Cybersecurity Strategy & Business Strategy Alignment
As a cybersecurity leader, you are responsible for managing your business’ cybersecurity. You need to identify the potential threats and risks that could lead to data breaches or cyberattacks. Likewise, since you have a responsibility to protect customer data, you should always be in the know about new product updates that could compromise security on any device. In addition, new privacy and data protection laws need to be considered along with user expectations about their right to privacy. Don’t forget about reporting how your company provides notice to consumers is essential during a data breach or personal information loss.
That is a lot to have on your plate! So, how do you go about getting it all done?
You should start not only with a sound cybersecurity strategy, but a cybersecurity strategy should match, and ultimately enable, the business strategy. It is critical to recognize that cybersecurity is a business issue and not an IT issue. With increased digitalization of business, the whole enterprise is at risk together with its supply chain and partner network. Cybersecurity risk now extends way beyond your IT infrastructure – it is now a strategic business priority.
When done well, the cybersecurity strategy provides a blueprint for your business’ approach to protecting your business from cyberthreats and covers the risk mitigations arising from the cybersecurity risk assessment. A useful cybersecurity strategy requires that the right tools and technologies are utilized, along with security measures for implementing them. Aligning your cybersecurity posture with your overall business objectives is essential to protect your business against breaches and intrusions and mitigate business risk. Cybersecurity leaders are charged with implementing impactful and effective cybersecurity strategies that improve the business’ cybersecurity posture.
Cybersecurity has become a significant issue for CIOs and other IT executives. As recent breaches have shown, data security is of utmost importance at any corporation. Unfortunately, the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks has increased consumer awareness about cybersecurity strategies.
Amongst IT professionals there are a variety of views relating to the overall scope and focus of enterprise cybersecurity strategy implementation. Some argue that strict adherence to regulatory compliance mandates is sufficient for safeguarding against cyber-attacks. Other’s counter this by claiming that such a view of information security comes at the expense of efficiency, innovation, and overall business performance.
Cybersecurity strategy mandates the adoption of a proactive approach to cybersecurity, which adheres to industry best practices while aligning with the business strategy of your business. This ensures that the proper resources are committed to cybersecurity efforts in a way that is scalable and cost-effective.
The appropriate implementation of cybersecurity strategies requires an understanding and analysis of the current state of cybersecurity within your business as well as how it aligns with regulatory compliance mandates such as GDPR.
Given the rising tide of cybercrime and increasing threats to corporate data, it is more important than ever that information security leaders align their cybersecurity strategies with business objectives. Companies have long grappled with how best to maintain an appropriate level of protection for their data while not being prohibitively expensive. While most agree that internal security controls are an essential part of protecting against breaches and intrusion attempts, many struggle in deciding what those controls should be.