How can you avoid information overload in Information Security?
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Information security is a dynamic and complex field that requires constant learning and updating of skills and knowledge. However, this can also lead to information overload, which is the feeling of being overwhelmed by the amount and variety of information available. Information overload can impair your ability to focus, prioritize, analyze, and make decisions. It can also cause stress, fatigue, and burnout. How can you avoid information overload in information security and maintain a healthy work-life balance? Here are some tips to help you.
One of the first steps to avoid information overload is to define your goals and boundaries. What are the most important and urgent tasks and projects that you need to accomplish? What are the sources and channels of information that are relevant and reliable for your work? How much time and energy can you devote to learning and staying updated on new developments and trends? By setting clear goals and boundaries, you can filter out the noise and focus on the signal. You can also avoid distractions and interruptions that can disrupt your workflow and attention.
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Henri Davis
SOC Lead | CEO of TechTual Consulting | Cybersecurity Career Coach | Content Creator | Interested in Podcast Sponsorships
In my experience the way to avoid this is to be mindful of everything you intake . Try to pay attention to the things that are helping align your career and possibly even your social media as well. By doing this it help decrease the daily noise we ingest from so many people.
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Heather Mahalik
Senior Director of Community Engagement at Cellebrite | SANS DFIR Curriculum Lead, Faculty Fellow and Author
Is work-life balance a real goal? If so, please guide me on how you are succeeding here. Overload is a huge issue in this career field. We are always saying "Yes" to everything, when we really need to slow down and think about what we will gain from that answer. A wise friend of mine, Kate Marshall, advised me that if the answer isn't "H#%% YES!" to an opportunity, then the answer should be "NO!!!!". Why can't we say "No"? I know I worry that if I say "no" that someone else will take the opportunity or that someone may do it wrong. This feeling is unsettling and is a reason I work so much. I think we need to prioritize. Say "Yes" to things you have to for work and for growth. Say "Keep me in mind for next time" if you are on the fence.
Another way to avoid information overload is to organize and prioritize information. This means sorting, categorizing, labeling, and storing information in a way that makes it easy to access, retrieve, and use. You can use tools such as folders, bookmarks, tags, notes, calendars, and reminders to help you organize and prioritize information. You can also use techniques such as the Eisenhower matrix, the Pareto principle, and the Pomodoro technique to help you prioritize information based on its importance and urgency, and manage your time and energy accordingly.
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Holger Spohn
In addition to this, chose which information source provides you the information you need. And chose wisely what you do with the info, if you just have it, just in case, who will later check it, exploit it, manage it? So, before you organize and prioritize, chose wisely what you need, why you need it, what for and then also how you manage and organise it, as stated. Information overload frustrates, not finding information you know you have is even worse, as this can get really annoying, wastes time and might not even lead to success. And as stated, automate what you can, it helps a lot, saves you a lot of work and worry.
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Gareth Shaw, CISM, CISSP
Information Security Consultant
When things start to get overwhelming it is always useful to take a pause, establish a baseline and move forward logically from this point. Your baseline will bring clarity by establishing "This is where I am/we are right now", it is also at this point that it is worth refreshing yourself with the questions: What information am I protecting? Why am I protecting it? Who am I protecting it from? You can then evaluate how you have progressed along your InfoSec Roadmap, incorporate new intelligence relating to threats, technology and business requirements before planning your next steps. Taking a pause gives you time to assimilate information from a constantly changing landscape and move forward with clarity and confidence.
A third way to avoid information overload is to use automation and delegation. This means using technology and people to help you perform tasks and process information that are repetitive, routine, or low-value. You can use tools such as scripts, macros, alerts, filters, and bots to help you automate tasks and process information that are simple, predictable, or frequent. You can also use people such as colleagues, mentors, experts, or assistants to help you delegate tasks and process information that are complex, uncertain, or infrequent. By using automation and delegation, you can free up your cognitive resources and focus on tasks and information that are high-value and require your human judgment and creativity.
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Dr. Paul de Souza
Founder President at Cyber Security Forum Initiative (CSFI.US) National Security Professional | Advisor | University Professor
If we are swamped with tough tasks at work, tech-like bots can help with easy, repetitive tasks. Two things are important here: First, we have to trust that the bots will get it right. Second, we all need to get used to focusing on more complex tasks that require more thought. Tools like Robotic Process Automation (RPA) - which rocks - can do the repetitive work and tell us when a human needs to step in for the more complex work. This helps everyone work smarter, not harder.
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Sanjiv Kumar Tripathy
HBS Alumni| Business_Employability Accelerator| Co-Founder & COO VMentor.ai| Founder GrowSafe| Adapt Defence| ACC | Tata| Manufacturing| Leader- Digital, Risk, Cyber |Start-up Advisor| Speaker| Trainer| Ind Director
Some of the effective practices in this space is Collaboration and Delegation. 1. Focus on Team Goals. 2. Identify top priority actions to Meet team Goals 3. Build Collaborative learning and sharing approach - Divide top priority area topics within teams. 4. Have an approach to collect, store and disseminate information collected. 5. Have Team knowledge sharing sessions organised and share, review, challenge, learn. 6. Work with team to identify implementation areas and implement these learning’s. 7. Reward / Recognise team effort and enhance collaboration Leaders can be a great catalyst to encourage and help start above process which can be a positive learning and contribution journey. With such collaboration, learning becomes fun.
