Tight I.T deadlines and cybersecurity go hand in hand with the right approach: Start Secure: Integrate cybersecurity from the design phase—it’s faster than fixing issues later. Automate: Use tools for tasks like vulnerability scans and patching to save time. Prioritize Risks: Focus on protecting critical assets first. Team Awareness: Train your team on security best practices. Partner Up: Collaborate with Managed I.T experts for added resilience. With 20+ years in cybersecurity, I’ve learned that balancing speed and security is all about smart planning. How do you tackle this challenge?

Security has to go parallel to any IT project. It cannot be thought as an activity which is optional. Things like multi factor authentication, software code reviews has to be done before go live hence project plan should have that tasks built in the project plan. As a project manager, it is responsibility of manager to plan it in advance or inform management about delays because of valid reasons.

As an IT or Cybersecurity leader you must think programmatically. If you strive to build a program from ground up, keeping the fundamentals in mind, new projects and deadlines should meld into a solid program with a good foundation. Reviewing requirements and being involved from the initiation of a project allow cooperation and success in later stages. Also it is very important to keep in mind that business exists to provide services to customers and revenue to investors. Top-notch cybersecurity can be overly expensive and wasteful if the lens of service is removed and the program is not managed from a foundational level. Healthy cybersecurity is the right fit for all.

Encrypt data both in transit and at rest to ensure that even if data is intercepted or accessed, it cannot be read without the proper decryption keys.

Candidates focused on cybersecurity should be given a preference for hire. Security should be at the forefront of our minds when implementing any project. A good framework for security can be laid out and applied to all projects. Follow up reviews of systems and applications by peers can help teammates spot any gaps that were missed during the implementation.

In the case of quality, we started to apply the shift-left principle and build quality into the process as early as possible. The same applies to cybersecurity. Shift-left. Cybersecurity is not something extra to be added. It's an integral part of every system's functionality and it's the responsibility of every employee from the first steps to the end of the project.

It is not a question when you start implementing security on the project. The principle is always the same analyze and detect the risks and implement the controls to mitigate them. If somebody thinks that there is a magical wand or a magic CISO that will solve all the security just by his/her presence in the project they are wrong. Implementing proper security controls for the IT project and analyzing all the risks in a short deadlines is always a chalenging task and requirea lot of experience and knowledge

Any project (or indeed any IT Operations & Service Delivery function) should be built on a “Secure by Design” Principle. Security should be an integral part of your Solution architecture from the start, not something an afterthought when deadlines loom. Some points to note in your solution design: - Apply Principles of Least Privilege - Use Encryption - Well defined Network Segmentation - IT security polices need to be in place and should be updated as part program delivery. - You should have a comprehensive Risk Management Framework in place which should be updated as the program rolls out. - You plan must include Penetration Testing, Vulnerability Assessments, and remediation effort - Data Loss Prevention - Authentication & Authorisation

1. Implement Access Controls: Use role-based access and multi-factor authentication to secure systems. 2. Conduct Vulnerability Assessments: Regularly identify and fix critical vulnerabilities. 3. Encrypt Data: Protect data at rest and in transit with strong encryption methods. 4. Strengthen Endpoint Security: Keep devices updated with antivirus and endpoint protection tools. 5. Train Employees: Educate the team on phishing, social engineering, and security best practices. 6. Adopt Zero-Trust: Limit trust within the network, verifying every access request. 7. Monitor Continuously: Detect and respond to threats using real-time monitoring tools. 8. Have a Response Plan: Prepare to mitigate breaches quickly without delays.