Outsmarting the Threat: Embracing Dynamic, Quantitative, Risk-Based Security Management

In today’s fast-evolving threat landscape, security leaders face the daunting task of protecting their organisations against a multitude of security risks. It’s no longer feasible—or effective—to attempt defending against every possible threat. Instead, the true challenge lies in identifying which risks matter most and aligning security measures with broader business objectives. This is where risk-based security management takes the stage, a strategy that enhances decision-making by focusing on high-impact threats while justifying security investments with concrete data.

To explore this approach in depth, we spoke with Chris Bombeke , Senior Security Expert and Business Group Leader at Agoria , Belgium's largest employers’ organisation and trade association. With over 25 years of experience, Chris shares his expert insights into how adopting a risk-centric approach can help businesses navigate today’s complex security environment.

Integrating Risk Into Security Management

Q: Chris, how do you view the integration of risk into security management?

Chris: “Integrating risk into security management is absolutely critical. Risk assessment is the backbone of effective security management. By incorporating it in security operations, teams can align their activities with the company’s strategic goals, ensuring that security becomes an enabler of business success rather than a roadblock."

Chris advocates for prioritising high-impact risks, a principle that ensures security resources are deployed where they can create the greatest value. This doesn’t mean ignoring smaller risks, but rather optimising resource allocation to make meaningful improvements where they matter most. By keeping the focus on the critical, companies can reduce the reactive “firefighting” typical in many security teams, and instead proactively manage vulnerabilities aligned with the business’s core objectives.

Turning Security Into a Business Enabler

The current threat landscape is volatile, with new vulnerabilities appearing daily. It’s easy for security teams to become overwhelmed by addressing every minor issue. However, a risk-based approach cuts through this chaos by highlighting business-critical risks, enabling security teams to focus on what truly matters. As Chris emphasises, “Security management, when done right, becomes a powerful business enabler. It strengthens corporate resilience, helping businesses not only survive today’s challenges but thrive in the face of future ones.”

By strategically prioritising high-impact risks, security teams utilise their time, budget, and staff more effectively. Security, once seen as a cost centre, can now transform into a competitive advantage?. This shift allows for optimised risk mitigation without overspending on low-priority threats, proving the tangible value of security investments.

Engaging Leadership in the Risk Management Process

Q: What role does top management play in effective risk management?

Chris: “Engaging top management is vital. Security is no longer just a technical issue; it’s a strategic concern. For security initiatives to be effective, there needs to be full ownership from the top. Management must understand the risks their organisation faces and be part of the decision-making process."

Chris points out that understanding the company’s risk appetite—how much risk the organisation is willing to accept—is crucial for any security leader. “This is where alignment happens. By knowing your risk appetite, you can ensure security efforts are proportional. You avoid both overreaction and the danger of leaving critical risks unmanaged.”

A key part of this alignment involves distinguishing between inherent risks (those that exist before any controls are implemented) and residual risks (those that remain after controls are in place). Understanding the difference, allows organisations to evaluate the effectiveness of security controls and identify where they might need to strengthen them.

Quantifying and Prioritising Security Risks

While intuition plays a role in security management, the ability to quantify risks in operational or monetary terms transforms security into a business issue, making it easier for executives to understand and support. This approach not only strengthens the decision-making process but also facilitates communication between security leaders and the executive team, especially the CFO or CEO. Being able to express risk in terms that resonate with financial and operational leaders fosters better understanding and more cohesive strategy alignment.

Q: How important is quantifying risks when making security decisions?

Chris: “Risk quantification is essential. It enables security teams to express risk in terms that resonate with decision-makers—financial impact, business continuity, and operational risk. By quantifying risks, you can justify security expenditures and ensure investments are aligned with the company’s overall strategy.”

This dynamic, quantitative approach allows security teams to rank threats by likelihood and impact, ensuring that limited resources are allocated to the most pressing concerns. Furthermore, applying the principle of proportionality—where security measures are in balance with the risks they mitigate—leads to smarter, more cost-effective security investments. This risk-based justification not only builds trust with stakeholders but ensures that security efforts deliver the greatest return on investment.

The Vital Role of Security Experts

Q: How do you see security experts fitting into the risk quantification process?

Chris: “Security experts bring more than numbers to the table. While quantitative tools provide a strong foundation for risk assessment, expert judgement is key to interpreting the data effectively. Experts can identify gaps that raw data may miss and provide invaluable context based on real-world experiences.”

This dual approach, where quantitative data is enriched by the nuanced understanding of security professionals, leads to more actionable strategies. The synergy between tools and expertise ensures decisions are well-informed and justifiable, both to internal teams and external stakeholders.

The Growing Role of Security Managers

Security managers today must go beyond traditional responsibilities, acting as strategic advisors who work closely with top leadership.

Q: What changes have you noticed in the role of security managers?

Chris: “Security managers have become key players in shaping business strategy. They’re now seen as trusted advisors to the CEO, helping guide the organisation’s approach to risk. This direct link ensures that security considerations are factored into decisions at the highest level.”

Chris highlights that modern security management requires dynamic risk management, recognising that risks are constantly evolving. Continuous monitoring is critical to stay ahead of these changes. Integrating data from intelligence feeds, security operations, and external sources allows security teams to act swiftly. “If we hear that a supplier has been compromised, we need the agility to act immediately and secure our organisation’s exposure.”

For more insights into the evolving role of security managers, have a look at one of our previous articles "The New Role Of A Security Manager: Strategist, Innovator And Synergist"

Leveraging Technology for Security Risk Management

In today’s complex risk landscape, technology plays an increasingly important role in helping security teams visualize evolving threats, vulnerabilities and stakeholder objectives.

Q: How do modern tools support Security Leaders in the current threat landscape?

Chris: “The right tools can provide many answers to the current needs in the security world and offer strong support to the crucial role of the Security Officer. Effective tools and methodologies aid in communicating the importance of security initiatives throughout the organization. They will also enhance our security strategies and empower those leading their implementation.”

Tools like Pronect’s 360° security cockpit are essential for visualising risks and aligning security measures with business goals. Pronect’s platform helps security teams quantify and communicate the value of security initiatives. This ensures transparency, enabling all stakeholders to see the real value of security efforts in protecting the organisation.

Conclusion

Adopting a dynamic, quantitative, risk-based approach to security management, allows organisations to focus on what truly matters. By integrating security risk management into the fabric of business strategy, security leaders can turn security from a cost centre into a competitive advantage. Chris Bombeke sums it up: “Security and business objectives must go hand in hand. By staying proactive and adaptive, we can ensure security doesn’t just protect the business—it enhances overall performance.”

As risks continue to evolve, organisations equipped with the right tools and strategies will be better positioned to navigate an uncertain future. Embracing a risk-based approach is not just a necessity—it's the key to thriving in an increasingly volatile world.

Many thanks to Chris Bombeke, Business Group Leader Security at AGORIA, for his contribution to this article.

For more information about how Pronect supports security management activities, visit www.pronect-it.com.