This year's Security 7 Award winners have the floor in this issue. Seven personal essays follow, each one a unique take on the security profession, coming from a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. This year's winners include a former U.S. Navy encryption officer, a CPA, a triathlete and a motorcycle enthusiast. They're stacked with the same issues the rest of the industry faces: compliance, data protection, infrastructure protection and policy creation and enforcement. They have to balance budgets, assess risk and soothe bosses. Just as you do. But what makes this group special is their understanding that security goes deeper than firewall rules and ACLs. It's about understanding risk in the context of the business. It's about knowing where to best apply your resources, when to collaborate and when to batten down the hatches.