Why Being a Mom Is Basically Like Passing the CISSP - part 1

Hi friends! 👋 I have to share one of my days with you—not just because it hit me how similar managing my household is to cybersecurity, but also because it helps me remember the concepts more easily. :) maybe you can relate and it helps you too! :)

So there I was—folding laundry for the third time (because heaven forbid clothes stay folded) with a cold coffee near me on the nightstand and cybersecurity videos playing in the background (that’s how moms learn, by the way :))) ). Just as the instructor explained, “Domain 5: Identity and Access Management” , it hit me—this is me all day long: deciding who’s allowed into the snack cabinet, who gets the tablet, and making sure the smallest one doesn’t accidentally order something on my phone (just kidding—he’s not allowed… but still, he’s a little sneaky thief!).

Most days I feel like I’m defending my network (aka kitchen) against the Advanced Persistent Threat known as the “toddler with sticky hands” or “kids trying to steal snacks.”

But hear me out: the 8 CISSP domains? I live them. Daily. Here’s proof.

1. Security & Risk Management

aka “Trying not to lose my mind… or my house keys.”

Every day I assess risks:

• “If I let them have chocolate before dinner, what will the fallout be?”

• “Is this Peppa Pig or Pocoyo episode going to give them ideas?”

• “If I let them use markers, how much of the wall will turn into a modern art masterpiece?“

• “If I say yes to screen time now, how long before I have to wrestle the tablet away?“

• “If I don’t hide the snacks well enough, how fast will the cookie jar go from full to empty?”

• And so on, you get it, right?

I’m basically performing continuous risk analysis in sweatpants.

---

2. Asset Security

aka “Who took my phone AGAIN?”

Everything in my house is an asset. Especially:

• The tablet (a.k.a. the holy artifact of peace)

• The snacks (guarded like top-secret data)

• My sanity (classified, disappearing rapidly)

Data classification? Easy. Ice cream = High Availability, Low Integrity. Why? Because it is always ready in the freezer for emergencies (aka meltdown moments), but if it’s a little melted or has some freezer crystals, no big deal—it’s still delicious enough to calm the troops.

---

3. Security Architecture & Engineering

aka “Designing the chaos control system!”

This domain is all about building solid systems and layers of defense: in my house, that means scheduling meals before the hungry apocalypse, enforcing bedtime like a sergeant, and declaring the bathroom a “mom-only” zone—because that’s the ultimate safe room.

I don’t need fancy security stuff—I use lots of coffee and leave big Lego pieces on the floor like traps to slow down the chaos.

---

4. Communication & Network Security

aka “Keeping the family chat secure!” This domain is all about protecting how information travels safely from one place to another. At home, that means guarding my phone password like it’s gold, making sure the tablet and laptop don’t lose connection during our family messenger catch-ups, and trying to stop little fingers from turning off the internet right when you need it most or when the group chat gets juicy, ‘cause those green lights are so interesting, right?
Basically, it’s about making sure no unexpected interruptions crash the family communication party.

To be continued… because in my house, the Wi-Fi has more drama than a soap opera! 😂