2009 is bringing challenges that most of us have not experienced in our lifetime, here we sit with threats of all shapes and sizes, in the midst of a global economic melt down, corporate and IT security budgets are simultaneously shrinking. What is one to do as the pressures mount? You must find efficiencies, the answer is not an easy one, but there is an answer.
Now more than ever security professionals need to embrace reality, that reality is simply this, you will either adapt or you and your respective department will become marginalized or potentially eliminated.
The time has come for us to consider options that we may have not considered before, in short I believe partnership is the key to success, this partnership must be derived from all fronts. We must embrace the departments inside our firms, which can assist us in achieving our goals, additionally it is time to align with business partners that have the ability to operate outside the norm.
It is my opinion that there are three keys to success in the current market conditions. The first is to focus on customer or consumer confidence, this will obviously shift as folks look to find margin in every aspect of their business, this includes the training, services and products you procure.
Secondly, now more than ever, as security professionals we (whether inside the four walls or as a service provider) must become the trusted business partner, this can and must be accomplished by providing intuitive business planning. Most of us have been there and done that, although these are new global conditions, we have seen pieces and parts of this before. Reflect on what actions enabled you to transcend those difficult times, your baseline is now close to being identified.
The last step is to ensure your department or service is invaluable, call it value added, call it cross selling, call it what you may. In the end, the tighter you are aligned with mission at hand the better chance of not only survival but also excellence.
The immediacy of quality service is of essence, the need for knowledgeable staff has never been higher that now, your background should speak volumes but your actions are more relevant than ever before. If you have concerns, do not wait, ask your counterparts both in and outside of your firm for assistance. There is no time for barriers in this global situation.
