What a Dog Named Hazel Can Teach Us About Resilient Security Programs

Earlier this year, my wife and I faced a challenge we never saw coming. Our bull Mastiff, Hazel – a gentle, loyal soul who loves to cuddle and snore – suffered a spinal injury that left her unable to walk. Overnight, our routines shifted from walks and playtime to emergency admitting, neurosurgery consultations, and weeks of rehabilitation.

It wasn’t easy. There were moments of doubt, unexpected setbacks, and a constant need to adjust our approach. But step by step, Hazel began to recover. With patience, consistent effort, and the right expert guidance, she regained her strength.

Today, she’s back to exploring the world on her own four paws – living proof that resilience is not about avoiding challenges, but about adapting, enduring, and coming back stronger.

Resilience in Business Security Programs

Hazel’s journey isn’t just a story about a dog’s determination – it’s a powerful metaphor for how organizations can (and should) think about their security programs.

Too often, businesses design security programs expecting stability. They create policies, deploy technology, and run drills, but when a disruption happens – whether it’s a cyber breach, supply chain interruption, or physical security incident – they realize their program isn’t built to adapt and “bounce back better”.

Just like Hazel’s recovery, resilience in a security program requires:

1. A Clear Diagnosis: Before Hazel’s surgery, we needed a precise understanding of the injury. For businesses, this means conducting a clear and honest assessment of your current security posture: where you’re strong, and where you’re vulnerable.
2. Expert Guidance: We relied on a skilled veterinary neurosurgeon; organizations need trusted security advisors who understand their business context and can help them chart a path forward.
3. Adaptability: Hazel’s recovery plan changed as she healed. Security programs must also be agile, adapting to new threats, shifting business priorities, and lessons learned from past incidents.
4. Consistent Effort: Hazel’s recovery was built on daily rehab exercises (she wasn’t always keen on participating). Resilient security programs are maintained through continuous monitoring, testing, and improvement.
5. A Long-Term View: Recovery wasn’t about getting Hazel “back to normal” in a week.  We had to focus on building her up for a strong future. For businesses, resilience means designing security programs that can sustain and evolve over years, not just respond to a single event or crisis.

The ESRM Approach to Resilience

At TaleCraft Security, we help organizations apply Enterprise Security Risk Management (ESRM) principles to create programs that don’t just react to threats – they anticipate them, adapt to them, and emerge stronger.

Whether we’re guiding a CISO through strategic alignment, helping a municipality recover after a near-miss incident, or training a security team in effective storytelling, our goal is the same: to help, give back, and grow – so your security program becomes a trusted enabler of your business.

The Takeaway

Hazel didn’t recover by luck. She recovered because we created a very clear plan, relied on expert support, focused on daily effort, and our ability to adapt when things didn’t go exactly as expected.

Your security program deserves the same. Because resilience isn’t built in the easy days – it’s forged in the challenges you overcome.

If you’re ready to strengthen your security program so it’s prepared for whatever comes next, let’s talk.