Many in IT fields fixate on the new technology and tools that are regularly trumpeted to help us keep pace with new challenges. While the allure of technological innovation draws our attention, we often forget that technology must complement the people and processes that arguably are the most essential elements that drive enterprises’ prosperity and security. That is where ISACA enters the equation. ISACA provides the resources and guidance for professionals to grow their capabilities, and the updated frameworks and best practices that enterprises need to thrive.
Service to others is ingrained in my personal and professional DNA. My family taught me early that to serve others is the most noble of causes. I have been fortunate to have served as a US Air Force general, the chief information security officer (CISO) of the United States government, the president of a successful cybersecurity start-up, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University (where I now am director of the CERT Division at the Software Engineering Institute), and a member of numerous boards of directors of large and small organizations. After beginning my term last week as ISACA’s 2021-22 board chair, I am excited to work together with the board, ISACA executive leadership and my fellow volunteers around the world on several key initiatives for the coming year that benefit our fellow ISACA members. Those initiatives include safely emerging from pandemic restrictions and resuming an in-person option for ISACA events where it is safe and prudent to do so, publishing an updated ISACA strategy and providing guidance to the executive team as they complete the organization’s ongoing digital transformation initiatives.
What a meaningful time to be part of ISACA! Opportunities abound for our professional community. At a time when we’re seeing staggering ransomware attacks, increasing attacks on supply chains and emerging technology-driven volatility across the audit, governance privacy, risk and security spaces, the capabilities of ISACA members and certification-holders are urgently needed by enterprises around the world – and I don’t use that phrasing lightly. I view ISACA as a force multiplier for our global professional community, connecting members with industry best practices across both the public and private sectors. ISACA members lead the way in guiding their organizations in due care and due diligence, enabling their organizations to optimize their people and processes, and innovate responsibly.
Despite the lingering challenges of the pandemic, ISACA and its members are well-positioned for success. In the context of cyber resilience, resilient organizations are known for being able to take a punch and keep on going. We’re coming off a year in which COVID-19 packed quite the wallop for organizations around the world, and I was proud to see ISACA adapt to the many challenges and continue providing world-class learning and connection opportunities. Through remote proctoring of certification exams, re-imagined virtual events and an evolving portfolio of credentials, ISACA did what it has done for more than five decades – adapt to the world around us and find new ways to help our members learn and advance their careers.
Optimizing and securing today’s digital ecosystem is a tall order, but with the right people and processes in place, collectively, we can and will rise to the occasion. Given ISACA’s global reach and 50-plus years of credibility in this space, we have a vital role to play in executing on this critical mission.