Comments on: Security officially defined http://www.riskbloggers.com/benfield/2007/02/security-officially-defined/ Security Wisdom Ahead of the Curve Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:47:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Benjamin Field http://www.riskbloggers.com/benfield/2007/02/security-officially-defined/#comment-581 Benjamin Field Fri, 16 Feb 2007 00:01:45 +0000 http://www.riskbloggers.com/benfield/2007/02/security-officially-defined/#comment-581 Well, it stands to reason that the best way to avoid being laid off is to quit first. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get started on my new security program, and my calendar is jam packed with all the nothing I have to get done before Friday. Well, it stands to reason that the best way to avoid being laid off is to quit first. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get started on my new security program, and my calendar is jam packed with all the nothing I have to get done before Friday.

]]> By: Larry J. Hughes, Jr. http://www.riskbloggers.com/benfield/2007/02/security-officially-defined/#comment-578 Larry J. Hughes, Jr. Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:09:33 +0000 http://www.riskbloggers.com/benfield/2007/02/security-officially-defined/#comment-578 Merriam-Webster also includes this in the definition of security: "freedom from the prospect of being laid off." In talks I give I note that security is an abstract noun. As such it is erroneous to objectify it. Yet we objectify security all the time, which I personally find dangerous. To skeptics I suggest they substitute the word "quality" for "security" in their contrary assertions. It produces interesting reactions. "We'll add QUALITY in the next version" "My director says not to let QUALITY get in the way of our deadline" "QUALITY was never a concern for us before" "That's the QUALITY team's problem, not ours" Show me an executive who'll tolerate the above statements and I'll show you an executive who's getting faux results if any at all. Show me an executive who tolerates the "SECURITY" version of the statments and I'll show you...well...your garden variety executive. Merriam-Webster also includes this in the definition of security: “freedom from the prospect of being laid off.”

In talks I give I note that security is an abstract noun. As such it is erroneous to objectify it. Yet we objectify security all the time, which I personally find dangerous. To skeptics I suggest they substitute the word “quality” for “security” in their contrary assertions. It produces interesting reactions.

“We’ll add QUALITY in the next version”

“My director says not to let QUALITY get in the way of our deadline”

“QUALITY was never a concern for us before”

“That’s the QUALITY team’s problem, not ours”

Show me an executive who’ll tolerate the above statements and I’ll show you an executive who’s getting faux results if any at all. Show me an executive who tolerates the “SECURITY” version of the statments and I’ll show you…well…your garden variety executive.

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