I recently received an email notifying me of a data breach at a major public service provider in London that I rely on. Before this, I never truly considered that I could be directly impacted by a breach, even though they’re frequently reported in the media. With incidents like these becoming increasingly common, it was unsettling to think that my personal data may have been compromised. However, the service provider has been proactive, sending follow-up emails in the weeks following the initial notification, outlining the incident and their remediation efforts. As a communications professional, I found their response reassuring.
Data breaches are becoming so frequent that they’re starting to feel like notifications from my telecom provider—constant, annoying, and impossible to ignore.
Coincidentally, I’d been enrolled in the Google Cybersecurity Certificate course. My initial foray into cybersecurity was driven by the assumption that I would be diving into a highly technical world—one filled with firewalls, encryption, and endless lines of code, likely while wearing a hoodie in a dark room. While I certainly encountered that (minus the hoodie), what piqued my interest was discovering how crucial communication is within the cybersecurity landscape.
In today's hyper-connected world, cybersecurity has become one of the most critical aspects of every organization's operational strategy. It’s not just about protecting sensitive data or ensuring business continuity; it’s also about building and maintaining trust with customers. I’ve come to realize that cybersecurity is more than just a technical responsibility; it’s also a communications challenge.
The Intersection
Why? Because no matter how sophisticated an organization's defenses are, human error remains one of the most significant risks. This is where effective communication plays a pivotal role. While studying incident response plans, I realized that when a data breach occurs, it’s not just the IT team scrambling behind the scenes to secure systems and data. The communications team is equally essential in ensuring that stakeholders—whether customers, employees, or partners—are informed and reassured. Organizations are legally obligated to disclose breaches, and the quality, clarity, and timeliness of that communication often determine whether trust is preserved or lost. Cybersecurity professionals may patch vulnerabilities and mitigate future risks, but without clear, strategic communication, even the best technical response can leave people in the dark and cause unnecessary panic.
One of the most critical elements of cybersecurity is awareness. Many threats—from phishing to social engineering—target the weakest link: people. Ensuring that employees and stakeholders understand the risks and how to avoid them requires more than a one-time memo or a check-the-box training module. It requires consistent, clear, and engaging communication. By translating complex technical concepts into easily understandable information, communicators can help create a culture of security. This extends to everything from regular awareness campaigns to engaging content that demystifies topics like password security, device protection, and data privacy.
Gaining Technical Expertise: The Next Frontier
On the flip side, my experience with the technical aspects of cybersecurity has also been eye-opening. Through the Google Cybersecurity Certificate, I’ve gained hands-on experience with tools like Python, Linux, and SQL, and I’ve worked with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools to identify risks and mitigate threats. Understanding these technologies has allowed me to better appreciate the technical side of cybersecurity.
My observations and learnings from the past weeks have made me appreciate the relationship between cybersecurity and communications. Both disciplines require a keen understanding of risk, an ability to anticipate and mitigate problems, and a focus on protecting people—whether through securing data or ensuring that information is clear and accessible. As I continue to explore both fields, I’m excited by the possibilities that lie at this intersection.
On to the next.
PS: I first published this article on my LinkedIn profile on 16/9/24.
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