Attitude, Responsibility, Passion, and Loyalty in IT Security
IT security is often reduced to tools: firewalls, protocols, certificates, or checklists. All of these are important. But in real-world practice, I have learned that they are only as strong as the attitude of the people who use them.
Security does not begin in the network.
It begins in the way we think.
I do not work in IT security because it is fashionable or because the terminology sounds impressive. I work in this field because I want to understand what happens beneath the surface: why systems work, why they fail, and what happens when assumptions turn out to be wrong. This curiosity is not a temporary motivation. It is a form of passion, one that remains even when things become complex, exhausting, or uncomfortable.
Honesty Is Not a Risk, It Is a Protective Mechanism
Through conversations, projects, and professional interviews, I have learned how valuable honesty is in IT security. Pretending to know everything creates a false sense of safety. Clearly stating where knowledge ends and uncertainty begins creates real security.
“I don’t know” is not a weakness.
It is the beginning of responsibility.
Only those who recognize their own limits will ask questions, verify assumptions, test systems, and document results. In security-critical environments, this mindset is essential. Systems are not protected by confidence alone, but by humility in the face of complexity.
Responsibility Reveals Itself Where Things Become Uncomfortable
Responsibility means seeing systems as they truly are, not as we would like to present them. If a system cannot be fully secured, this must be stated openly. And it must be monitored. Consistent monitoring, proper logging, and regular reviews are not optional add-ons; they are expressions of care.
This is where loyalty shows its true meaning.
Not blind obedience, but reliability.
Loyalty is not about hiding problems to avoid conflict. Loyalty means addressing risks before they cause damage, to employers, to users, and to the integrity of one’s own work. Security without honesty is not security at all. It is an illusion.
From Learning to Writing — Responsibility for Knowledge
While writing my book on VPN technologies, this responsibility became especially clear to me. The book did not come into existence because I “know everything.” It exists because I wanted to understand why certain decisions make sense and why others do not.
Writing knowledge down means taking a position.
It means thinking things through deeply enough that they can endure.
Sharing knowledge carries responsibility: for clarity, accuracy, and the consequences of how others apply it. This, too, is loyalty, not withholding insight, but sharing it in a way that helps others act more securely.
Security Is Not a State, It Is an Attitude
IT security is not a destination that can be reached and then forgotten. It is an ongoing process, shaped by awareness, honesty, and long-term commitment. Technology is a tool in this process, but it cannot replace judgment, conscience, or responsibility.
Passion keeps this process alive.
Loyalty makes it dependable.
Good IT security is not recognized by how loudly it announces itself or how many buzzwords it uses. It is recognized by how quietly it works in the background, consistently, reliably, and with respect for the people it is meant to protect.