Liat Doron is the Vice President of Learning and Training at Check Point Software Technologies.

In this exclusive CyberTalk.org interview, Check Point’s Vice President of Learning and Training, Liat Doron, discusses her extraordinary career, leadership opportunities, leadership learning, and how to leverage new educational opportunities to meet evolving business and cyber security needs. We are so excited to showcase this interview just ahead of International Women’s Day, on March 8th!

Please share a bit about your role at Check Point

As the Vice President of Learning and Training at Check Point, I am responsible for creating and delivering training programs to our employees, partners, and customers so they can grow and develop both personally and professionally.

My department is focused on five main areas:

  • Cyber Education: We aim to establish Check Point as a leader in developing the cyber security workforce by enabling cyber security knowledge to be accessible to all
  • Check Point Knowledge: We aim to educate employees, partners, and customers about our rich solution portfolio and how to best leverage it to “Secure Your Everything.”
  • Customer Experience: We promote activities that will result in better/ improved products
  • Professional Skills: We elevate employees’ skillsets, providing them with knowledge and tools to maximize their performance.
  • Management Development: We equip our managers with tools and best practices to drive their employees to excellence.

What brought you into the cyber security industry and why have you chosen to stay?

I have been with Check Point for 25 years, initially starting as a junior Human Resources Admin and the administrative assistant to our CEO. Over time, I progressed and honed my skills in the human resources department, becoming a global leader with a focus on various areas such as workforce planning, organizational development, employee relations, compensation, benefits, training, and organizational effectiveness.

Three years ago, I took on a new challenge and assumed the responsibility of leading the Learning and Training Organization. Our goal was to create a comprehensive training solution for our employees, partners, and customers. To achieve this, we consolidated the training teams from various departments into a centralized training organization.

I have chosen to stay in this industry because it is constantly evolving, and there is always something new to learn and share with others. It is an exciting field with a significant impact on society, and I am honored to be a part of it.

Would you like to share a bit about the Check Point MIND program?

Check Point Mind is a comprehensive training and learning portal that acts as the hub for the world’s largest cyber security vendors. We have partnered with over 200 of the world’s most renowned training providers to offer cutting-edge knowledge and cyber security skills. With Check Point Mind, we complement the best security solutions with the best security education.

The MIND program has five pillars of focus, including certification paths, cyber security skills for red teams and SOC analysts, security awareness programs, governance, and a knowledge base. The program offers a wide range of self-paced training modules, specialized offensive security training through Hacking Point, and interactive activities, such as cyber ranges and escape rooms, on the Cyber Park platform. Additionally, Check Point MIND provides specialized training for C-level executives through the CISO Academy, and a free podcast called CISO Secrets, which features interviews with Fortune 500 CISOs. The knowledge base includes over 200 guides for administrators and users, as well as 50,000 security articles with solutions and instructions through Secure Knowledge. Check Point MIND is a valuable resource for organizations looking to enhance their cyber security skills and knowledge across all levels of the organization.

Across the cyber security industry, where are you seeing the biggest knowledge gaps?

One of the biggest knowledge gaps in the cyber security industry is the lack of understanding and awareness among the public and even some organizations, about the importance of cyber security and the potential risks they face. Additionally, there is a shortage of skilled professionals in the field, particularly in emerging areas such as cloud security and IoT security.

What kinds of new skills should CISOs and security professionals focus on at this moment in time? What would be most beneficial to them?

CISOs and security professionals should focus on developing a broad range of skills, including technical expertise in areas such as network security, application security, and data security, as well as soft skills, such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. Additionally, they should stay abreast of emerging technologies and threats and be prepared to adapt and innovate to address them.

How do you anticipate that Check Point will grow its learning and training programs across the next 5 years?

Check Point will continue to innovate and invest in developing new learning and training programs that meet the evolving needs of the industry and will be committed to the future growth and development of its employees, partners and customers.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with the CyberTalk.org audience?

Thank you for the opportunity to share my insights with the CyberTalk.org audience. Cyber security is a critical issue that affects us all, and I encourage everyone to learn about cyber threats and acquire the right knowledge to protect themselves and their organizations from digital threats. Whether you are an industry professional or an individual user, there are steps you can take to stay safe online, such as using strong passwords, keeping your software up to date, and being suspicious and alert about suspicious emails and messages.