Episode 39 — Beyond P-I: Urgency and Proximity
Probability and impact are necessary, not sufficient. This episode adds urgency—the need to act quickly due to accelerating exposure—and proximity—the time until a risk could occur—to refine prioritization. We define each term, contrast them with one another, and show how they interact with governance cadence. For example, a medium-impact risk with near-term proximity may outrank a high-impact item with distant proximity because you still have options for the latter. The exam often rewards answers that surface these temporal dimensions, particularly in Agile or hybrid contexts where iteration timing matters.
We discuss implementation without overwhelming teams: add one or two temporal fields to the register, define simple bands (weeks, months, quarters), and roll them into your prioritization logic through tiered flags rather than complex math. Examples illustrate how urgency can be driven by regulatory deadlines, vendor lead times, or compounding technical debt that limits future choices. Best practices include pairing proximity with early indicators to avoid surprises and rehearsing near-term triggers so escalation is smooth. Troubleshooting topics address false urgency created by noisy metrics, conflict between product and program time horizons, and inattentive dashboards that don’t visualize timing clearly. Factoring urgency and proximity helps you invest attention where it buys the most option value—exactly the reasoning the exam tests. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.
