What Cybersecurity Challenges Have You Faced?
In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, IT professionals from various fields including Information Security Analysts and CEOs face unique challenges. From streamlining security questionnaire responses to prioritizing identity management foundations, we've compiled six insightful experiences. These seasoned experts share the measures they've implemented to bolster their systems against cyber threats.
- Streamlining Security Questionnaire Responses
- Embed Cybersecurity into Company Culture
- Cultivating a Security-Centric Culture
- Gamified Phishing Awareness Training
- Adapting Cybersecurity for Remote Work
- Prioritizing Identity Management Foundations
Streamlining Security Questionnaire Responses
One significant cybersecurity challenge we've faced is managing and responding to security questionnaires during audit periods. These questionnaires can come frequently and vary widely, requiring us to gather information from multiple internal Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). This process is both time-consuming and resource-intensive.
To address this, we've implemented a Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) tool that has proven to be a game-changer for us. This tool allows us to store and retrieve answers from previous questionnaires, enabling it to automatically generate responses for new ones. This feature has drastically reduced the time and effort spent sifting through documents and coordinating with SMEs. While not all TPRM tools offer this capability, having one that does has significantly streamlined our process, improving our efficiency and response turnaround.
Embed Cybersecurity into Company Culture
Data governance and security are at the heart of AvePoint's solutions, and we believe cybersecurity must be woven into our company's culture, not just left to IT teams. This collective responsibility empowers us to proactively address emerging threats, adapt to new compliance requirements, and deliver solutions our clients can trust in an ever-changing digital landscape. We regularly conduct crisis simulations involving stakeholders from across the organization - including legal, IT, communications, and sales executives. These exercises ensure we're prepared to respond swiftly, accurately, and transparently to any potential incidents, while also continuously improving our cybersecurity education and real-time decision-making capabilities.
Cultivating a Security-Centric Culture
The biggest cybersecurity challenge for every organization is fostering a culture centered on security. Security policy must be a part of regular L&D, and kept in the minds of everyone in the company. Without understanding the protocol for unusual emails, and what to look for to identify social-engineering schemes, the network is very vulnerable. Even executives need to be reminded of security policies regularly to prevent breaches. The culture around security must be tedious for employees to ensure that it's remembered.
Gamified Phishing Awareness Training
We identified that the enterprise email phishing was becoming more sophisticated. Our response was to implement training and simulations with an element of gamification. We rolled this out to all staff. They can now click a button if the email looks suspicious (even if it is genuine), and it will provide scoring in the back end.
Adapting Cybersecurity for Remote Work
One significant cybersecurity challenge we've faced at Parachute involved adapting to a remote workforce. The shift to remote work increased the risk of employees unintentionally exposing company files to cybercriminals. This often happens due to negligence or simple fatigue. To address this, we implemented cloud-based cybersecurity solutions that protect not just the company's data but also the user's identity and device. This has been key in maintaining security as more employees work from home.
Another challenge that emerged was with the adoption of 5G applications. The characteristics of 5G networks have made it easier for attackers to exploit vulnerabilities, leading to greater security risks. We found that many businesses, including some of our clients, were unprepared to handle these new risks. To counteract this, we prioritized identifying and understanding the potential third-party attackers trying to gain unauthorized access. By focusing on these attackers, we were able to better safeguard our clients' data and maintain their trust.
From these experiences, I've learned that the key to fortifying systems lies in continuous education and vigilance. Ensuring that our team and clients are aware of the latest threats and best practices is crucial. It's not just about having the right technology but also about fostering a culture of security awareness. This approach has helped us navigate the complex challenges of cybersecurity in today's remote and increasingly connected world.
Prioritizing Identity Management Foundations
The most significant challenge I have encountered so far is enterprise identity. Identity is a complex issue because it is deeply rooted in business systems and software applications, while also serving as the first line of defense for any technology-oriented provider.
As someone who is both a technologist and a business executive, I have always prioritized building a strong foundation for identity before implementing direct solutions. This includes focusing on aspects such as inventory management, critical asset and crown jewel assessment, and access management policy to develop a strategy prior to deploying technology. After these foundational steps are complete, I ensure that the Active Directory workflows and user management from HR systems are properly connected and accurate before transferring the user profiles to a Single Sign-On (SSO) solution. This approach helps to ensure both ease of use and appropriate access controls.