CIO OPINION
Why you need to partner with security specialists
Much like the rest of the world , South Africa grapples with challenges emanating from a digital landscape fraught with escalating cyber threats that pose significant risks to businesses and other organisations . However , what makes the local threat landscape unique is that historically , South African organisations have placed less emphasis on security than their international counterparts . This oversight has made the country a slightly bigger target for cybercriminals .
In light of these challenges , implementing effective risk management strategies has become essential . Cultivating partnerships with expert third-party providers can significantly enhance an organisation ’ s cybersecurity posture . These providers typically offer extensive experience and resourcing , ensuring that companies benefit not only from their deep understanding of information security , but from both technological and regulatory perspectives .
Moreover , these specialist partners bring invaluable admin knowledge , encompassing a thorough understanding of compliance and documentation related to cybersecurity frameworks . The financial implications of these partnerships are also noteworthy ; building an in-house team can be prohibitively expensive , especially for small to medium-sized enterprises , SMEs , which often lack the necessary resources and tools .
Expert partnerships are crucial for conducting comprehensive risk assessments that identify vulnerabilities and prioritise threats specific to a company ’ s industry . In the rapidly evolving sector of information security , regular assessments and gap analyses should be standard for all organisations . An expert partner can provide an unbiased perspective on security assessments , enriched by a wealth of experience and knowledge .
Equally important is fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness and proactive risk management throughout the organisation . This cultural shift must be driven from the top , and management plays a critical role in instilling a genuine commitment to protecting information rather than merely ticking boxes for compliance .
Unfortunately , many companies adopt a superficial approach to cybersecurity awareness , treating it as a mere formality rather than an essential mindset . Organisations must cultivate a desire to safeguard their information , which requires ensuring that employees embrace a culture focused on information security .
This mindset should originate from executive leadership and permeate throughout the organisation , fostering collaboration and shared responsibility . This cultural shift will enable organisations to anticipate potential threats and respond effectively , thus minimising potential damage .
Once companies secure buy-in from all stakeholders to develop an awareness culture , alongside proactive risk management , they can leverage expert providers to address both technical and compliance aspects of their risk management strategy . While neither aspect is inherently more important than the other , they must be developed concurrently .
Ryan Boyes , Governance , Risk and Compliance Officer , Galix
to respond at human , Zoom-meeting speed , you are in big trouble . So , you must have your processes documented and prepared in advance .
Also , you should proactively employ some software technology , like a SIEM or SOAR solution , that enables you to respond to threats immediately .
Are we using a platform ?
Good collaboration requires moving from a bestof-class approach to a platform approach . With a platform , you can use multiple technologies that can
exchange information between themselves and in an open way with other systems . The platform approach is more efficient .
It allows multiple technologies to talk to each other and extract information that can be used proactively , effectively , and automatically .
For example , when you analyse every confirmed threat and build a model for responding to it , you may end up building hundreds of models . These models are often referred to as playbooks . Eventually , you realise that the playbooks can be condensed and automated . That process is a lot easier to do with a platform of products that have already been designed to work together .
Are we automated ?
Board members and C-suite executives should have more than a basic understanding of cyberthreats and cybersecurity . If one of their primary goals is to keep the business well-protected , they need to be aware that a platform approach to cybersecurity is the best way to keep their organisations secure .
Having a cybersecurity platform allows for the automation of defensive tasks and the ability to respond to attacks in milliseconds . Automation is the key because it allows for essentially synthesising and automating tasks in a timely way . Responding to cyberthreats with a Zoom meeting or a manual process is never going to be adequate . p
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