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Staying Positive

  • Writer: Anna Collard
    Anna Collard
  • Mar 20, 2020
  • 3 min read

Remaining calm and staying positive during this pandemic craziness is not easy.


I usually am a glass half full kind of person and try to look at the bright side of situations. Admittedly though, I have my fair share of anxiety when reading articles about the health care situation in Northern Italy and thoughts about what the virus could do in Africa are racing through my head preventing me from falling asleep.


“I strongly believe we get more of what we focus our attention on and looking for the positive in any situation helps keep anxiety in check.”

Here are my thoughts on how to stay positive:


1. We are truly embracing the digital lifestyle

A lot of organizations have set up their staff to work from home or are in the midst of doing so. Times like these make us appreciate the true value of the Internet and the IT teams that make it all happen, which is not a small task for many of them.

Whether it is working from home or e-learning for our kids, many of us have advanced to becoming fully digital in the shortest of time. Conferences have become virtual and traditional face to face meetings are done over the phone or zoom.


2. Increased awareness and security

Raising awareness on the importance of basic hygiene measures has resulted in a lot of people embracing the 20 seconds hand wash, social distancing and elbow shakes.

In the digital world, risks increase when people no longer connect via their company’s protected network but via their home WIFI’s instead or when connecting with their own devices. Cybercriminals have kicked off a phishing frenzy using corona themed attacks playing into people’s fears. Companies are aware of these threats and are investing more in security controls, such as VPN solutions, 2-factor authentication and raising their user's security awareness.


3. Creativity

The word crisis in Japanese includes both the meaning “danger” and “opportunity”. I believe we humans are pretty good at finding opportunities when things turn bad. Creative solutions are definitely needed right now by both governments and businesses alike stopping the pandemic while dealing with the economic impact of the lockdowns.


4. More empathy

I feel that there is a heightened sense of empathy. People stick to the rules of social distancing to prevent a virus from spreading, not necessarily because they worry about themselves but out of care for the elderly and people who are more susceptible to it. The owner of a Cape Town restaurant told us yesterday in a very stoic manner that closing her restaurant right now is the right thing to do. She worried more about the impact this pandemic might have on HIV+ people in the township than her business's survival.


5. Appreciation

Often it’s the little things that make us happy and when these are taken away, we get to appreciate them more fully. Dinner with friends in a restaurant, hugs, sharing banter in the office. Bigger things too which we often take for granted: having a job, health. And the healthcare staff who care for people and thereby risking their own health.

Juggling working from home with young children and without the now very much appreciated support from domestic help means even South African men so used to just dropping the towel after their showers are helping cleaning the house. (At least mine is, and I appreciate him for that!)


Let’s practice empathy, wash our hands, stay safe online and remind ourselves, “this too shall pass” - hopefully soon.

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About Me
Anna 22 formal.jpg

I'm a creative security awareness content developer and founder with a demonstrated history of working 20+ years in the cybersecurity industry. Originally from Munich, Germany, I've been living in Cape Town, South Africa for the last 20+ years. Successfully grew bootstrapped startup Popcorn Training to US acquisition and scaled team in a hyper-growth environment under the new ownership as the regional MD of KnowBe4 Africa.

Since 2021 I've moved into an evangelist role at KnowBe4, driving cyber awareness across the African continent with a special focus on cyberpsychology, security culture, metaverse, Web3 security, and the intersection of mindfulness on cyber.

I'm a Member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Future of Metaverse for the 2023-2024 term as well as a member of the WEF Metaverse Initiative Governance Working Group and Security Skills Development Group. 

 

I'm a founding member and on the Mido Cybersecurity Academy advisory board, aimed at underserved communities in South Africa to bridge the cyber skills divide.

I'm a certified business analyst and have an MSc in Cyberpsychology from the University of Applied Sciences in Vienna. I hold multiple security certifications, including CISSP, CISA, CIPP/IT, ex PCI DSS QSA, ISO 27001 Implementer, and auditor.

Im also a Yoga Alliance certified Yoga Teacher Trainer (YTT 500) and certified Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator.

Awards / Recognitions:

- Top 20  Women in Cyber of the World 2024 

- Top 100 Influential Women in Tech South Africa 2024
- Women in Cyber People’s Choice Award 2023
- IFSEC Global Influencer in Security for 2022.
- UK’s IT Security Guru 21 Most Inspiring Women in Cyber in 2021
- Top 100 Women in Cyber 2020 and 2021 globally by Cyber Defence Magazine.
- ISACA South Africa President Award for 2020
- Women in Tech Innovations Africa 2020 Award for Southern and Central Africa at Africa Tech Week
- Top 50 Women in Cybersecurity – Africa 2020

 

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