Team Deltek's Jane Brady: Dedicated to Keeping Deltek Project Nation Safe & Secure

In this month’s #TeamDeltek spotlight, we chatted with Jane Brady, a Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Analyst on the Information Security team. As part of this global team, Jane is dedicated to protecting Deltek Project Nation by ensuring our capabilities meet the constantly changing security landscape.

During our conversation, Jane shared with us how she landed her career in Information Security, important tips to think about during Cybersecurity Awareness Month and what keeps her busy when she’s not focused on keeping Deltek safe and secure.

Jane, thank you so much for taking the time to share your story with us. To kick things off, can you share a little about your background and what brought you to Deltek?

Thank you for the opportunity. It’s hard to believe I’ve been working in Information Security for over 20 years! It all started around 1999; I had been working full-time and going to school part-time. Upon graduation, I was looking to get into Information Security, and I was fortunate to find an entry-level position with great growth potential.

My first position was in Identity and Access Management (IAM), where I prepared for the Y2K conversion. As part of this role, I was responsible for provisioning users, performing access reviews, updating system configurations and executing audits. Then, in 2017, I transitioned to the Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) side of the business and began working on Business Continuity, Policy Management and Information Security Training.

Fast forward a few years, I found myself looking for a new challenge when I heard about what a great place Deltek was to work. While it may seem odd to change jobs in the middle of the pandemic, I decided this was the right opportunity for me, and joined the team in May of 2020 as a Senior Principal GRC Analyst.

In the last year, my co-workers and I have been working on Business Continuity and Contingency plans for Deltek’s business units, Information Security Risk Management, Enterprise Policy Management and Information Security Training. Despite being remote, this type of work has allowed me to get to know the various teams and understand what they do and how that fits into Deltek.  I’m so glad decided to come here!

Speaking of the pandemic and businesses shifting to remote work, how has working in a virtual environment impacted your role at Deltek as a new employee?

Honestly, it hasn’t been as challenging as I initially thought it might be. When working in a remote environment and being new to the team, you just have to be more deliberate in building relationships, learning new things, and figuring out how to work together. Fortunately, Deltek has invested in the tools we need to meet virtually, which has reduced any roadblocks associated with my role.

One thing I do miss, by not being in the office, is the impromptu watercooler conversations. So to help my global team keep in touch, we host Coffee Talks every other week.  A Coffee Talk is an informal Zoom meeting where we gather and discuss things going on in our lives–vacations, interests, upcoming events at Deltek, family, and so on. Team members can join the conversation if their schedule allows, but attendance is not required.

Like many, I would love to meet my colleagues face-to-face, but until then, our current set-up allows me to meet virtually with individuals throughout the organization.

Throughout the last year you’ve educated #TeamDeltek on the importance of Information Security. Can you share why protecting data is part of Deltek’s DNA?

It’s imperative for companies to put strong data security measures in place to protect against cyber-attacks and other unauthorized access and data breaches. Weak security can lead to information being lost or stolen−creating a poor customer experience.

Information Security is ingrained in every aspect of our business at Deltek, from product development to data privacy. We have a responsibility to Deltek Project Nation and our employees who entrust us to safeguard their data. In addition, we have regulatory and compliance responsibilities for Information Security which offer assurance to our customers allowing Deltek to reach our business goals. 

Information Security is certainly a priority at Deltek and one of the reasons we support Cybersecurity Awareness Month each October. Do you have any tips you can share with Deltek Project Nation on how to keep their data safe and secure?

There are many things Deltek Project Nation can do to protect itself from cyber-attacks, not only during October but all year round! Here are just a few suggestions to help keep your information and company safe:

1. Information Security isn’t just for work; make sure you have implemented good passwords for your online accounts. Be sure to change or set passwords on your Wi-Fi routers and other personal devices.
2. Be mindful of the personal information that you share online. Bad actors are groups or individuals with malicious intent looking for information about you− even through your social media platforms. For example, that online quiz with 25 questions about where you were born, who your first dog was, and your first car−these may be the answers to many of your security questions they are looking for!  
3. Be cautious using public Wi-Fi. You should avoid using these networks with your business equipment.  
4. Be sure to take your company’s annual Information Security training. At Deltek, we try to keep our training short and relevant and hope it keeps our employees and our business safe.  

