Cyber Industry Culture Needs Urgent Change
1 Jul 2025
Matt O’Kane, chief executive of Notion Digital Forensics, has raised concerns about the Australian cybersecurity sector’s internal dynamics. He observed a workplace interaction that he believes exemplifies broader cultural problems within the industry.
O’Kane describes the sector as operating with a “fortress mentality,” which he argues creates divisions that undermine national cyber defenses. In communications to industry peers, he expressed concern that newcomers face skepticism rather than welcome integration.
Current Industry Challenges
Australia confronts a significant cybersecurity skills shortage concurrent with escalating cyber threats. O’Kane, who teaches at UNSW’s School of Business, identifies workplace culture as potentially the industry’s most substantial obstacle to expansion.
Drawing from two decades in information technology and experience investigating workplace conflicts, O’Kane points to several factors contributing to problematic dynamics:
- Teams conditioned toward suspicion struggle to deactivate defensive postures with colleagues
- The field prioritizes technical expertise over interpersonal abilities
- Overextended professionals communicate more tersely due to workload strain
- Established practitioners sometimes regard newcomers as external rather than future collaborators
Proposed Solutions
O’Kane advocates for three specific behavioral shifts among industry leadership:
First, establish welcoming environments for cybersecurity newcomers rather than treating them with suspicion. O’Kane recommends practitioners “assume good intent first, since suspicion is already in surplus.”
Second, practice generous credit-sharing and active listening. O’Kane suggests leaders “lower your power frame by speaking, sharing credit generously, and listening more than speaking.”
These approaches foster inclusive teams over hierarchical structures.
Industry Context
O’Kane’s concerns gain weight from his frontline exposure to cyberattack consequences through incident response work. His dual role as practicing executive and academic educator provides insight into both industry operations and emerging cybersecurity talent.
He concludes that fostering diverse talent retention represents the essential internal battle: “United we stand, but divided we hand victory to the bad guys.” O’Kane emphasizes that cultural transformation is vital for addressing evolving threats.