New cybersecurity risks, data breaches, attack vectors, and previously discovered vulnerabilities emerge every year. Even when dealing with zero-day vulnerabilities like EternalBlue, the strategy to dealing with cyber threats remains the same: a solid risk management framework with a methodical approach to risk assessment and response.
Today’s companies are required to embrace and undergo digital transformation to remain competitive, and easier job said than done when security is taken into account. Effective cybersecurity risk management enables organizations to adopt innovative technologies and utilize third- and fourth-party providers without fear of jeopardizing their security posture. There are several courses available with cybersecurity certifications online that can help you understand the knick-knacks of everything.
Let’s look at ten things to keep in mind to ensure successful cybersecurity risk management:
What is cybersecurity risk management?
The process of detecting possible risks, analyzing their effect, and preparing how to respond if those risks materialize is known as cybersecurity risk management. It is critical for any company, regardless of size or sector, to create a cybersecurity management strategy. It’s also crucial to remember that not all dangers can be avoided, even if they’ve been detected ahead of time. Even in those instances, though, your company can take actions to mitigate the possible effect.
10 Things to Think About When Managing Cybersecurity Risks
Organizations may take a variety of actions to guarantee successful cybersecurity risk management continually. Let’s look at ten of the most essential aspects for businesses to bear in mind while managing their IT ecosystem:
Create a risk management culture
When developing a cybersecurity risk management program for your firm, the first thing to examine is your company’s culture. The average cost of a cyberattack has already surpassed $1.1 million, and 37% of firms targeted have had their reputation tarnished as a result of the assault. This is why a cybersecurity-focused culture must be established throughout the business, from part-time employees to the executive suite.
Delegate responsibilities
The IT or security departments cannot bear the whole responsibility of ensuring cybersecurity. Every person in the company should be aware of possible security threats and take responsibility for preventing them. Human aspects must be considered in addition to technology and software in your security strategies.
Employees need the appropriate tools and training to identify malware, phishing emails, and other social engineering attempts to protect against these human-related breaches. This is an important component of establishing a secure company culture.
Employees should be trained.
To put your cybersecurity strategy into action, you’ll need to properly teach employees at all levels about the risks that have been identified, as well as the processes and systems that will be used to minimize those risks. Employee training is required to establish a security-conscious culture and guarantee that all workers understand how to use the cybersecurity systems and technologies you want to install.
Information should be shared
Putting cybersecurity in its own compartment will lead to failure. Cybersecurity risk information must be communicated across all departments and levels. What you’re doing in terms of cybersecurity must be conveyed to all relevant stakeholders, particularly those involved in decision-making at your organization. You must make the possible business effect of relevant cyber threats obvious to all appropriate stakeholders, and then keep them informed and involved in continuing actions.
Create a cybersecurity strategy.
It’s critical to put in place the right cybersecurity strategy for your business. This is usually determined by the industry norms in place. The following are the most widely used cybersecurity frameworks:
PCI DSS
ISO 27001/27002
CIS Critical Security Controls
NIST Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Security
Make cybersecurity a top priority.
Keep in mind that you don’t have an endless number of staff or a limitless budget. Simply put, you can’t defend yourself from all cyber threats. As a result, you must evaluate threats based on their likelihood and severity, and then prioritize your security measures appropriately.
Encourage a variety of viewpoints.
Too often, cybersecurity personnel and management approach risk from a single perspective, based on personal experience or business history. Cybercriminals, on the other hand, are more likely to think “outside the box” and find flaws in your system that you haven’t noticed before or even considered. As a result, encouraging team members to consider and debate diverse points of view is beneficial. This type of mental variety can aid you in identifying additional dangers and potential solutions.
Put a premium on speed.
A fast response is necessary when a security breach or hack happens. The longer it takes to handle the issue, the greater the risk of more damage. According to studies, 56 percent of IT managers require more than 60 minutes to acquire information about a cyberattack in progress. In an hour, though, a lot of harm may be done.
Your security-forward culture must include quick responses. That means you’ll need to create early detection of possible threats, quick detection of assaults and breaches, and quick reaction to security occurrences. When it comes to risk management, speed is crucial.
Create a risk assessment procedure.
Identify all digital assets owned by your firm, including all stored data and intellectual property.
Identify all external (hacking, assaults, ransomware, etc.) and internal cyber risks (accidental file deletion, data theft, malicious current or former employees, etc.)
Determine the financial and non-financial consequences if any of your assets were stolen or destroyed.
Calculate the probability of each potential danger occurring.
Plan for dealing with an incident
Finally, you must create an incident response strategy that prioritizes the risks you’ve identified earlier. When a threat is discovered, you must know what you should do and who should do it. This plan should be written down so that if an event occurs after you’ve left the firm, the current team will have a strategy in place to respond.
Wrapping up
The threat landscape is always changing, with vulnerabilities proliferating, technology advancing, business processes changing, and the dangers facing the company changing as well. Total protection from all of these hazards is just unachievable due to budgetary and time restrictions. As a result, all companies require a constantly changing cybersecurity risk management program that is built utilizing best practices. Companies are looking for experts with cybersecurity analyst certification
