https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvuSEsvrER8
Physical security to Cybersecurity
Back in 1996, I found myself in the role of a security specialist within the US Air Force’s Security Forces. It was a position that revolved largely around physical security — safeguarding personnel, protecting military assets, and ensuring the security of bases. This experience laid a strong foundation in understanding the core principles of security, from threat identification and risk assessment to the implementation of preventive measures.
As technology evolved and the digital landscape became more prominent, I recognized the growing importance of cybersecurity. This realization led me to transition from my role in physical security to a career in IT, with a specific focus on cybersecurity. This shift wasn’t just a change in job roles; it was an expansion and adaptation of my skill set to a rapidly evolving digital domain.
In cybersecurity, I found many parallels to my previous work in physical security. The fundamental principles remained the same: identifying threats, assessing risks, and implementing protective measures. However, these were now applied in a digital context. I was dealing with securing network perimeters instead of physical boundaries, and protecting data instead of physical assets.
My experience in physical security had taught me the importance of risk management and response strategies. These concepts were directly applicable in the cybersecurity realm, where risk assessment is critical in understanding the digital threat landscape. Protective measures like firewalls and intrusion detection systems in cybersecurity mirrored the barriers and surveillance techniques I was familiar with in physical security.
One of the most striking realizations in my career transition was the overlapping nature of threats in both physical and cyber domains. A physical breach could lead to cybersecurity threats, and vice versa. This understanding highlighted the need for an integrated security approach, one that considers both physical and digital threats concurrently.
The journey from physical security to cybersecurity also underscored the importance of continual learning and adaptation. The security landscape, whether physical or digital, is ever-changing, necessitating an ongoing commitment to stay abreast of new threats and technologies.
Reflecting on my career transition, I see it as a testament to the fluidity and interconnectedness of security as a discipline. The principles and strategies I learned in physical security provided a robust foundation for my foray into cybersecurity, proving that skills in one domain could not only be transferrable but also immensely valuable in another.