Cybersecurity has changed a lot in a short amount of time. Roles are more specific, and tools are better. This should make businesses safer on paper.
But in real life, many teams still have the same basic problems they had years ago: they don't know what risks are most important, they don't know which tools to use, and they can't explain security issues in a way that makes sense to the business. ## Specialization without context makes the risk picture smaller Cybersecurity is unique in the rapidity with which practitioners can specialize. Advanced skills only work when they are based on a solid understanding of the basics. Learn the basics at SANS Security West 2026.
Sign up for SANS Security West 2026 here. Bryan Simon, a senior instructor at SANS, wrote this article and contributed to it.
