How CISOs Can Drive Operational Resilience

CISOs combat advanced threats, manage risks, monitor vulnerabilities and much more. Since the pandemic, the role of a CISO has evolved rapidly, becoming more strategic and significant in a business enterprise. They ensure business continuity, security of employee data in the remote working environment and meet changing regulatory requirements.

Meanwhile, CISOs have another big job in hand this year. According to Proofpoint’s 2023 Voice of the CISO Report, CISOs are concerned about the following:

· ? ? ? 68% feel that they are at risk of experiencing a material cyber attack in the next 12 months

· ? ? ? People risk a prominent problem

· ? ? ? Staff layoffs have led to sensitive data loss

· ? ? ? Mounting pressure is making the CISO job unsustainable

Amidst the climbing number of cyber-attacks worldwide and more predicted in the future, security leaders urgently need to do one thing: drive operational resilience. The focus should be on developing and implementing cyber resilience strategies that help to resist, respond and recover in adverse circumstances.

Below we discuss a few measures CISOs can take to drive operational resilience.

Risk Management

Security leaders should switch from reactive risk management to a proactive approach as business enterprises undergo digital transformation. Identify risks and prevent them before they can impact the business.

Take strong measures such as using AI for threat intelligence, recalibrating threat modelling exercises, updating the cyber security stack and conducting an extensive risk assessment.

Identity and Access Management

Authorize only the necessary personnel to access sensitive information and systems in the organisation. Apply Zero Trust Access Management policies to boost the authentication process. Practice holistic and practical deployment of Zero Trust. Do not put blind trust in users, devices or systems, both inside and outside the governed security perimeter.

Threat Intelligence and Information Sharing

Use big data threat intelligence and information-sharing technology and tools to be one step ahead of cyber criminals and their sophisticated executions. AI-powered real-time threat intelligence tools are a treasure for the CISOs.

Incident Response

Develop and test incident response plans that support business continuity strategies. Appoint leaders, managers and individuals to execute the incident response plan. Plus, document the roles and responsibilities of every team member in case of a cyber-attack.

Continuous Improvement

Operational resilience takes time. Consistent efforts pave the way for continuous improvement. Build valuable partnerships, explore new and advanced tools and approaches, and adopt the latest processes. Assess what’s working and what’s not and make changes. Learn how cyber-resilient enterprises function and implement them.

3 Features of a Cyber-resilient Enterprise CISOs Should Know

1.Identify the priorities – the most critical and high-value assets of a business - and protect them. Build security infrastructure that supports these priorities.

2.Inculcate a cybersecurity-first culture in the business organisation. Put people at the centre instead of technology. Motivate people to embrace cyber security and go beyond their duty to protect the organisation. ?

3.Embed cyber security with emerging technologies such as AI, Big Data, Cloud and IoT necessary for digital transformation goals to ensure heightened security capabilities in the ever-changing threat landscape.

CISOs often have their hands full. However, operational resilience is essential to protect business enterprises. We hope the measures will help security leaders to mitigate cybersecurity risks.

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