Unfortunately, diversity is still underrepresented in security. Our profession continues to struggle to attract and/or advance diverse candidates into leadership ranks in numbers that accurately represent a cross section of the working population.

The International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO) is announcing today that funding has been secured for a security research project that will aim to provide comprehensive data on the roles and responsibilities of today's security officers, including insights into their ever-evolving role.

Barring winning a major lottery or inheritance, during a 40+ year working life in the security profession, security leaders will likely make a dozen or more job changes. While some of these may be significant responsibility shifts within a single organization, in today’s environment it is likely that a person will be changing organizations and even the type and/or responsibilities of various roles. One of those changes may include self-employment. Here’s what you need to know to ponder the transition.

Michael Oberlaender has had cybersecurity leadership positions and CSO/CISO titles at enterprises around the world. He’s recovered companies from data breaches, built cyber-hardening strategies and policies, implemented cybersecurity budgets, forged relationships and communications with the C-suite, analyzed risks, and dealt with privacy laws around the world.

As what has been a unique and difficult year for many finally comes to a close, I find I have been engaging in a significant number of conversations regarding what the future holds for security careers in these challenging market conditions.

The Electronic Security Association (ESA) developed the ESA Youth Scholarship Program — a philanthropic endeavor that aims to support the futures of children of first responders (including police, firefighters, EMT). Applications are now open for high school seniors.

William Boelcke spent the years 1998 to 2000 with the U.S. Air Force. He’d spend the next 18-plus years battling mental health issues and substance abuse. Two years ago, in a treatment facility in Rockford, Ill., Boelcke was introduced to BraveHearts and its equine-assisted therapy program. The non-profit organization based in Illinois has been working with veterans, providing free equine-assisted therapy and a place of calm and acceptance, since 2007.

The close of 2020 is fast approaching, and many security professionals have experienced a wide swing in career highs and lows during this challenging year. Many shifts were obviously pandemic-related. Organizations were either forced to consider business realignment or utilized the upheaval to move in a direction that may have been already under consideration. Regardless of the circumstance, the result was a reduction in opportunities in the security profession for some, and career advancement for others.