A fourth way to avoid information overload is to take breaks and recharge. This means giving yourself time and space to relax, rest, and recover from the mental and physical demands of information security work. You can take breaks and recharge by doing activities such as meditation, exercise, hobbies, socializing, or entertainment that can help you reduce stress, boost mood, enhance memory, and improve performance. You can also take breaks and recharge by setting boundaries between your work and personal life, such as limiting your work hours, turning off notifications, and unplugging from devices.
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Neil Robinson
Chief Information & Security Officer (CISO)
While this is possibly the most difficult for many people I have found this to have many positive effects. These include a reduction in stress but for me the most important is the performance boost. I have many of my most insightful and impactful moments when I’m away from the job and shortly after I come back. In short, we need to change our mindset to view time away from work as a performance enhancer.
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Ahmad El-fanagely, OSCP, OSWE, OSEP, OSWP, OSCE
Offensive Security Manager @ KIB | Vulnerability Management, Red Teaming Expert | Certified OSEP, OSWE, OSCE, OSCP, DevSecOps, CRTE
Regular breaks and clear work-life boundaries are crucial in Information Security to prevent burnout and enhance mental agility. Engaging in relaxation and hobbies helps maintain peak cognitive function for better decision-making. Downtime, including disconnecting from work communications, is vital for sustainable performance.
A fifth way to avoid information overload is to seek feedback and support. This means asking for and receiving input, advice, guidance, and assistance from others who can help you improve your skills, knowledge, and performance in information security. You can seek feedback and support by joining communities, forums, groups, or networks of information security professionals who can share their experiences, insights, and resources with you. You can also seek feedback and support by finding mentors, coaches, or peers who can provide you with constructive criticism, encouragement, and accountability.
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Beloved .E
Cybersecurity Professional || SOC Analyst II ISO 27001 II Experienced with OWASP ZAP , WIRESHARK, SIEM II Securing Network and Web Environments || Cybergirl 2.0 ||
One thing I have found helpful is that Ensuring your security team is well-trained and knows how to filter and prioritize information effectively is key
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Colton Pepper
Cybersecurity Expert | Passionate Public Speaker
Seeking feedback was one of the guiding principles at the company I joined after leaving the Navy and was something I took to heart right from the beginning. On a personal and self-developmental level, it can open your own eyes to growth opportunities that can be something of a superpower; if embraced! From a team perspective, regardless of the team's function (InfoSec, Accounting, HR, etc.), developing a culture where everyone actively seeks feedback from those on the team, and outside of the team, has the very real potential to improve a team's perspective. Asking someone to give you feedback is one thing, but being able effectively RECEIVE the feedback is even more important! Actively listen, be curious, ask questions, and follow up.
A sixth way to avoid information overload is to learn and grow. This means embracing the challenge and opportunity of information security work as a source of motivation, curiosity, and satisfaction. You can learn and grow by adopting a growth mindset, which is the belief that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, feedback, and practice. You can also learn and grow by applying a learning cycle, which is the process of planning, doing, reflecting, and improving your learning and performance. By learning and growing, you can turn information overload into information advantage and achieve your personal and professional goals.
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Jon Good 👈
2x LinkedIn Top Voice | Leading Cybersecurity YouTuber | CEO @ Cyber Training Pro | Trainer, Career Coach, and Mentor 🚀 | Developing Information Security Beginners Into Experts
To counter information overload in infosec, cultivate a growth mindset and commit to continuous learning. View the evolving challenges as opportunities for development. Engage in a learning cycle: plan, execute, reflect, and enhance your approach. This mindset transforms potential overload into an informational edge, driving you toward your goals while keeping you mentally agile and professionally adept.
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David Knauer
Security Problems are fundamentally Data Problems | Business Manager Cyber Analytics & Defense | Spreader of the New School of Security
Implement continuous security monitoring to stay informed about your network and systems. Real-time monitoring allows you to react quickly to emerging threats. With the collected information you can do lessons learned. It is important for continuous improvement. And never forget to document everything.
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Alvin S. Matabang, PhD, MMSDA, CSP, PFSO, CST, TCC
Freelance Security/Safety Consultant/Advisor Mobile# 00639637891060
KISS - Keep It Short Sweet & Simple Show to your team what is the task at hand, ask them what essential information they need to know and teach it to them to build-up capacity in Information Security. Presto! They won't have any information overload👍
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De Biao Y.
Oversight for Cyber & Technology Risk, and Cyber Assurance Testing
Keeping the main points the main points. You do this by taking a step back and reconnecting with key stakeholders and top business priorities. Engage in meaningful conversations with them. This will help refocus the important information, reframe the issues at hand, and aid in forward planning.