As in-person engagement has slowed or ceased because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry has shifted and security professionals still have ways of engaging, networking, advancing their security careers, and maintaining their professional reputations—virtually or as a hybrid. Here’s how.

According to a report by Honeywell, improving cybersecurity for operational technology (OT) systems ranks as one of the top priorities for surveyed facility managers over the next 12 to 18 months. 

Security magazine is pleased to announce our 2021 Most Influential People in Security – 10 top security executives and industry leaders who are positively impacting the security field, their organization, their colleagues and peers, and the national and global security landscape.

If you want to improve your security hiring and employee retention practices, here are three great tips.

Many companies aren’t focused on cybersecurity disciplines directly, nor do they know how to optimize their cybersecurity. Therefore, it becomes the customers’ IT and technology partners’ job to focus on the basics, creating a faster and more fluid response for their clients. Let’s look at three ways partners can advise customers on their cybersecurity needs. 

Ben Brown’s contributions to the security field have had a significant impact in advancing the value of several security programs and enhancing the security posture of various organizations. Through his knowledge in specialized security management domains, Brown has been able to act as a change agent in large organizations, bringing resolution to complex security challenges by generating new frameworks.

In his position as Vice President and Chief Security Officer of Global Security, Claude J. Nebel Jr. has built a team to ensure the safety and security of Cargill Inc. through the programs of Asset/Physical Security, Investigations, Crisis Management and Intelligence. Cargill — a $114.7 billion company — is a major international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial, and industrial products and services. Since becoming a member of the Cargill team in August 2008, Nebel has led various industry and workplace safety standards, which play a critical role in Cargill’s foundational goal to work relentlessly to nourish 70 countries around the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way.

Fred Burton has positively impacted the security and intelligence world and is often referred to as the “Father of Protective Intelligence” for developing a framework for the approach and infrastructure of protective intelligence, helping to change the process for how physical security threats are identified and assessed for government, corporate and executive entities. 

Jeff Snyder, Executive Coach at Jeff Snyder Coaching and Founder and President of SecurityRecruiter.com, proudly described himself as a recruiter, coach, husband, father, entrepreneur, great friend and risk-taker.

Joe M. Olivarez Jr. has been an influential leader to Jacobs, a $14 billion multinational engineering company powered by more than 55,000 employees worldwide who deliver innovative, technical, professional and program-management solutions for public and private clients.As Vice President of Operational Centers of Excellence (OpCOE), Olivarez has built and led the company's integrated global security strategy.