You’re an InfoSec Professional Not a Kinderkarten Teacher

If you’re an information security leader constantly nudging colleagues for updates, approvals, and evidence, you’re not leading security. You’re playing Chief Reminding Officer.

And that’s one C-level title nobody wants.

Chasing Tasks Is Not the Job

Every minute you spend chasing updates is a minute stolen from actual security work.

It’s easy to get stuck in the admin loop. Following up on overdue tasks, reminding someone to upload audit evidence, tracking controls across 17 spreadsheets. When that happens, your time as a security leader is spent doing what a system should be doing—managing logistics instead of managing risk.

You’re not doing security. You’re managing chaos.

The Real Cost of Task Chasing

Let’s be clear. This isn’t just frustrating. It’s dangerous.

• ❌ Risks stay open longer because nobody is pushing them forward
• ❌ Critical issues fall through the cracks when owners aren’t clearly defined
• ❌ Security teams get overwhelmed, burning time and energy on status checks instead of doing actual security work

And while you’re stuck in the follow-up hamster wheel, attackers are not waiting around.

The Problem Isn’t People. It’s the System.

When tasks don’t move forward, the easy assumption is that people forgot or didn’t care.

But more often than not, the problem is a broken process. When expectations aren’t clear, reminders aren’t automated, and responsibilities aren’t assigned, things fall apart no matter how good the people are.

You don’t need more nudging.

You need structure that makes the right thing easy to do.

4 Practical Fixes to Get Out of the Admin Trap

It’s time to stop chasing and start building systems that support your team.

1. Embed Security Into Processes

Security shouldn’t be an extra step tacked on at the end. It should be part of the way your business already works.

Instead of relying on scattered emails or manual checklists, integrate security tasks directly into the workflows that already exist. Think onboarding, vendor selection, IT change management. When security becomes a built-in part of business processes, it’s much easier to keep things on track.

2. Assign Clear Ownership, Deadlines, and Priorities

A task without an owner is a task that won’t get done.

Every risk, control, or action item should have:

• A named owner who is responsible for follow-through
• A clear due date, not just “ASAP”
• A priority level, so it’s clear what matters most

This clarity removes confusion, reduces delays, and creates a culture of accountability.

3. Automate Reminders and Escalations

You shouldn’t have to chase people. Your system should do that for you.

Set up automated tasks and reminders that notify owners before tasks are due. Create escalation paths that alert managers when something is overdue. Use your GRC tool to handle the logistics so you can focus on higher-value work.

4. Ditch the Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets are easy to start with but hard to scale.

They quickly become outdated, hard to maintain, and almost impossible to track across a growing program. A proper SaaS or on-premises GRC platform like Kordon gives you real-time visibility into risks, controls, and tasks. You can see what’s working, what needs attention, and who’s responsible. And when audit time comes, you’re not scrambling.

Stop

You didn’t get into this field to be someone’s reminder bot. You’re here to manage risk, protect information, and strengthen your organization’s resilience.

Let’s stop treating reminders and manual follow-up as business as usual. Let’s give security teams the structure and automation they need to focus on what really matters.