Think you have what it takes to be a security professional? Discover the top challenges you'll need to overcome to succeed in this field

Security professionals are regularly confronted with some of the toughest challenges in information technology. They are the first and last line of defense in protecting an organization from a wide range of cyber-attacks. They are responsible for operationalizing security protocols, looking out for potential threats, and responding to security incidents. The significance of security professionals has never been greater than it is today, given the increasing complexity and sophistication of security threats and the growing amount of sensitive information stored and shared digitally. Be it people, process or technology - the challenges faced by security professionals come in all shapes and sizes.

Along with the proliferation of technology and the internet, cyber-attacks have also increased and pose huge security threats to organizations. Some of the top-priority risks include: hacking, malware, and phishing. The increasing sophistication and complexity of security threats makes it all the more challenging to protect against new and emerging threats. Hackers constantly evolve and change their strategy to find new ways to break into organization IT environments and steal data. Understanding and analyzing the motives of malicious actors can be daunting at times, since they adopt constantly changing patterns. Due to this, security professionals find it tough to find time to learn, stay relevant and upto-date with latest security happenings.

The work of security professionals is indirectly dictated by a wide range of regulations and compliance requirements, such as PCI, SOX, HIPAA, GDPR, CPA, etc. These are subject to constant change and it is of paramount significance that all requirements be carefully understood, in order to accurately translate them into security controls for implementation. There is very little room for error or lapses. Else, the organization faces huge risk in terms of non-compliance, bad reputation and fines imposed by legal & regulatory bodies.

Higher management typically allocate limited resources for security - both in terms of head-count and financial support. This may be rooted in the belief that security is an overhead and non-revenue generating department. This can mount pressure on security professionals to stretch their time and effort to make-do with what they have at hand. Thread-bare security teams are forced to focus on top priorities only, while leaving other risks unattended. Budget constraints imply that they cannot acquire the necessary tools and technologies to effectively protect the organization. Moreover, the job market for security positions is not very large and there aren't many jobs available to security professionals.

Security professionals must find the right balance between security, usability and functionality. Too much security can make it difficult for employees to perform their jobs, while too little security can make the organization vulnerable to attacks. Introduction of security controls adds complexity and impacts other dependencies as well. To arrive at a decision, there are multiple perspectives to be considered in the process and gaining consensus amongst all stakeholders is always a Herculean task. Security professionals may sometimes take the "arm-chaired" approach to get things done and their own bias may interfere with rational decision-making.

The tendency of security teams to work in silos makes it more difficult to effectively share information and collaborate with other teams within the organization. This may result in incomplete understanding of the security posture of the organization, making it difficult to identify or respond to security incidents. The difficulty of communicating risks and potential impacts of security breaches to senior management or other stakeholders in a timely and effective manner hampers the ability to take remedial action to mitigate risks within time.

The human factor is the weakest link in the security chain. Employees will resist security measures that are perceived as restrictive or inconvenient. They are comfortable with status quo and may question the need for change. Intentionally or unintentionally, individuals might engage in risky or malicious behavior that can be the cause for security incidents. This can make it difficult for security professionals to implement and enforce security protocols. Security professionals often work under high-pressure environment, responding to emergency situations or dealing with critical incidents. This can be stressful and can take a toll on their mental and physical well-being.

Many organizations lack standardization in their security protocols and their environments always tend to contain residual risk, owing to their technical debt (outdated and obsolete tech), which elevates risk exposure. This is a nightmare for security professionals to deal with, since there is no immediate solution to these age-old problems. Many security tasks within the organization are still done manually, which can be time-consuming, prone to human errors, and can be a bottleneck in responding to security incidents. Moreover, teams may remain unaware of organizational security standards or may face difficulties in implementing security requirements. With the lack of centralized reporting and limited visibility, this causes non-uniformity in the IT landscape. This ultimately causes blind-spots for security professionals and prevents them from operating effectively.

As security threats are constantly evolving, security professionals must stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in their field to successfully protect their organizations. Taking up security certifications are a great way to achieve this and also helps to strengthen the Security Champion program within the organization. They need to be creative and aware of short-comings in order to be constructive in their role, while also being able to work under budget constraints. They need to consider the human factor while developing strategies to change or influence people's attitudes and behaviors in order to improve security outcomes. Security professionals must discard their own bias in the interest of making holistic decisions based on evidence and best practices. Security jobs are challenging, stressful and yet rewarding. They demand a lot of work and attention to detail, but they also provide the opportunity to do something you truly love.