Maintaining cyber resilience in a rapidly-shifting world

In today's hyper-connected digital world, maintaining cyber resilience is more critical than ever before. As technology evolves at an unprecedented pace, so do the risks and threats that come with it. 

In this blog post, we will discuss how cyber resilience can help you build a robust defense mechanism against the ever-changing world of cyber threats. And while doing so, you’ll better safeguard your data, assets, and reputation.

Monitor your risk exposure

Staying abreast of the threat landscape for changes is a vital aspect of any effective cybersecurity strategy. With hackers and cybercriminals becoming increasingly sophisticated and relentless, businesses and individuals alike must stay vigilant and adopt a proactive approach to fend off potential attacks.

Some key steps you can take are:

• Strategy review. Continuously revisit and update your security strategy to adjust for changing business priorities and geopolitical conditions.
• Threat TTPs. Follow cybersecurity-related news sources to stay up to date with evolving attacker techniques, tactics, and procedures.
• Known vulnerability analysis. Use machine-learning tools like the freely-available Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) to understand which common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) have the highest likelihood of malicious exploitation.

By understanding evolving threat actors and the methods they use, you will be able to prepare your defenses more effectively.

Revise and update regulatory and compliance requirements

Continuously revising and updating your security strategy and program in light of changing regulatory and compliance requirements is a crucial aspect of your defense strategy. Outdated policies and practices may leave companies vulnerable to not only breaches, but also tarnished reputations and costly legal penalties.

To stay ahead, organizations must remain vigilant and informed about:

• Evolving data protection requirements. Following the passage of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), many other jurisdictions followed suit and are implementing their own legislation. Ensure you are tracking these developments so you do not fall behind in complying with them.
• Changing business needs and processes. As your company grows and evolves, you may be collecting new types of data from your customers or entering new sectors with additional regulatory burdens. Without a deliberate risk assessment process, you may fail to account for these compliance-sensitive changes.
• Industry best practices. While compliance framework certifications and attestations like ISO 27001 and SOC 2 are currently seen as the “gold standard” for security in certain industries, things may change. Newer, more automated techniques for managing compliance - such as inspecting software bills of material (SBOM) - are an emerging practice.

Regularly reviewing data protection and privacy regulations to ensure alignment with industry standards and best practices is essential. A strong regulatory framework is the cornerstone of a robust and resilient cybersecurity program.

Establish standard operating procedures (SOP)

• Identify key assets. Start by pinpointing crucial activities, data flows, and systems that your organization depends on.
• Determine risks and threats. Assess potential vulnerabilities and outline any possible threats that could exploit these weaknesses.
• Create detailed procedures. Document step-by-step procedures for both routine tasks and emergency situations. Ensure these guidelines are clear, concise, and accessible for relevant team members
• Assign responsibilities. Clearly outline who is accountable for each procedure, ensuring that everyone understands their role in maintaining your organization's cybersecurity.
• Training and awareness. Ensure all employees receive adequate training and are aware of the SOPs relevant to their roles. Conduct regular reviews and updates to keep your team informed.
• Monitor and review. Continuously track the effectiveness of your SOPs and make necessary adjustments to maintain a strong cybersecurity stance.

Train your team and test your response

Just like team sports, cybersecurity requires a collective effort. Adaptability and a shared commitment to security are what will ultimately help keep pace with the ever-shifting world of cyber threats.

In order to ensure your company's cybersecurity is up to par, it is crucial to invest time and resources in training your team. Follow these key steps to achieve a robust cybersecurity defense:

• Educate on risks. Make sure your employees understand the importance of cybersecurity and the potential risks associated with data breaches. Share real-life examples of breaches in creative industries to emphasize the significance of securing creative assets and intellectual property.
• Provide regular training. Offer regular training sessions covering essential topics such as phishing, malware, and password management. Update these sessions as new threats emerge, especially those targeting the creative process or specific tools used in your industry.
• Test your response. Conduct routine cybersecurity drills that simulate real-life situations. This will help your team to practice identifying and responding to potential threats. Tailor the drills to scenarios that creative professionals might face, such as a compromised design file or a phishing attempt targeting a collaborator.
• Monitor progress. Track your team's progress with regular assessments, and adapt your training program as needed to address any gaps in knowledge or skills. Encourage employees to share their experiences and insights on how cybersecurity practices can be further improved.

By proactively training your team and testing your response strategies, you can significantly reduce the risk of cybersecurity threats impacting your organization and protect your valuable creative assets.

Conclusion

Staying on top of cybersecurity risks - let alone the competitive, technological, and operational ones that companies must also face - can be extremely challenging. With an array of constantly changing inputs into your decision-making process, you’ll need to continuously adjust your cybersecurity program.

Monitoring the threat landscape, staying on top of evolving compliance requirements, establishing sound SOPs, and training your team effectively, however, can help you stay one step ahead of cyber criminals. And remember, cyber resilience is not just about having the right tools and technology; it's also about cultivating a security-minded culture within your organization to ensure everyone is aware and committed to keeping digital assets secure.

Enveedo’s team of experts has created an all-in-one cybersecurity strategy execution platform that addresses these considerations - and many more. If you are interested in learning about how Enveedo can accelerate your cybersecurity program development, don't hesitate in scheduling a demo!