Empowering Security from Within
Alina YakubenkoThe Power of Security Champions
In today's digital landscape, where cyber threats evolve at lightning speed, organizations need more than just a dedicated security team. They need a culture of security that permeates every level of the company. This is where a Security Champions program comes into play, and the key to its success lies in finding the right person to lead it.
Imagine having security-savvy individuals spread across your organization, each acting as a beacon of awareness in their team. That's the essence of a Security Champions program. It's not just about having a group of tech-savvy folks; it's about creating a network that bridges the gap between the security team and the rest of the company.
But here's the catch: the success of this program hinges on finding the right leader. Someone who can breathe life into the initiative and keep it thriving year after year.
Why is it important to foster a culture of security within your organization?
In a world where a single security breach can cause immense damage, especially in fintech companies, having a robust Security Champions program can be a game-changer. It's not just about preventing incidents; it's about building a resilient organization that can adapt to new threats.
So, what is a Security Champion?
A Security Champion is an employee who volunteers to be their functional group's security point person. This is a leadership role that extends beyond technical skills or the organization they are a part of. Security Champions come from any role, skillset or background.
The ideal candidates show genuine interest in security and willingness to collaborate with the Security team. With their management's support, they commit dedicated time to implement security best practices within their teams.
What impact have we seen?
Security Champions act as force multipliers—bridging gaps between Security and Engineering, improving visibility, and embedding security knowledge into everyday workflows. They improve product security posture, resolve issues, and promote best practices while ensuring compliance with company policies. We’ve seen increased engagement in secure coding practices and faster issue resolution where Champions are embedded.
By serving as liaisons between Security and the broader company, Security Champions help build a security culture that benefits all stakeholders and supports our organizational vision. The program constantly evolves based on feedback, ensuring it remains valuable to participants and leadership alike.
Interested in building your own Security Champion program? Here are key components to consider.
(1) Identify a Security Champions Program Lead. The journey begins with finding your champion leader. Think about who in your organization is ready to take on this crucial role. Look for someone with:
Passion for Security: Their enthusiasm should be contagious
Visionary Leadership: Ability to see the big picture and inspire others
Innovative Thinking: Creative program design that maintains engagement
Strong Communication: Translates complex security concepts into simple language
Cross-Team Collaboration: Works effectively across organizational boundaries
Problem-Solving Skills: Addresses complex security challenges creatively
Goal Orientation: Keeps the program on track with measurable results
(2) Focus on building a sustainable program framework. The right leader will understand that a Security Champions program is more than just a series of workshops.
An effective program includes:
Structured progression paths and clear goals for participants.
Gamification elements like point systems, recognition badges, team leaderboards, and quarterly spotlight awards that drive engagement.
Tailored content for diverse roles and skill levels. This helps with improving competence and confidence in participants.
Metrics that demonstrate value to leadership. Data-driven evidence of security improvements. This is crucial to securing continuous support.
Mentorship opportunities within the community. The scaling capacity of programs like this depends on the people and their ability to support and guide each other.
Consistent executive sponsorship and support. Leadership support is what makes programs like this work. It doesn’t matter how many volunteers we can recruit if they don’t have resources to perform in the role. It’s crucial to accommodate both Champions and the leadership team.
(3) Anticipate key challenges. Finding the right lead is just the beginning. Successfully running a program like this means that the following challenges will need to be addressed:
Scaling as the program grows
Maintaining long-term engagement
Balancing Champion duties with primary roles
Ensuring continuity despite personnel changes
Preserving leadership support through organizational shifts
Demonstrating tangible security improvements
Looking for a step-by-step guide to get started? Look no further!
Secure Executive Support
Build a business case with clear security and business benefits
Identify an executive sponsor who will actively advocate
Establish regular leadership reporting for visibility
Select Your Leader
Choose security professionals with technical and people skills
Ensure dedicated time allocation of 20-30% for the Program Lead
Provide visible executive backing
Build Your Champion Network
Define balanced selection criteria
Begin with enthusiastic volunteers
Create clear role expectations for Champions (typically 10-15% time commitment)
Establish Program Foundations
Implement lightweight tracking tools (e.g., Jira board, shared spreadsheet)
Set up a dedicated communication channel (e.g. Slack, mailing list)
Centralize key documents in a Champions wiki
Create a repeatable onboarding process (e.g. checklist, runbook)
Measure What Matters
Track security improvements such as faster vulnerability remediation, increased secure code reviews, reduced recurring issues, and earlier security input in design
Monitor engagement and program health metrics
Create leadership dashboards showing business value
Use data to drive continuous improvement
Conclusion: Your Next Step
If you're in a leadership position, this is your call to action. Look within your organization for that security enthusiast who has the potential to lead a Security Champions program. Or, if you're passionate about security yourself, step up and be that leader.
Remember, in the realm of cybersecurity, your strongest asset isn't a firewall or an antivirus program – it's the collective vigilance of your people. And it all starts with finding that one passionate individual who can ignite the spark of security consciousness across your entire organization.
Investing in a Security Champions program, led by the right person, could be the most important security decision you make this year. It's not just about protecting your assets; it's about empowering your people to be the first line of defense in an increasingly complex digital world.
Start by identifying someone with both security insight and leadership potential. Give them the authority, time, and support to build a sustainable Security Champions program—and track the program’s value through metrics. With consistent executive sponsorship, you’ll unlock a culture of shared accountability and resilience.
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