In addition, be cautious of links in emails or texts, even from people you may know. These bad actors are becoming savvier and sending emails and texts that appear more and more real. They are waiting for that one time when you’re busy and don’t have time to read the email or text carefully, and then click on a link and download malware. 

These are some great ways to help protect Deltek Project Nation. In addition to your work, what do you appreciate most about Deltek’s workplace culture?

At Deltek, we have a culture of learning–where, as an organization, we place a strong emphasis on continuing education. As an employee, I am so appreciative that Deltek provides a variety of ways to expand our knowledge and grow as individuals. 

Whether through LinkedIn Learning, LEADx, or Quantum−Deltek provides the tools to support ongoing learning and development. Throughout the last year, I’ve enjoyed taking Information Security courses through LinkedIn to enhance my knowledge. The self-paced curriculum allows me to fit it in when convenient, without taking time away from work. 

I also recently attended Deltek’s speaker series on “Time Management & Productivity” and “The Science of Managing High-Performing Remote Teams.” Both topics addressed some of the challenges I was having getting my most important things completed amidst the whirlwind of my day-to-day tasks. By attending these sessions, I was able to take some actionable steps to be more productive, and at the same time, reinforce what I learned by focusing on the same topics in LEADx (Deltek’s AI learning coach) to make these changes part of my normal workday.

Being part of #TeamDeltek is definitely something special. When you are not busy safeguarding our company how do you like to spend your time?

When I’m not working, you’ll find me and my husband helping with the kids at church or singing in the choir. From time to time, you will also find us scouring local estate sales, think American Pickers, searching for that one-of-a-kind treasure.

But where I really like to spend my free time is with our local no-kill cat shelter–Kitty Kat Haven and Rescue, an organization near and dear to my heart. They always need more hands to help clean and organize the shelter, which is why I’ll be using my Deltek Volunteer Time Off (VTO) day there this year. As an added benefit, volunteers get to play with cats–which is what I love!

What wonderful ways to contribute to your local community. As you look back, who has been the biggest influence on your career and why?

When I was 10, I learned of two guiding principles that have helped me throughout my career. The first was from a teacher who shared, With every privilege comes responsibility. And the second was from my parents, Prepare today for your responsibilities tomorrow. 

Both of these sayings highlight that it’s important to be aware; that success in your career comes from hard work and preparation for the challenges and responsibilities you may face. I am grateful to them for helping shape my work ethic and those–including great managers–who have contributed to building my career by challenging and supporting me to be more than I thought I could be.

Having individuals you can rely on to help navigate your career is key. What advice would you give to women who are looking to explore a career in Information Security?

Go for it! You may have some Information Security experience and not realize it. It is a broad field that includes but is not limited to Business Continuity, Policy Management, Information Security Training, Audit Management, Risk Management, Cybersecurity and Application Security. If you enjoy figuring out how things work, are detail-oriented, and are a team player−then Information Security may be for you!

What great words of wisdom! To wrap things up, we like to ask all our #TeamDeltek interviewees this: Of Deltek’s ten company values, which one resonates most with you and why?

It’s so hard to narrow it down to just one value! I love that we are encouraged to bring our authentic selves to work each day and operate with integrity in all that we do. At the same time, our diversity provides different perspectives, opinions, and strengths critical to our success as a global company. 

But, if I had to choose just one Deltek value that resonates most with me, it would be “We play to win for the benefit of all our stakeholders” because, as individuals we succeed when our teams, business units and Deltek succeeds.

Learn more about Deltek’s winning workplace culture and how we are creating a balanced, values-driven workplace powered by collaboration, innovation and authenticity. Subscribe to our Inside Deltek Project Nation newsletter and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to get the latest on #DeltekProjectNation.