Page 117 - Cyber Defense eMagazine August 2024

Why Does This Matter?

CISOs will want to know why cybersecurity team training matters in the day-to-day discharging of their
cybersecurity responsibilities. Continuous training, whether it be in the form of simulated exercises in a
technical cyber range, certifications, or conducting process reviews and tabletop exercises, all contribute
to risk reduction for the organization. By educating the cyber workforce, we also give them the skills to
drive outcomes in your organization. These range from things in incident response like Minimum-Time-
To-Detect, all the way up to risk reduction, improving your bottom line, and enhancing overall cyber
resilience. It is imperative to invest in our people just as much as we invest in the tools we use.

Conclusion

As the cybersecurity landscape continues to shift, the training of incident responders should be a
proactive and adaptive strategy, focused on robust team dynamics and practical, immersive experiences
in simulated settings. This approach not only prepares teams for immediate threats but also builds a
resilient organizational culture capable of withstanding future challenges. In the long run, the investment
in training your cybersecurity team is likely to offer more substantial returns than simply acquiring another
tool. Effective training ensures operational readiness and adaptability, key components for thriving in
today’s volatile cyber environment.

About the Author

Tom Marsland, VP of Technology at Cloud Range, is a cybersecurity
professional with over 22 years of experience in the information technology
and nuclear power industry. He served over 22 years in the US Navy as a
Nuclear Reactor Operator and Instrumentation and Controls Technician,
working in nuclear engine rooms on a myriad of Navy submarine platforms. His
final tour of duty was as the head of the nuclear-powered engine room for a
fast attack Navy submarine with oversight of the entire propulsion and electric
plant, and then as the lead nuclear supervisor for a squadron of three
submarines. He has a bachelor's degree in IT security and a master’s degree
in cybersecurity. He's married to Jennifer, an Emergency Management Planner, and they have four
children and two grandchildren. They reside in the Pacific Northwest, and in his free time, he enjoys
backpacking through the Olympic and Cascade Mountains. Tom can be reached online at
[email protected], @tmarsland on X and at our company website
https://www.cloudrangecyber.com/.

Cyber Defense eMagazine – August 2024 Edition 117
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