BXBX NOVEL Chapter 111: Being Useful
Michael rubbed his temples, considering the situation. "Alright, gather the IT team. We need to respond immediately. Start by isolating the affected areas to prevent further penetration. Then, let\'s beef up our firewall rules and monitor traffic more closely. I also want a detailed analysis of these attacks, we might be able to trace them back or find a pattern."
Turning to Juliet, Michael spoke. "I\'m going out for a while. I have no other task to delegate to you—"
"Don\'t worry sir, I\'ll do something that can help you in any way," Juliet said.
Michael nodded firmly and left the office, leaving Juliet alone again in his office. She sighed. First day of her work and now it\'s already hectic. Juliet decided to utilize her time productively.
She began reviewing SolaraTech\'s internal security protocols, familiarizing herself with the company\'s systems and procedures. Understanding the current cybersecurity landscape was crucial, and she wanted to ensure she could contribute effectively, even in a non-technical capacity.
And there she found out that this is their first time encountering such a sophisticated and persistent cyber attack. That meant there must not be even a seminar conducted by SolaraTech about cyber
security awareness for its employees. Realizing the gap, Juliet saw an opportunity to strengthen the company\'s first line of defense: its people.
She started drafting a plan for a comprehensive cybersecurity awareness program, aiming to educate SolaraTech\'s employees on various types of cyber threats, the importance of maintaining strong passwords, recognizing phishing attempts, and the proper protocols for reporting suspicious activities.
Juliet outlined a series of workshops and training sessions, including interactive simulations that would allow employees to experience mock cyber attack scenarios in a controlled environment. She believed that hands-on experience would significantly improve the staff\'s ability to respond effectively to real threats.
Additionally, she suggested regular updates to the training program to keep pace with the rapidly evolving landscape of cyber threats.
Juliet also recommended the integration of cybersecurity best practices into the company\'s onboarding process for new hires, ensuring that all employees, regardless of their role or seniority, had a solid understanding of their part in safeguarding the company\'s digital assets.
Once her plan was fully fleshed out, Juliet made a PowerPoint presentation of it on her laptop compiling all her findings, recommendations, and the structured outline of the proposed training modules. She carefully selected data, case studies, and statistics that highlighted the critical need for cybersecurity awareness within the corporate environment.
With her presentation ready, Juliet reached out to the HR department and requested a meeting with the HR manager, who was located on the same floor.
She knocked on the door to the HR manager\'s office and, once invited in, introduced her initiative.
"Who are you?" asked the HR Manager, a woman in her thirties with a mature and professional demeanor, looking at Juliet with curiosity.
"I\'m Juliet Schmidt, the new personal secretary to Michael Reyes, the CEO," Juliet began. "While familiarizing myself with our company\'s protocols, I discovered a significant gap in our cybersecurity awareness among employees."
The HR Manager\'s expression shifted from curiosity to concern. "Cybersecurity? What about it?"
Juliet took a deep breath, knowing the importance of conveying her message accurately. "We are currently facing a cyberattack. It\'s sophisticated and persistent, unlike anything SolaraTech has encountered before. This situation highlighted a critical vulnerability—not in our technology, but in our human resources.
Many of our employees lack the basic knowledge to recognize or respond to cyber threats effectively."
The HR Manager leaned forward, interest piqued. "Go on."
Encouraged, Juliet continued, "I\'ve drafted a comprehensive cybersecurity awareness program designed to educate our workforce. It covers various cyber threats, emphasizes the importance of strong passwords, and educates on recognizing phishing attempts. The program also includes interactive simulations for hands-on experience and regular updates to keep pace with evolving threats."
She paused, gauging the HR Manager\'s reaction.
"That sounds... very proactive of you, especially on your first day. Cybersecurity is indeed crucial, but are you sure you\'re qualified to lead such an initiative?" the HR Manager asked, a hint of skepticism in her voice.
"I may not be a cybersecurity expert, but I understand the necessity of awareness and education in preventing breaches. I\'ve prepared a presentation to outline the program in detail. Would you be willing to review it with me? Maybe together, we can refine it and propose it to the senior management," Juliet offered, hoping her enthusiasm and initiative would outweigh any doubts about her expertise.
The HR Manager nodded slowly, impressed by Juliet\'s initiative and determination. "Alright, let\'s see what you\'ve got. If it\'s as thorough as you describe, it could be a valuable asset to the company, especially now."
Juliet opened her laptop, ready to present her plan, hopeful that this could be the first step towards making a significant contribution to SolaraTech, not just as a secretary, but as someone who could help safeguard the entire company from the ever-present threat of cyberattacks.
An hour later, the HR Manager was thoroughly impressed with Juliet\'s presentation.
"This is exactly what we need right now," she said, closing the lid on Juliet\'s laptop. "I\'ll schedule a meeting with the senior management for you to present this. It\'s clear you\'ve put a lot of thought into this, and it could not have come at a more critical time."
Juliet smiled, relieved and pleased that her efforts were recognized. "Thank you, I\'ll make sure to be fully prepared."
As she left the HR Manager\'s office, she saw Michael just entering his office, tiredness evident on his face. As a secretary, she must make her boss look presentable at all times should there be unexpected client meetings. So she asked one of the employees passing by where she could brew a coffee or get a cup for Michael. The employee directed her to the kitchen area, not far from their office.
Juliet made her way there, quickly preparing a strong but well-balanced cup of coffee, just how she presumed Michael might like it, considering the long hours he had been putting in.
Returning to the office, she placed the cup of coffee on Michael\'s desk. "I thought you might need this," she said with a slight smile.
Michael looked up, surprised and appreciative. "Thank you, Juliet. That was thoughtful of you."
Juliet, seizing the moment, decided to brief Michael on her initiative. "I\'ve been using my time to draft a comprehensive cybersecurity awareness program for our employees. I\'ve already discussed it with the HR manager, and she\'s impressed. We have a meeting scheduled with the senior management to present it."
"So that\'s what you did while I was gone defending our IT infrastructure?" Michael asked.
Juliet nodded. "Yes, and speaking of defense, how did it go?"
"We successfully defended it again. The hackers are quite persistent and sophisticated, but we\'re keeping up. This time, they tried smaller, more focused breaches, but we managed to isolate them quickly. I\'ve instructed the IT team to beef up our firewall and closely monitor all network traffic. We\'re also working on tracing the source of these attacks to get ahead of them," Michael explained.
"And for safety precautions, we moved all confidential and critical data to a more secure server with enhanced encryption protocols."
"That is reassuring to hear," Juliet said. "Well if there is anything I can do, please don\'t hesitate to ask."
"Thank you, Juliet, for now familiarizing yourself with the company. I know your first day is not what you expected," Michael chuckled.
Juliet chuckled back. "It was a weird day. I will familiarize myself, Mr. Reyes."