According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word security means

freedom from danger, risk, etc.; safety” and “something that protects or makes safe; defense.”

At UMSA, we see a lot of different organizations within the security industry. It’s a broad industry ranging from business continuity to cyber security. What security means to us and what security means to our members may vary, but we all have one thing in common and that’s a desire to learn from one another.

Information security

Many of our members work in the information security industry. Defending information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, change, destruction etcetera, could happen in a physical setting, and it also happens online or in the cloud.

IT security

IT security refers specifically to information security as it applies to technology, sometimes called computer security. However, the term “computer” can be applied to any piece of technology that has a processor, including your calculator and goes way beyond a desktop or tablet computer.

When it comes to protecting a company’s data from breach, there are some things that are known, but there are also a lot of unknowns. Technology moves quickly and hackers and cybercriminals are always working to stay one step ahead of security professionals. To be effective, it’s important that a network exists for people working in the security world to share ideas and information.

Member organization Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) https://www.owasp.org/index.php/Main_Page is a great example of a group working in IT security sharing what they learn to make software security issues transparent so others can make informed decisions about true risks. Information Systems Security Association of Minnesota (ISSA-MN) http://mn.issa.org/ is another example of a member organization providing information for security professionals to enhance their knowledge and skills.

Business continuity

Some of our members focus on business continuity, securing a company overall, not just the information. Business Continuity Planners Association is a nonprofit organization that provides professionals with education and an opportunity to share experiences and information related to business continuity.

Securing the longevity of an organization is a security issue. Making sure that services and critical functions will be available to customers, suppliers, regulators and others whenever needed, means securing resources and processes to keep business going. Business continuity is part physical security and information security, and it would be difficult to be successful without learning from others’ success and failures.

For each of our members, security may mean one specific thing, an area they’re responsible for protecting and keeping safe, but as a member of UMSA, it also means sharing and learning. Creating a safety net of other security professionals.

Security means professionals from all walks of the security world coming together to share information and resources and learning from one another so we can do what we do better. We strive to offer you opportunities to learn and share what you know. We encourage you to join in on our free WebTrack Series webinars and meet up in person at our Secure360 Conference and CSO Summit.

If you’re organization is interested in becoming a member or if you’d like to help out as an individual, we’d love to hear from you!