Security Champions play a crucial role in fostering a culture of security within organizations. While "stuff"—like swag and gift cards—is a common way to reward them, there's an opportunity to think bigger and leverage other powerful motivators. The SAPS (Status, Access, Power, Stuff) framework provides a valuable reference for designing more impactful rewards that can lead to higher engagement and long-term retention of champions.
Status: Elevate Their Recognition
Security Champions often work behind the scenes, ensuring secure practices are embedded within their teams. However, their efforts frequently go unnoticed beyond their immediate circle. One way to enhance their role is by publicly recognizing their contributions. Providing champions with special badges, titles, or mentions during company-wide meetings, newsletters, or internal communications elevates their visibility.
Public recognition not only acknowledges their efforts but also reinforces their value within the organization. It can contribute to a stronger sense of identity within the security community and encourage others to aspire to the role. Security Champions who receive such recognition will feel a greater sense of ownership and pride in their responsibilities.
Access: Provide Exclusive Learning Opportunities
Beyond material rewards, providing Security Champions with access to exclusive resources or opportunities can significantly boost their motivation. For example, offering champions a chance to attend advanced training sessions, security conferences, or webinars hosted by industry experts can be a game-changer. This enables them to continuously grow their expertise and stay at the forefront of security trends.
By giving champions special access to learning opportunities, you can foster their professional development and provide them with a competitive edge. Access could also extend to involvement in higher-level strategic security meetings or engagements with senior leadership. This not only keeps them engaged but also positions them as internal experts who are deeply connected to the organization's security roadmap.
Power: Empower Their Decision-Making
Security Champions often find themselves balancing the interests of their development teams with security best practices. Empowering them with real decision-making authority can make their role even more impactful. For instance, providing champions the power to veto decisions that compromise security can position them as critical gatekeepers of your organization's security posture.
Additionally, giving them the autonomy to drive security initiatives within their teams allows them to take proactive steps in improving processes and tools. This empowerment demonstrates trust and confidence in their expertise, resulting in a more motivated and engaged champion who feels they are making a tangible impact on security outcomes.
Stuff: Move Beyond the Basics
While material rewards like branded merchandise or gift cards are a simple way to show appreciation, they shouldn’t be the only method used to motivate Security Champions. These physical rewards, while appreciated, often have a short-term impact. Instead, consider rewarding champions with experiences that create lasting memories—such as a team-building outing, personalized mentorship with senior security leaders, or even a company-sponsored day of learning and skill development.
Additionally, rewards should be aligned with individual preferences and needs. A one-size-fits-all approach may not have the desired effect. Some champions might value the chance to pursue certifications or contribute to open-source security projects more than they would enjoy a physical prize. Understanding what resonates most with each individual champion will ensure your rewards have a greater long-term effect.
Best Practices for Implementing Rewards
Tailor Rewards to Individual Preferences: Not all champions are motivated by the same factors. Some may value status and recognition, while others may prioritize opportunities for learning or leadership. Survey your champions to understand what motivates them and create a rewards strategy accordingly.
Create a Tiered Rewards System: Develop a structured system where champions can work towards progressively more meaningful rewards. For example, a new champion might start with recognition and swag, but as they continue to contribute, they gain access to advanced training or decision-making authority.
Keep Rewards Consistent and Ongoing: Motivation can wane if rewards are only given sporadically. Maintain a regular cadence of recognition and opportunities. Quarterly or annual rewards programs can help maintain engagement over time.
Align Rewards with Business Goals: Ensure that the rewards given to Security Champions align with broader business goals and security objectives. For example, if a champion successfully leads an initiative that reduces vulnerabilities or enhances compliance, tailor the reward to acknowledge their alignment with critical business outcomes.
Conclusion
Leveraging rewards for Security Champions goes beyond physical tokens of appreciation. By incorporating status, access, and power into your rewards program, you can foster a deeper commitment and engagement from your champions. The goal should be to create a comprehensive system of recognition, empowerment, and development that not only motivates champions but also supports their long-term growth and success within your organization.
When designed thoughtfully, a rewards program can elevate the role of Security Champions, driving them to continually push the boundaries of security excellence. Not only does this benefit the champions themselves, but it ultimately enhances the overall security posture of the entire enterprise. If you're interested in learning more, check out this article explaining how the MongoDB Security Champions program emphasizes empowering champions with choice, allowing them to select security-related events to attend, which fosters a deeper commitment to security. It also provides exclusivity by giving champions early access to new security initiatives and insights, creating a sense of belonging and influence within the company.
If you're looking for help in developing a rewards system for your Security Champions, be sure to reach out to Katilyst. We work with our clients to design Security Champion programs that include rewards that are tailored to champion preferences and aligned with both individual and organizational goals.
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