Leader's Perspective - Ramana Chamarti

“Several emerging technologies will significantly impact cybersecurity in the coming years. Edge computing and Edge AI, for example, are enabling more processing and decision-making to occur closer to where data is generated. This can improve performance and reduce latency, but it also creates new security challenges. Wearable devices are also becoming increasingly common, and many of these devices collect sensitive data. This data can be valuable to attackers, so it is important to ensure that wearable devices are properly secured. AI is also playing an increasingly important role in cybersecurity. AI can be used to automate many security tasks, such as threat detection and incident response.

IoT is prevalent and in aviation it is being used to improve efficiency and safety of operations. For example, we send details on the gradient of the flight that the pilot should take to avoid overconsumption of fuel. Continuous monitoring is important to ensure security.

Cloud adoption is also increasing rapidly. Cloud providers offer a variety of security features including encryption, but it is important for customers to understand these features and to configure them properly. It is also important for customers to understand their own security responsibilities when using cloud services.”

— Ramana Chamarti, Chief Architect, Frontier Airlines

The involvement of Senior Leadership varies from organization to organization and the industry type. However, in general best practices recommends that since the landscape of Cyber Threat keeps evolving, we need to keep educating our leaders so that they understand the importance of Cybersecurity Awareness and Training in order to train the entire organization so they act as the first line of defense.

A new trend has been observed recently in the Cybersecurity pitch that senior leaders are taking initiative in hiring Cybersecurity consulting firms and vCISO services to address the policy gap that is arising because of the fast-pacing evolution of IT technologies, specifically AI based services in all segments of IT services and tools.

It is recommended that each organization that is onboarding new technologies, IT solutions, applications and tools to service their business needs should have a mandatory cybersecurity awareness program with focus on top-down approach. Cybersecurity should be discussed in every Department meeting to ensure that Cybersecurity is not only IT/Security responsibility but everyone’s responsibility.

University of California, Riverside (UCR) has published a paper that recommends leaders to leverage various leadership styles to an advantage when it comes to combating cybersecurity challenges in their organizations. Some of the leadership they recommended are:

Collaborative leaders promote cross-functional communication and cooperation, breaking down silos that may impede the sharing of crucial information. This open communication facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of potential threats and vulnerabilities, enabling a more robust cybersecurity strategy.
Transformational leadership In the context of cybersecurity, this style encourages a proactive approach towards identifying and addressing potential threats. Such leaders foster a transformational environment to instill a sense of responsibility and accountability among team members, promoting a collective effort to safeguard sensitive information.
Transactional leaders In the cybersecurity context, adhering to established protocols and compliance measures is the priority. Such leaders ensure that team members follow standardized security practices, reducing the likelihood of human error and exploitation of vulnerabilities.
Situational Leaders adapt an approach based on the specific challenge at hand, whether it’s a sudden breach or a sophisticated attack, these leaders guide their teams through effective crisis management and response strategies.
People-first leaders can contribute to a strong cybersecurity posture by prioritizing the well-being and development of team members. In the context of cybersecurity, this can translate to a workforce that is more vigilant and committed to upholding security best practices.

Apart from these leadership practices to develop a healthy and effective cybersecurity culture, it is important that an effective Cybersecurity program and tool is implemented to educate every employee, contractor and consultant who has access to the organization’s assets at any capacity.