Friday, October 2, 2015

A Time for Ethics

Normally my blog posts are focused on news and facts but this article will be a bit of a diversion.  Thanks for bearing with me!

As I listen to the news about the VW emissions scandal, and hear about deflated footballs I am disappointed that honesty is being pushed aside.  I mentioned this to an aquaintance and their response was, "If you're not cheating you're not playing the game."

Well, I was frankly stunned at that response...to the point that I asked if they had a CISSP certification (CISSP = Certified Information Systems Security Professional issued by ISC2).  Fortunatey they didn't; however, the reason why I asked is because the CISSP Code of Ethics is a strong foundation for honestly dealing with your peers, customers, and employers -- as well as families, friends and fellow citizens.

The CISSP Code of Ethics includes a Preamble and Canons.  They are repeated below:

Code of Ethics Preamble

Safety of the commonwealth, duty to our principals, and to each other requires that we adhere, and be seen to adhere, to the highest ethical standards of behavior.  Therefore, strict adherence to this doce is a condition of certification.

Code of Ethics Canons

*  Protect society, the commonwealth, and the infrastructure
*  Act honorably, honestly, justly, responsibly, and leagally
*  Provide diligent and competent service to principals
*  Advance and protect the profession

So, if you are not aware of the CISSP Code of Ethics, you may want to consider it for your future decisions.  If you possess a CISSP then these should not be a surprise.

As my dear friend and mentor Mr. Kirk Bailey (CISO, University of Washington) has offered, whenever you are presented with a problem, "....always do the right and ethical thing..."

May you make the "right and ethical" decisions!

Cheers!