be open to constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity to grow. Take advantage of training and development opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge in areas where you need improvement. This could include taking courses and attending workshops.

Self-assessment is crucial for my professional development and effectiveness in protecting the organization's assets from cyber threats. Here's how I might approach assessing myself honestly: Reflect on Strengths Acknowledge Weaknesses Feedback from colleagues and supervisors Self-Reflection Continuous Learning

Create performance improvement plans and compare your security program to industry benchmarks to identify areas for improvement Implement simple actions to enhance your cybersecurity posture, as outlined in various thought leadership blogs Use direct user feedback and concrete metrics to identify areas where users need more support, which can help strengthen your cybersecurity strategy

Seeking experise from cyber professionals and industry leaders is esstential for staying informed and adpatable If you don;t ask you don't get Most people are willing to help you, if you ask

When in doubt look for resources from mentors, and training platforms like Kahn academy or O’reilly to get the content you need to practice.

Actually this is a great opportunity to become even better in our knowledge, it is always a good moment to improve our self. Having a mentor in our career helps a lot to have more knowledge and someone from different view to assist in our doubts

In the fast-paced world of cybersecurity, stagnation is not an option. Continuous training and skill development are paramount for staying relevant and effective. I dedicate time to ongoing learning, participating in workshops, pursuing certifications, and staying updated on emerging threats and technologies, ensuring that my skills remain sharp and adaptable.

For me, when I’ve come up short, it’s been a stacker situation. Wearing multiple hats and they all came due on the same day (zero day vulnerability + third party incident). Overproduction leads to multitasking, which equates to a split in focus and corners cut. That’s when honest feedback with your supervisor needs to occur to take ownership, but also discuss proper resource allocation. In cases where additional SME’s aren’t possible, then it comes down to compensation, supervisor support, and work/life balance. I’ll work for lower pay where leadership leads and I’m actually making a difference. The stress will always be there in cybersecurity, but I need to be able to leave it and pick it back up tomorrow. Bring order to that chaos ya’ll!

As a SOC analyst, embracing continuous improvement is not just a mantra but a guiding principle. By assessing honestly, seeking expertise, making tangible changes, prioritizing ongoing training, tracking progress metrics, encouraging open feedback, embracing self-reflection, engaging in specialized learning, applying practical insights, fostering a culture of improvement, and comparing against industry standards, I navigate the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity with confidence and resilience, ensuring that our defenses remain strong and adaptive in the face of emerging threats.

If your cybersecurity performance falls short, seek constructive feedback from supervisors or colleagues and reflect on areas for improvement. Set clear goals, seek relevant training, and actively implement feedback to enhance your skills and address weaknesses. Maintain a positive attitude, monitor progress, and adapt your approach as needed to continually improve your cybersecurity performance.