Security in software is an important issue for many companies and developers. This is on account of multiple reasons. The most obvious one is that it can protect the company’s data, which can be worth billions of dollars. But there are other reasons, such as protection from hackers who want to steal a company’s intellectual property or get access to customer data. That is why, as digital crimes evolve and cyber threats come out of the woodwork, more and more companies are developing avant-garde techniques and outside-the-box strategies. One of them is the creation of a Security Champion program. In this article, we’re going to address the security champions model — what it is, its benefits, and how to implement it.
What is a security champion?
A security champion is a person who is interested in the security of an organization and seeks to improve it. It is a title designated by an organization to individuals that act as a conduit between different teams – such as development, IT, branding, etc – and the security operations center. They are also responsible for educating others about how to keep the organization safe. They promote communication, education, and collaboration concerning security issues. This site will help you learn more about the security champion model.
They can be found in any industry, but are more common in organizations that deal with sensitive data. Security champions work as part of a team to identify risks and vulnerabilities in the company and create plans to fix them. It takes planning and effective rollout to properly implement a security champion’s program.
The goal of a security champion program
Security is a major concern for any company or organization. The goal of the Security Champion Program is to provide a model/blueprint for managing and implementing security best practices. The program provides a framework for managing and implementing security best practices. This includes establishing a systematic approach to managing risk, addressing compliance requirements, and understanding the impact of security on business operations.
Security champions are the ones who are responsible for maintaining the security of a company. They take care of all the security needs by making sure that they have a security plan in place.
They are not just responsible for the technical aspects of a company’s security, but also for educating and training employees to be more aware of cyber threats. Security champions also work with other departments to identify new threats and vulnerabilities before they become an issue.
Responsibilities of a security champion
Security champions are in charge of security at their organization. They are responsible for ensuring that the company’s security policies are followed, that employees comply with these policies, and that data is protected.
Many organizations have found it difficult to find a single person to take on this responsibility. It is often too much for one individual to handle. Security champions may be required to work closely with other departments such as IT and HR.
A security champion should possess several qualities that make them stand out. They need to be passionate about security, have good communication skills, and have a strong understanding of cybersecurity practices. They should also be able to translate technical jargon into layman’s terms, which will help others understand the importance of cybersecurity practices.
Some of their responsibilities are:
Education
Up-to-date know-how on the latest practices and trends regarding security principles — continuous training.
Inspiration
They need to inspire and raise awareness of security issues through the organization and in all departments.
Review
They need to be able to review code, issues, risks, and other security landmines that might arise.
Scaling
They need to be able to scale up their operations — educate and train new individuals, find new resources, understand and advocate the acquisition of new tools and resources.
Communication
A good security champion team or individual has great communication skills. They should be fine communicators and have excellent interpersonal skills. This is paramount since they will be required to share info and coordinate efforts between different departments.
The benefits of a security champion model
A security champion is a check — they act as a reminder to all your teams of the threats and risks present in the digital ecosystem. The variety of security issues that might be faced. In essence, they make your team conscious of today’s technological landmines and how they affect the company. This is their main benefit. Not the only one mind you, just the most pressing.
Other benefits include:
- They help you comprehend your overall risk profile — prioritizing threats from critical to low.
- They make sure your business is aligned to compliance guidelines and technical checklists.
- They help change your developers’ mindset — instituting a framework and value system where security is a priority.
- They identify threats and help streamline security policy protocols and workflows.
How to create security champions within your organization?
Security champions are individuals who are responsible for promoting cybersecurity culture and practices within the organization. They can be employees or customers, but they need to be people who have a vested interest in the success of the organization.
There are a couple of steps you can take to implement a security champions’ program:
- Promote the program.
- Identify champions — people you feel have gone beyond their duty and are invested in the company. They see their position as something more than just a job, they see a calling.
- Roll out the program — start the same, create a foundation with your security team, start an education program, set up regular meetings between possible champions and your security team to discuss issues, and collaborate.
- Expand — after a couple of months of trial and error, talk to your security team and start to implement a protocol or process for new champions.
A security champions program is a great way to enhance your fortifications and mature your security measures. It requires patience and planning, but if properly implemented it can supercharge a company and streamline it — making it more dynamic and resilient to attacks.
