How can you manage a cyber operations team during peak periods?

Look after your people, really look after your people in security operations. Ensure they have breaks, ensure they have food through the night - uber eats vouchers are great here, check in with them. Celebrate achievement of milestones, acknowledge their contribution. Raise their profile to others in the organisation. Allow them space to problem solve and complete difficult tasks. Allow space for learning, reflection and sharing errors. Invest in great tools, and document procedures but more than anything look after your people. They are the front line, they will also know what needs improvement and where the noise needs to be reduced.

Defining clear goals for the the cybersecurity operations team is very important specially if it is 24*7, follow the sun model wherein the security analysts, incident responders, incident investigators, threat hunters, threat intel team, crisis communication team plays critical roles and responsibilities and should be spread out in a manner that they can always balance the peak pressure and should not always work under pressure which can lead to overall well being and health issues and may lead to attrition. It is very important to set clear goals on who will do what, have RACI Responsible, accountable, consulted, informed) matrix and ensure during peak period there are buffer team members to take the extra load to avoid burn outs.

Peak operations are often times when there are many tasks to be dealt with, it is critical not only to have clear goals but an order of priority. There are often tasks that are less time-sensitive but still important. Identifying and deprioritizing these tasks makes it easier to accomplish your goals.

Prioritize and Delegate: Identify critical tasks and delegate them effectively, so your team can focus on high-impact activities. Effective Communication: Maintain clear communication, ensuring everyone understands their roles and objectives. Regular updates on progress are essential. Resource Allocation: Allocate resources judiciously, matching skills to tasks, and consider automation to streamline processes. Well-Being: Encourage breaks, support work-life balance, and provide recognition to sustain team morale and motivation. Training and Development: Invest in continuous training to enhance skills and adapt to evolving threats. Feedback and Improvement Contingency Planning

Define as an organisation what you want to manage yourself and what could be best managed by a third party. Do you have the resources, skills and time to manage every incident 24x7. Or is it best for your team to manage risk by excpetion.

With delegation also comes accountability. Be sure to differentiate between responsibility. Many team members can be responsible for a task, but only one should be ultimately accountable. Empower them to let them flex their leadership chops, but also hold them accountable when necessary, which will also help them grow (arguably even more so) as leaders.

Emphasis needs to be placed here on the empowerment portion of delegation. Let an employee truly make a particular task their own. Let them be able to set up meetings and take care of some of the more time-intensive items. Empowering them gives them a sense of ownership, which in turn produces better results.

The delegation of authority should be according to the capability and capability of the team member. Right authority to the best person in the correct amount at the right time is also important to be considered. Also authority must be with responsibility in the correct proportion.

I agree, and this should always include clear escalation pathways for each delegation. Those empowered to make decisions should know their span of escalation, to ensure the most appropriate decision makers are engaged correctly. This also provides guardrails to prevent an escalation bypassing a critical resource.

Empower your team to soar, and you'll be free to focus on the big picture. Delegate tasks wisely, and watch your team work wonders. Give your team the authority to make decisions, and you'll be amazed at what they can achieve. Trust your team, empower them to act, and together you'll conquer any peak period. Unleash your team's full potential by delegating and empowering them. You won't regret it

In addition, make sure the workload is spread equally. There can be those employees who suffer in silence and shoulder a large portion of the burden. These are the same ones that end up burnt out and quitting out of nowhere. Make sure to give them recognition, and at the same time, you may have to push them to take breaks.

Balancing workload and capacity is crucial for a thriving cyber operations team. By carefully assessing demand and resource availability, you can streamline tasks and allocate responsibilities effectively. Whether it's rescheduling, outsourcing, or hiring, these actions promote team efficiency while safeguarding against burnout and fatigue. It's a prudent strategy for managing peak periods.

An example of this is seen in the operations of a financial institution during tax season. With an influx of transactions and sensitive financial data being exchanged, the cybersecurity team faces increased pressure to uphold security standards while handling the surge in workload. To manage this, team leaders implement strategies such as workload prioritization, where critical tasks are identified and allocated to resources accordingly based on their capacity. They may also leverage automation tools to streamline routine tasks and free up time for more complex security measures. Additionally, cross-training team members ensures flexibility in task assignment and prevents overburdening of individuals.

Workload should be according to the capacity, capability, interests, experience performance and qualifications of the team member. Equal is not always a balance.

Prioritize and defer: Focus on the most important tasks first and defer less important tasks until later. You can also consider outsourcing some tasks to third-party vendors. Cross-train team members: This way, they can cover for each other when necessary, maintaining productivity even if some team members are unavailable.

Feedback interaction getting to feelings of the team is very important. Know their challenges and requirements and give the best well-being and care possible. The best is to do anything extra than their expectations or demand.

During peak periods, supporting the well-being and morale of cybersecurity team members is essential for maintaining productivity and effectiveness. For instance, during a major cybersecurity incident response, such as a data breach, the pressure on team members can be immense. They can offer flexible work arrangements, allowing team members to adjust their schedules to accommodate personal needs or take breaks when necessary. Additionally, providing access to resources for stress management, such as counseling services or mindfulness exercises, can help team members cope with the high-pressure situation. Recognizing and appreciating their hard work and dedication publicly can also boost morale and reinforce a sense of camaraderie.

Supporting the well-being and morale of team members is paramount in effectively managing a cyber operations team during peak periods. Acknowledge and appreciate their efforts and achievements, incentivizing and rewarding them through bonuses, recognition, or other means. Provide avenues for learning, growth, and development, soliciting their feedback and suggestions to foster a culture of continuous improvement. Promote a healthy work environment by encouraging breaks, rest, and relaxation, while promptly addressing any issues or conflicts that arise. By prioritizing the holistic well-being of team members, leaders cultivate a positive workplace culture that enhances morale, resilience

t is important to support the well-being and morale of your team members during peak periods. This can be a stressful time for everyone, so it is important to create a positive and supportive work environment. Hence it is important to 1. Provide regular breaks and opportunities for team members to relax and socialize. 2. Recognize and reward good work. 3. Offer flexible work arrangements. 4. Encourage team members to take care of their physical and mental health.

Review and improving your team's performance will help you to identify areas for improvement and ensure that your team is better prepared for future peak periods. When reviewing your team's performance, you should consider the following factors: Did the team achieve its goals? Were the team's resources used effectively? Did the team members have the skills and experience they needed to be successful? Did the team members receive the support they needed? What are some areas for improvement? with this, we can ensure that our team is better prepared for future peak periods and that it is able to deliver the best possible results.

I’ve found it helpful to have an action team in place to activate in the event the volume of cyber activity exceeds the worst case scenario or an intrusion occurs.