Career Advice: When Security Runs Up Against Other IT Functions
Accretive Health CIO Paul Cottey answers questions about the conflict between security functions and others in IT, dealing with an angry co-worker and more.
Mon, May 09, 2011
Computerworld — Accretive Health's Paul Cottey
Ask a Premier 100 IT Leader Paul Cottey
Title: CIO
Company: Accretive Health
Cottey is this month's Premier 100 IT Leader, answering questions about the conflict between security functions and others in IT, dealing with an angry co-worker and more. If you have a question you'd like to pose to one of our Premier 100 IT Leaders, send it to askaleader@computerworld.com .
IT Career Guide: Advice for IT Professionals
I work in security , and sometimes it almost seems as if my department is at war with others in IT: app/dev, networking, you name it. How do we defuse this situation? You will never be able to avoid the push-me, pull-you between people's desire to be creative in solving business problems and the legitimate need of a business to be run in a secure fashion, but it does not need to be an all-out war. The best things you can do are to seek to understand the other person's point of view and then explain the rationale behind the point of view you are taking. I have found that few things make people madder than being told, "Because I said so!" when they ask what they feel is a legitimate clarifying question. If you are enforcing company policies or governmental laws, be specific, and if you know of an appeals process or another mechanism to find an exception, offer it up. You can't compromise your core principles, but you can be flexible and see shades of gray. At the end of the day, each of your departments needs to accomplish its goals, and most of the time there do not need to be winners and losers.
I have a co-worker who sometimes becomes almost blind with rage. Most of my colleagues laugh it off, but aside from the damage to equipment I have seen this person do, I'm concerned that he could harm someone. What should I do? It sounds to me like this person gets not just angry but physically violent. There is no place in the workplace for physical violence, and although it may "only" be equipment now, I share your concern that a person could be next. If you have already talked to your supervisor about this person's behavior, and you have not seen changes, then it is time either to talk to HR or to your company's anonymous hotline (if it has one). If neither of those outlets is available to you, or you have tried them already and not seen changes, then it is time to update your rsum and find a work environment that is safe and constructive.
