During the 2012 Cyber Attack and Business Continuity Simulation the fictional Global News Network (GNN) provides the context that we will use to exercise our response and readiness for such catastrophic events. But, even though we are building a fictional GNN we are building a management Dream Team of real people . It is this real management Dream Team who will be the heart of our simulation and it is our real management Dream Team who will put their decades of knowledge and experience to use in the simulation.

Global News Network’s Chief Security Officer is Jim Mecsics. I spoke to him today on topics related to our GNN simulation that will be running on September 11^th, 2012 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAQeNgHG_xY). Here is an excerpt from that interview.

Tom Jinks: You have an impressive resume but what is even more remarkable is what isn’t written down. I’ve heard that you were involved with the Air Force response on 9/11/2001 when jets rammed the twin towers and Pentagon, you worked with the FBI on breaking a massive Nigerian Credit Card ring when you were Chief Security Officer at Equifax and that you are as good with physical as you are with cyber security. What will you draw from your background that will be most meaningful to C-Level Executives and others viewing the simulation on 9/11 of this year? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAQeNgHG_xY)

Jim Mecsics: Well, Tom, officially I don’t know that an attack will occur on September 11^th but there will be several things that are common to any scenario, regardless of when or where or who. The first is that I will work hard to be a resource to the CEO and to bridge the gaps between the silos that exist. In the case of GNN there is Corporate, Atlanta and Reston as well as security operations which includes physical and cyber security plus risk management and there are also silos of C-level executives, senior managers and operational security personnel. Not to mention the press and investor relations. There are a lot of moving parts.

Tom: Yes, there are. What does the CEO need most from you in time of disaster?

Jim: The CEO is going to draw on us, on me and my department, as a resource: they are going to want to get a high-level grasp on the situation, to understand the gravity and scope of the situation. Only then can they make real, informed decisions. I am going to ask my people to take off their security hats and put on their business hats. What are the business ramifications? What are the impacts? What have we already done in business continuity planning that can be applied? What are the unique things about this situation that have not been planned for and what do we need that we don’t have?

Tom: Resiliency and business continuity are important. What lessons have you learned from your Air Force and enterprise experience that can be applied here?

Jim: Everything. It doesn’t matter much if it’s al Qaeda or a flood. Out of business is out of business and the first thing is to focus on getting back up and running. Only then can we get even, only then can we do bad things to the bad guys. The bottom line, as Chief Security Officer for GNN, is to remove the FUD, the fear, uncertainty and distrust that accompanies such events, including within and between the silos within the organization. The CSO must lead by example.

Tom: I’m really looking forward to how things come together on September 11st, 2012 in Atlanta (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAQeNgHG_xY). I really appreciate your being a member of our C-Level and Senior Management Dream Team.

Jim: I’ve lived most of my adult life with the traditional military “need to know”. I think you guys have done a great job making the new homeland security “duty to share” tangible and meaningful for the C-Level executive and his or her staff. I’ve always done my duty and look forward to doing my “duty to share” on September 11^th.