As we bid farewell to 2020, a year marked by unprecedented challenges, the cybersecurity landscape stands at a critical juncture. Organizations of all sizes must prepare for an evolving threat environment, requiring a shift in mindset and proactive strategies. This blog post summarizes key insights, trends, challenges, and solutions to help organizations fortify their defenses in the coming year.
Key Trends and Challenges
The Rise of the Business-Savvy Defender
The need for a more business-oriented approach to cybersecurity is more critical than ever. Success hinges not only on technical skills but also on a deep understanding of cost drivers, market dynamics, and strategic goals. Professionals must move beyond a purely technical focus and become skilled business strategists.
Evolving Customer Expectations
Clients are becoming more informed about cybersecurity risks and are starting to demand greater transparency and accountability. Businesses need to be prepared to answer complex questions about their security posture and provide clear, measurable outcomes.
Emphasis on Cyber Resilience
The focus is shifting towards assuming a breach. This means a greater emphasis on preparation, rapid incident response, and disaster recovery, rather than solely relying on preventative measures. It’s no longer just about preventing attacks, but also about being ready to quickly bounce back.
Actionable Strategies for a Secure 2021
Prioritizing Asset Identification and Frameworks
A comprehensive asset inventory is the cornerstone of effective cybersecurity. Know what you have, where it is, and its relative importance to your organization. It’s also vital to have framework alignment. Whether you pick something like CIS or NIST CSF it’s important to document and continuously review security controls and their implementation.
Building and Staffing the Right Team
Investing in the right people is key. Ensure that your team is well-equipped, trained and skilled, and has clear ownership for security-related tasks. This may be creating new roles, partnering with external providers, or investing in staff training.
Mastering the Tools You Have
Rather than constantly chasing the latest technological trend, focus on maximizing the value of existing security tools. Implement them correctly, and develop processes around their use and ensure that alerts are addressed in a timely manner.
Adopting Proactive Governance
Continuously review your security controls, and actively seek feedback from clients, internal audits, and industry experts. Use this information to evolve controls and increase your security posture. Make security a conversation across all levels of your business.
The Path Forward
The coming year demands a proactive, business-driven approach to cybersecurity. By prioritizing these strategies, organizations can not only improve their defenses but also position themselves for long-term success in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. 2021 must be about the ongoing process of improving maturity and governance.