Cyber With Debra!

Work does not always wait for process. When things get busy, it can feel easier to move quickly and handle tasks end to end.

In this week’s comic, Michelle shares how she submitted a request, approved it herself, and pushed it through to avoid delays. From her perspective, it worked. Everything turned out fine.

Debra pauses and asks a simple question. Did you handle the entire process yourself?
That moment highlights something important.

What separation of duties really means
Separation of duties is a security principle that ensures no single person has full control over every step of a critical process.

Instead of one person handling everything, responsibilities are divided. One person may request a change, another approves it, and someone else executes it.

This creates a system of checks and balances.
It is not about slowing work down. It is about making sure actions are reviewed, validated, and accountable.

Why it matters
When one person controls every step, there is no second set of eyes. That means mistakes can go unnoticed and risks can slip through.

Even when intentions are good, the absence of oversight increases the chance of:

• Errors that are not caught in time
• Unauthorized or unintended changes
• Lack of accountability if something goes wrong

Separation of duties helps catch issues early, before they become larger problems.

Everyday takeaway
Security is not only about preventing malicious actions. It is also about reducing the risk of simple mistakes.

Speed can solve immediate problems, but structure helps prevent future ones.
Having another person involved in key steps is not a delay. It is a safeguard.

Thank you for reading. I hope you are subscribed. Have you ever taken on a process end to end just to move faster, then later realized why those checkpoints exist? Let me know in the comments ⚖️