Awards season is upon us. Next month, this very magazine will present its Most Influential People in Security. Later in September of this year, at GSX in Orlando, U.S. security managers, consultants, officers, manufacturers and others will learn whether OSPA's judges have tapped them for an Outstanding Security Performance Award.

Calculating your worth during a job search should be an informed exercise done before interviews start. While a good understanding of the value of your background and experience is critical, it is also important to have some knowledge of the compensation structure of any companies you would like to work for.

A critical part of ensuring adequate, safe and reliable operations amid a crisis includes comprehensive tabletop exercises to demonstrate and assess capabilities before an event occurs.

Duty of Care spells out responsibilities an organization has for its people. This includes making the workplace safe, preventing risks to health, and ensuring safe working practices are set up and followed. There is a lot to deal with between these areas and the onus is on a variety of managers to ensure nothing falls between those cracks.

Over the last two years, ransomware has been, without a doubt, the hottest topic in cybersecurity discussions in both the cybersecurity community and the general population. Major attacks like the one on SolarWinds and against Colonial Pipeline have dominated headlines — and for good reasons.

It’s tempting to file the term “security research” with the likes of “jumbo shrimp” and “somewhat unique” under the heading of oxymorons. Compared to such business disciplines as law, economics, marketing, engineering, data science — and, now, even cybersecurity — business and corporate security lag behind.

Interviews have long been sources of angst for job seekers. Adding even more stress to an already stressful situation, the pandemic caused many organizations to move almost exclusively into virtually screening candidates. Candidates now need to prepare for their 15 minutes of (on screen) fame in addition to a possible in-person interview.

Security professionals seeking to advance their careers often ask me whether certifications are worth it, and, if so, which ones they should pursue. The answer, of course, depends on the person and his or her goals. Plenty of people excel without a credential.

Steven Seiden, president of Acquired Data Solutions (ADS), has been involved in “digital divide issues” for more than 20 years, and he believes broadening inclusion and diversity in the STEM literacy field is one of his purposes. An engineer by trade, Seiden has experienced a shift in the tech world over the years, watching the convergence of technology, IT and IOT and noting the ever-expanding engineering lifecycle that now includes security.

Here’s an embarrassing admission: I’m a lifelong Jets fan. If you need proof that the organization is considered a laughingstock, a 2019 article in Inc. magazine is titled, “Want to Be a Great Leader? Look to the New York Jets—and Then Do the Opposite.”