Striking a Balance: Embracing Proactive and Reactive Measures in Cybersecurity through the NICE Framework
A Review of the NICE Workforce Framework.
JOURNAL
Aaron Williams
1/17/20242 min read
After looking over the NICE Framework, it now holds immense value for me in the realm of cybersecurity. It can serve as a guide, providing invaluable insights that are indispensable for IT professionals such as myself. Among the comprehensive outline of various categories within this framework, two of them, 'Analyze' and 'Investigate,' especially speak to me in my role as an IT system Analyst (National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education).
The 'Analyze' category offers a distinctive opportunity for proactive measures. It can be compared to the position of a digital strategist, where comprehensive data analysis is initiated to uncover patterns and anomalies. By adopting this proactive stance, potential cybersecurity threats can be anticipated and stopped before they materialize and cause any damage. This aspect deeply resonates with my professional values, as it places great emphasis on crisis avoidance through analysis and foresight.
The other domain I align with the 'Investigate' domain, takes on a reactive approach. Its focus lies in the careful examination of cybersecurity incidents post-occurrence. While this angle undoubtedly plays a crucial role in understanding and learning from security breaches and attacks, it aligns less with my proactive position. But I 100 percent understand the importance of knowing what has happened in history to stop it from happening again. I do prefer to prevent security incidents rather than deal with them after the fact, but it can become complicated dealing with something you have never seen before like a zero-day.
In summary, In the realm of cybersecurity, 'Analyze' and 'Investigate' are not just complementary but essential elements of a comprehensive strategy. My preference for 'Analyze' aligns with a proactive cybersecurity approach, focusing on preemptive threat identification and mitigation. This practice is crucial in maintaining secure digital environments. However, the role of 'Investigate' is equally vital, offering retrospective insight into security breaches. It provides critical learnings from past incidents, shaping stronger defense mechanisms for the future. As an IT System Analyst, appreciating the value of both ensures a well-rounded, resilient approach to managing and protecting against the complex landscape of digital threats.