Security

I head India business for a network security solutions company. In September this year, I was invited to present the latest network security threats and tools to fight them to a gathering of around 50 IT managers at Hyderabad.

The room was full of young people; average age would be around 32 years or so. Somehow I didn’t feel like doing the routine powerpoint stuff and wanted it to be an informal discussion session.

During the discussion, I asked a simple question to my audience “What are the first three things that come to your mind when you hear the word security?”

I got some very prompt answers:

• Data Security
• Anti virus
• Network security
• Application security

And so on…

I think one of the guests guessed that there was something else on my mind. He asked me “Sunil, you are from a network security company, what are the top three things that come to your mind?”

My answer was “1.Self (Health), 2. Family 3. Finances”

Many in the room laughed and agreed that we all get so absorbed in our work and surround ourselves with so much "information" and "knowledge" that we tend to forget the simple basics.

Just because all present in the room were from IT background and discussing network security threats doesn’t mean that the word "security" will mean "network security".

Of course, I later presented why my company’s solutions were best investment for their organizations but my honest recommendation was:

1. Buy Medical insurance for self and family
2. Buy life insurance for the major bread earners of the family
3. Start investing long term for financial security

And… buy my company’s solutions for your organization’s network security objectives.