Digital transformation introduces new systems. These help to streamline processes, but they also introduce risks. Operational improvements are balanced with security challenges: the more technology in a business, the more it needs protecting in a market where hackers are sophisticated and quick. Yes, it is important to have controls in place, but it is also important to understand how systems work together. What does the architecture look like? How are systems connected? How do they fit into the digital transformation strategy? And, importantly, where are the weaknesses?
Good cybersecurity can help businesses gain competitive advantage and improve their operations. Which means it now reaches every corner of a business and impacts every decision: the security of new systems, the security of data, the security of AI, for example. And because security matters everywhere, it is now everyone’s business: from the c-suite leaders with budgets to spend, to employees exposed to a potential attack.
The good news: leaders are prepared to invest. They want professionals to steer the ship, and they are happy to train employees. Finding people with cybersecurity experience and certifications is important. But raising awareness, and providing training, is pivotal. If most hackers are gaining entry through phishing or spam emails, for example, then education will help to prevent attacks. Businesses will need to combine the skills of cybersecurity professionals with increased awareness across their teams. If cybersecurity is everyone’s business, then it is everyone’s job to understand it.
Five cybersecurity jobs your teams need
This article has been developed in conversation with Hiren Joshi, Maria Sartori, Richard Sinden, and Christian Schmitz at Robert Half; alongside Belton Flournoy, Michelle Moody, Erwin de Man and Kentaro Ellert at Protiviti.
Hiren Joshi is currently working as a Branch Director with Robert Half based out of Toronto, Canada. He has been with Robert Half for more than 7 years and has more than 15+ years of IT recruitment experience.
Maria Sartori is a chemical engineer, a graduate of UNICAMP with a postgraduate degree in finance from the same institution. She began her career in the recruitment field in 2011, contributing to the startup of the Campinas office of Robert Half in Brazil. Currently, she serves as an Associate Director, overseeing Technology, Engineering, Sales, and Marketing at the São Paulo office.
Richard Sinden is a Director of the Western Australian operation of Robert Half. He oversees the strategic practice areas of Executive Search, Finance, Technology, and Business Support. With 25 years of international recruitment experience, he has developed an unparalleled understanding of WA's unique market and helped many clients attract and retain skilled talent and build productive and engaged teams.
Christian Schmitz is Head of Technology Germany at Robert Half. The tech expert has been advising companies across all industries on all aspects of IT and their digitalization programs with a focus on consulting and recruitment, including global market leaders and DAX40 companies. He has extensive expertise in enterprise technologies such as SAP, Microsoft, Salesforce and ServiceNow and covers business and IT alignment, new ways of working and digital enablement.
Belton Flournoy is a Managing Director within Protiviti’s Technology Consulting practice. He has over twelve years of professional experience working with a variety of local, national, and global organisations to enhance their business performance through risk management, operational effectiveness and enhanced governance. Belton has significant experience in identity and access management, IT governance, IT risk management, cybersecurity, disaster recovery, end user computing, and IT controls testing.
Michelle Moody is a Managing Director for the Protiviti Data & Analytics Practice in the UK. She has a focus on all things data from advisory, regulation and governance through to end-to-end cloud data platforms delivering insights through visualisations, analytics, and ML/AI models.
Erwin de Man is a Managing Director at Protiviti and is based in Frankfurt, Germany. With over 20+ years of experience in digital enablement, Erwin has consulted to a broad range of clients on technologies such as robotic process automation, machine learning, and process mining.
Kentaro Ellert is Senior Manager for AI governance and AI regulation expert at Protiviti in Germany. He specialises in compliance for artificial intelligence and supports companies with building holistic management systems to enable success with AI while mitigating its risks.
