Effective Communication in InfoSec: More Than Just Technical Skills

By James Rees, MD, Razorthorn Security

Communication is an essential element in every aspect of modern society. It underpins how we share ideas, manage difficult situations and advance our careers. In the information security sector, effective communication isn’t merely beneficial – it’s absolutely crucial. While technical competencies remain foundational, the ability to communicate clearly and effectively often determines success.

When professionals first enter the technical field, they commonly focus on mastering frameworks, processes and technology. Many assume their role will revolve primarily around technical tasks, with little emphasis on interpersonal skills. This narrow focus can create a significant blind spot in professional development. The reality is that information security professionals must work in teams, collaborate across departments and interact with stakeholders at various levels within an organisation.

During high stress situations like cybersecurity incidents, communication becomes even more vital. The message shared with engineers working to resolve an issue differs greatly from what should be communicated to board members or the legal team. Each audience requires a different approach, vocabulary and level of detail, yet all need accurate information delivered appropriately.

The Communication Gap in Technical Roles

The Evolution of Security Careers

A significant challenge in information security stems from how professionals enter and advance within the field. Technical expertise is typically the primary requirement for entry-level positions, with communication skills considered secondary or assumed to develop naturally over time. This creates an imbalance that becomes increasingly problematic as careers progress.

The typical career trajectory in information security often looks something like this: an individual with strong technical capabilities works diligently on technical problems, receives promotions to senior positions based on technical merit, and eventually finds themselves in management or leadership roles. Suddenly, they’re no longer working exclusively with like-minded technical colleagues but must report upwards to executives, manage teams and collaborate horizontally with non-technical departments.

This transition reveals the communication gap. The skills that earned them recognition – coding, vulnerability assessment, threat detection – don’t necessarily translate to explaining security risks to board members, negotiating resources with finance departments or collaborating effectively with legal teams during an incident response.

Impact on Security Outcomes

The gap becomes particularly evident when security professionals must work with development teams. Developers may view security professionals with suspicion, perceiving them as obstacles rather than partners. Breaking through this stereotype requires more than technical knowledge; it demands the ability to build rapport, demonstrate understanding of development priorities and communicate security requirements in terms that resonate with developers’ objectives.

In globally distributed organisations, the communication gap widens further. Working across time zones adds complexity, with team members joining calls at different times of day, potentially affecting their energy levels and focus. Cultural differences introduce another layer of nuance, as expectations around directness, hierarchy and feedback vary significantly across regions.

This gap isn’t merely an inconvenience =- it directly impacts security outcomes. When security professionals cannot effectively communicate risks, requirements or recommendations, even the most technically sound solutions may fail to gain traction.

Understanding Your Audience

One of the fundamental principles of effective communication in InfoSec is recognising that different audiences require different approaches. This can be conceptualised as a pyramid model of communication, with varying levels of detail appropriate for different stakeholders.

At the top of the pyramid sit executives and board members. For this audience, brevity is paramount. A single sentence of seven words might suffice to convey the essentials of a security situation. For instance, during an incident, they may only need to know: “Authentication webpage breach identified; resolution underway.” They rarely require technical specifics or implementation details, focusing instead on business impact, risk exposure and resolution timeframes.

The middle layer encompasses peers, managers and cross-functional teams. These audiences need more context but still benefit from concise communication. They require enough information to understand implications for their areas of responsibility without being overwhelmed by technical minutiae.

The base of the pyramid comprises technical teams and specialists who need comprehensive details. When communicating with developers or fellow security professionals, establishing credibility is essential. This doesn’t mean displaying perfect knowledge – it means demonstrating sufficient understanding while acknowledging limitations. Technical audiences appreciate authenticity over pretence, and admitting knowledge gaps can actually build trust rather than diminish it.

Cross-Cultural Communication in Global Teams

As information security teams become increasingly global, cultural awareness in communication takes on greater importance. Different cultures have distinct approaches to hierarchy, feedback, decision making and communication styles that can significantly impact professional interactions.

Cultural differences manifest in numerous ways within workplace communication. Some cultures prioritise direct, explicit instructions with clear action items following meetings. Others consider such explicit follow up potentially offensive, interpreting it as a lack of trust. These differences exist on a spectrum, with certain cultures appearing blunt to some and overly indirect to others.

The challenges of cultural communication extend beyond verbal exchanges. Non-verbal cues, which constitute a significant portion of in-person communication, are often diminished in virtual settings. Camera-off policies, while sometimes necessary, further reduce these important signals.

