The Key to Cybersecurity Maturity: Prevention is in Our Hands

When restructuring the cybersecurity maturity of a company, one critical factor that often goes unnoticed is how preventive our security measures are. Many argue, "You can't defend against what doesn't exist." However, I strongly disagree with this analogy. In reality, the most skilled hackers don’t always invent new attack vectors – they often exploit weaknesses in systems that already exist.

The real key is prevention. We must develop solutions and defences even when we don't know precisely where, how, or when an attack might occur. What we can control is the potential impact. By staying ahead of the curve and anticipating threats based on past patterns and current vulnerabilities, we can reduce the damage significantly, even without knowing the exact details of a potential attack.

To achieve this, a cybersecurity strategy must be aligned with the specific business model of the organisation. This means working closely with all stakeholders to design and implement a prevention plan that is comprehensive and tailored to the organisation’s unique needs. It’s not just about reacting to threats – it’s about proactively managing risks in a way that supports the business and strengthens its defences.

The key takeaway is that while we may not always know where the next threat will come from, we can always influence how much it will affect us. That’s where prevention becomes a critical element in any mature cybersecurity strategy.