We frequently discuss and stress the importance of protecting your digital assets today. Across the country, this is becoming more important to businesses. Case in point: According to Price Waterhouse Cooper’s June 2021 U.S. Digital Trust Insights Snapshot, “Cyber threats jumped to CEOs’ number-one concern in the U.S., and number-two globally.” The study PWC conducted polled over 300 executives who work in the technology industry. Their findings further illustrate why it’s crucial that businesses go beyond protecting themselves today. And that cyber-readiness must include protection against future threats in addition to securing systems today.
What Does It Mean to Be Cyber-Ready?
Companies can no longer just hope nothing happens to them. Hackers are getting more and more creative and savvy. Therefore, businesses need to be proactive and defensive, securing their systems TODAY and putting the correct items in place so that nothing can penetrate their walls TOMORROW. It means they need to be cyber-ready.
How does a business get cyber-ready? Let’s examine what the study uncovered.
“You should be able to say that:
- you’ve secured the infrastructure your organization’s sustainable growth depends on and that,
- when the inevitable breach happens, your stakeholders can trust organization to respond quickly and protect their interests.
To be able to realize that commitment, “on pace” with the business’ transformations isn’t good enough…
- Where is the industry headed?
- Where would your business need to compete in the future?
- Where might new technologies lead?
You should have a point of view on these and make sure your security organization is prepared for those future scenarios.”
In order to be cyber-ready, businesses needed to recognize the landscape and consider these key points that PWC discovered in their study:
Takeaway #1: Many Businesses Are Still Exposed
Due to the pandemic, many businesses rushed to get security measures in place, particularly as work employees moved remote. The result has left many companies exposed. The experts from PWC’s study recommended the following:
- “Sharpen your threat modeling capabilities. Effective threat modeling doesn’t happen just once, and it shouldn’t focus only on known methods of attack. Part art, part science, your threat modeling needs creativity and imagination. You and your teams should expect the unexpected and plan — and act — accordingly.”
- “Assess your cyber risks often. Your business faces a unique and dynamic combination of threats and risks. To stay ahead, assess and prioritize early and often.”
- “Work on your resilience playbook with the business units, developers and risk managers in survey after survey we hear the same challenge: Teams that need to respond to incidents remain disconnected. Fragmented teams are no match for increasingly frequent and sophisticated attacks.”
Read the rest of the study and learn more about the other 3 key findings HERE.
Need Help Getting Cyber-Ready?
Great Lakes is fully committed to understanding the evolving IT industry by providing sustainability, results, and satisfaction. With over 30 years of experience, we have the skills to ensure you get the maximum value for your investment.
We will complete a review of your current security measures, identify the holes, then develop a strategy to ensure your business is safe and monitored going forward.
But don’t just take our word for it! See it for yourself—is your company properly protected? Find out with our free security assessment tools!
