What our product designer has learned from designing six cybersecurity apps

What our product designer has learned from designing six cybersecurity apps

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Cybersecurity can no longer be an afterthought, it must be built into the application that is being used in order to best protect the company. The designers of cybersecurity applications must be experienced and understand the importance of the task at hand.‍

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We have designed products for six different cybersecurity companies – SpyderSafe, ThreatConnect, Carbon Black, the Vertex Project, AutoAuth, and Sevco Security. Each of these products has been designed by our lead product designer, Shane Aday. Shane has been designing products for cybersecurity for over nine years. His experience and expertise on the subject has helped us to deliver top of the line products to each of our clients. We asked Shane to share with us what he has learned through his experiences working with cybersecurity.

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Most surprising thing you have learned while designing products for cybersecurity?

“I’d have to say the most surprising thing is the sheer amount of corporate intellectual property and government data being extracted by our adversaries.

Even organizations who take security seriously, continue to be breached. Closely-held secrets are stolen, and this means nothing is truly ‘secure’. There’s only a spectrum of ‘less secure’ to ‘more secure’.

The proper development, constant iteration, and use of cybersecurity tools that address this rapidly changing landscape makes that vigilance actionable and allows an org to be ‘more secure’.”

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What was the biggest challenge in the designing process?

“The level of complexity the apps require. What we are trying to do is complex and difficult, but that makes them fun to work on.” Shane mentioned how because the process of designing products for cybersecurity is difficult, it is rewarding when you are able to solve the problem. 

What is one thing you wish you had known 6 years ago?

Shane jokingly mentioned he wished he could warn himself about how 2020 was going to go, but if he had to choose to tell himself something about designing for cybersecurity it would be to use better resources sooner. “I would tell myself to replace older design tools with modern ones sooner rather than later. The most efficient tools will speed up iteration for the design and development teams.

What was the most fun aspect of working on these projects?

“Working with the principals on each of the jobs was the most fun. The immense amount of cybersecurity knowledge each brings to the table allows me to continue expanding my own knowledge, at both a strategic and tactical level. I also find the challenge of working in this field really fun and exciting.” When the designer of these products is passionate about the subject, higher quality work can and will be accomplished. 

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My best advice is to create a method of design and development that allows for perpetual learning and iteration.

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If you could give our next cyber client one piece of advice, what would it be?

My best advice is to create a method of design and development that allows for perpetual learning and iteration. Dedication to that method is what will help make a platform or app successful in the marketplace.”

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What’s next for us

Over the past nine years, our team has been so fortunate to work with cybersecurity principals who are at the forefront of that field. We’ve learned a ton about security, and we are extremely proud of the products we’ve helped create – products that help keep everyone safe.

Of the six products we’ve worked on, two have had successful acquisitions. Four are continuing to grow their business with several three letter government acronyms and Fortune 100 companies as clients. We’re currently working on our seventh product design with a long-time client and now friend. 

Shane has led the charge on each of these products, and our whole team is ready for the next challenge.