We are all aware of how important cybersecurity is to our business, where a lapse or false move could result in large costs, damaged reputation and even a failed business. Sadly, this is not a threat which is going to go away, as data is just too valuable to hackers and cybercriminals.
However, that's not to say that you can't take the bull by the horns and be proactive in your cybersecurity. This is where a cybersecurity roadmap could be the best investment in your business you make for the coming year.
What is a cybersecurity roadmap?
A cybersecurity roadmap is a strategic plan which enables you to align your business' security systems and processes with your goals by identifying priorities and objectives enabling the business to grow without risking yours or your clients' data.
A robust roadmap identifies where you are in regard to your cybersecurity today, highlights what could be improved, and outlines what would need to be implemented in order for the business to grow. In addition to this a cybersecurity roadmap is also a disaster recovery plan, which prepares you should your business undergo a ransomware attack or data breach.
Whilst of course every business is different, with varying levels of security processes required, the key to creating a robust roadmap is to ensure it is data-driven rather than knee-jerk reactions to industry changes or current software or process trends.
Be Proactive! - With cybercriminals changing their line of attack quicker than security can keep up with it, it is no use trying to be reactive on cyber threats. It's important to proactive and prepare as much as possible for every scenario. This means rather than running random vulnerability checks and patching and dealing with problems as they occur, it's time to put a long-term strategy in place which covers actions in the case of a ransomware attack or other security breach as well as regular, planned updates and checks.
Know the Starting and End Point - When creating a cybersecurity roadmap, you need to look at the processes currently in place and where they could be improved. Then identify business goals and how cybersecurity processes will have to change in order to achieve them. All this data drives the entire strategy.
Assess - Interrogating your current processes can quickly highlight where the vulnerabilities are. For example. what data is processed? How is it stored? For how long? Who has access to what aspects of the data? Does everyone with access need it? How are people accountable if they don't follow the processes? What checks and balances are in place to ensure compliance? There should also be a risk assessment on the IT team and how stretched they are - an overstretched team may not be able to keep up with the workload and could inadvertently expose systems to threats.
Set Objectives - If there is a control framework in place (ISO, CIS for example) you can compare your findings with the framework, identifying gaps and what you need to do to fill them and improve the overall security of your business. This should enable you to put in a step-by-step implementation plan which could start with access management, principle of least privilege, improving the onboarding and offboarding processes and improved due diligence for third party suppliers.
Continual Improvement - As cybercriminals are constantly evolving your cybersecurity needs to evolve too, meaning your roadmap is not a one-and-done project but instead one that needs to be re-evaluated on a regular basis. The goals, objectives, and current processes all need to be tested, risk evaluated and tweaked. Even if all the improvements and objectives have been met, it is then time to re-evaluate and look for new improvements going forward.
What Next?
Cybersecurity can be an overwhelming project to start but one that is essential to get right. If you would like some help with building your cybersecurity roadmap, contact SupportWise today, and we can get you on the right track, and support you through the whole process.