When working across cultures, begin by understanding the specific preferences and expectations of immediate colleagues rather than relying on broad cultural generalisations. Ask about communication preferences, decision making processes and feedback styles.

Communication During Security Incidents

Preparing for Crisis Communication

Effective communication during security incidents can mean the difference between swift resolution and cascading failures. When security events occur, organisations face not only technical challenges but also significant communication hurdles that can impede response efforts.

The foundation of successful incident communication begins well before any event occurs. Organisations should establish not only technical recovery plans but also comprehensive communication strategies. This includes determining where teams will share information, who will communicate with various stakeholders and what level of detail is appropriate for different audiences.

A centralised information repository provides tremendous value during incidents. When status updates, technical details and response activities are documented in a single, accessible location, it reduces the burden on technical responders who would otherwise face constant interruptions for status updates.

Managing Stress and Focus

During active incidents, responders face significant psychological pressure that can impair communication abilities. Simple techniques like deliberate breathing exercises can help maintain composure in high stress situations. Taking brief moments to collect thoughts before communicating can prevent errors and improve clarity.

Designating a specific team member to handle communications can shield technical responders from distractions. This individual becomes responsible for gathering information at appropriate intervals, translating technical details into audience-appropriate updates and fielding questions from stakeholders.

How to Build Trust Through Communication

Information security teams often struggle with negative perceptions within organisations. They may be viewed as barriers to progress – the department that says “no” or imposes restrictions without understanding business needs. Overcoming this stereotype requires deliberate communication strategies focused on building trust.

Trust begins with understanding stakeholders’ perspectives and challenges. When joining a new organisation or engaging with a new team, security professionals should ask targeted questions: What challenges are you facing? What’s working well and what isn’t? How could security better support your objectives?

Establishing credibility with technical teams requires honesty about knowledge boundaries. Rather than feigning expertise in areas where it’s lacking, acknowledge limitations while demonstrating sufficient understanding of relevant concepts. Developers and IT professionals quickly recognise inauthentic technical knowledge, but they respect honesty and willingness to learn.

Practical Communication Strategies

Self-Assessment and Skill Development

Developing effective communication in InfoSec requires deliberate practice and strategic approaches. For information security professionals seeking to enhance their communication effectiveness, several practical strategies can yield significant improvements.

Self-assessment provides a foundation for communication improvement. Before attempting to change how you communicate, understand your current strengths and weaknesses. Consider asking trusted colleagues or friends for feedback on your communication style.

Learning to distil complex ideas into concise statements represents a valuable skill for security professionals. One effective exercise involves taking a detailed concept – such as a specific security risk or control – and expressing it in progressively shorter formats: first in a page, then a paragraph, then a single sentence.

Adapting to Audience Needs

Preparation before significant communications pays substantial dividends. For important meetings or presentations, create mind maps or structured outlines of key points, supporting details and potential questions. This preparation allows for more confident delivery and greater responsiveness to audience needs.

Tailoring communication to audience preferences extends beyond content to delivery methods. Some stakeholders prefer written documentation they can review at their convenience, while others absorb information better through conversation. Some appreciate visual representations like diagrams or charts, while others respond to narrative examples.

When explaining technical concepts to non-technical audiences, analogies and real-world examples provide valuable context. Rather than describing technical vulnerabilities in abstract terms, compare them to familiar physical security concepts.

Growing Through Feedback and Continuous Improvement

Communication skills development requires ongoing attention and refinement throughout a security professional’s career. The communication challenges faced by entry-level analysts differ from those encountered by security leaders, necessitating continuous growth.

Seeking regular feedback offers invaluable insights for improvement. After significant presentations, meetings or written communications, ask trusted colleagues for specific observations. What worked well? What could be improved?

Practice remains the most effective avenue for improvement. Volunteering for presentation opportunities, participating actively in cross-functional meetings and seeking roles that require communication with diverse stakeholders all provide valuable real world experience.

Conclusion

Communication stands alongside technical expertise as a critical competency for information security professionals. As security challenges grow increasingly complex and organisations more distributed, the ability to communicate effectively across technical boundaries, organisational hierarchies and cultural differences becomes not merely beneficial but essential for success.

By approaching communication with the same rigour and commitment applied to technical skills development, information security professionals can significantly increase their effectiveness and advance both their careers and their organisations’ security posture. The security professionals who communicate most effectively often protect their organisations most successfully.

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