Israel is a pretty amazing country, and I was privileged to join some of our nation's top cybersecurity executives on a delegation to CyberWeek through CISOs Connect™, one of the best invitation-only societies for cybersecurity executives and practitioners.
We were really fortunate to get the opportunity to explore the country in the days leading up to CyberWeek so I wanted to share some reflections here that I think will resonate both with Cybersecurity Executives and business leaders.
Always be honest and authentic...
Our first evening in the country had us engaged in a powerful discussion with Uri Dromi - who is one of those people who has seen it all and is willing to share his experiences openly and honestly. Executives should always aim to be honest and authentic in their interactions with others, regardless of level. Mr. Dromi spoke on a number of topics, but reminded us all of the importance of being authentic in every encounter.
Preparation is everything...
As cybersecurity executives you focus on threats which leaves little time for preparation. But it is key to make preparation a priority for your organization.
Our trip to the Masada gave us a first-hand view into the preparation King Herrod put into food supplies there - supplies that were so well-preserved whole seeds and grains were discovered thousands of years later. CISOs have to take the time to elevate their programs from reactionary to preparatory - building a culture of awareness and preparedness across the organization.
The Past Informs the Present...
My favorite part of our excursion took us into Jerusalem, which was both awe inspiring and humbling. The weight you feel being in a place like Jerusalem, which has seen so much conflict, peace, love, and death all at the same time, is a lot to take in. Remembering that here in the states our history is a few hundred years old and history there is over 2000 it kind of takes your breath away.
We visited the Western Wall and its adjacent tunnels, the Dome of the Rock, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mt. Olive, and all of the amazing shops and food markets available.
While there I felt reminded of how the past informs the present - the lesson for CISOs and tech executives being that what happened before you arrived is critical to enabling you to shape the future with any level of credibility. You'll get different sides from different people, but you have to take the time to understand it all so you can make decisions that move your organization forward.
Our "thing" doesn't work without our community...
The cyber security community is unique in that we have a very strong sense of community. People communicate with each other, we meet with each other and collaborate often, we share ideas and work together to make the products our teams use better. There's nothing like it anywhere else in the c-suite.
We spoke with emerging startups from YL Ventures' impressive portfolio of innovative cybersecurity companies. We also met with the folks at Claroty, a leading cyber security firm focused on enterprise IoT analysis and integrated vulnerability management.
Our delegation did a "Shark Tank" for emerging startups at CyberWeek. We spoke with several emerging companies and provided them with critical feedback that I believe will help them grow and better support the cyber community.
Culture drives innovation...
A worthwhile thing for all executive leaders to remember, not just CISOs. Innovation is like a field. Just because there's space, you're not guaranteed to grow anything. In order to grow anything, you need great dirt. You need good irrigation, etc. Culture is what enables an innovative culture to grow and thrive.
We saw this in action at the offices of Armis where a culture that drives innovation was on full display. This isn't about pinball machines and snack bars, it's about an environment where people can easily connect with one another above and beyond their everyday duties. One of the things I noticed was that at Armis everyone knew what the mission was and was aligned to it.
As CISOs we should work to inspire an innovative culture both internally and externally - internally with our teams to drive innovation solutions that manage and identify risk better, and externally with other employees to drive a security-conscious culture.
And just like that...
It was over. I enjoyed breakfast with a friend, walked the city and took in some additional sights, and had the opportunity to visit Yafo (pronounced Jaffa) with friends where we ate some amazing food before my flight home.
On the ride home I reflected on the experience and the one thing that stood out to me is the strength of the CISO community. Thousands of leaders and practitioners who give 100% on a daily basis to help keep companies safe and secure. Over 10,000 people from 80 different countries came to Israel to talk about cyber security. No community comes close. We have to continue to draw from each other - there's strength in our numbers.
