Reflections on My First Two Months at a PR Agency: Cybersecurity Edition

Reflections on My First Two Months at a PR Agency: Cybersecurity Edition By James Turnbull, account executive Two months ago, I stepped into the world of Public Relations, full of excitement, anticipation, and—let’s be honest—a bit of trepidation. Eskenzi PR works exclusively with cybersecurity clients, and while I’d heard of firewalls and data breaches, I hadn’t exactly pictured myself becoming well-versed in phishing scams or zero-day vulnerabilities. But hey, life takes us down interesting paths! Day One: The Great (Cyber) Awakening On my first day, I walked into the office eager to make a good impression. Within five minutes, I was being briefed on ransomware, ethical hacking, and something called the “dark web.” My brain was swirling with technical jargon that felt like it was coming straight out of a sci-fi thriller. But I quickly learned what it means to work in PR, whether you’re promoting the latest fashion brand or the unsung heroes of cybersecurity. It’s all about crafting a compelling narrative, building relationships, and making sure your clients shine in the spotlight. Finding My Cybersecurity Sea Legs Over the next few weeks, I immersed myself in everything cybersecurity. From attending webinars to reading endless articles on the latest threats, I soon realised that this industry isn’t just for techies, it’s an essential field that impacts everyone, from individuals like you and me to major corporations and governments. I also quickly learned that PR in cybersecurity is like playing chess while juggling flaming swords. You must be strategic in your messaging while keeping an eye out for any potential crises. A single IT Outage, not that there have been any recently, can make or break a company’s reputation, so we’re always on high alert. But that’s what makes it exciting! The Art of the Press Release (and Other Fun Stuff) One of the first tasks I was assigned was to write a press release for a client launching a new security solution. Easy, I thought. I’ve written press releases before. But then came the jargon—encryption protocols, threat intelligence, advanced persistent threats. Thankfully, my team is amazing. They patiently (I’m sure their patience must begin to wear thin eventually) explained the technical aspects and helped me translate them into plain English. Over time, I’ve learned to navigate the fine line between simplifying complex topics for the media while keeping the tech-savvy readers engaged. It’s a delicate balance, but one I’m starting to understand. The Serious Stuff Working with cybersecurity clients has also opened my eyes to the serious side of PR. We’re not just promoting products; we’re helping companies protect their customers, their data, and, in some cases, even their livelihoods. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that the work we do can make a real difference in safeguarding people’s information. I’ve also seen firsthand how critical it is to respond quickly and effectively in times of crisis. When a client faces a potential data breach, the clock starts ticking, and our team jumps into action. There’s no room for error, but that’s what makes the work so exhilarating. Looking Ahead As I wrap up my first two months, which has gone in the blink of an eye, I can honestly say that working in PR for cybersecurity clients has been both challenging and rewarding. I’ve learned, laughed, and even and feel as though things are really starting to click. Sure, there’s still a lot to learn, but I’m excited to see where this journey takes me. And who knows? Maybe I’ll even become the office cybersecurity guru one day. Until then, I’ll just keep crafting stories, dodging phishing scams, and enjoying every minute of this wild ride.