Cyber resilience has become a critical business asset, dividing companies into two: those that are prepared and those that are sitting ducks (even if they don’t know it). In this article, I analyze the role of the three key players in this story, whose decisions can change the fate of (your) company forever.
In the meantime, artificial intelligence has burst into the business world, promising a revolution: task automation, machine learning, autonomous agents… Incredible, isn’t it?
But beware! AI is also in the hands of cybercriminals, who use it to launch more sophisticated attacks, especially against unsuspecting companies that believe they are well protected.
We are at a time when a single mistake, or lack of action, can open the door to irreversible disaster. That’s why prioritizing cybersecurity is no longer an option.
Who are the three key players in this story? What challenges do they face? And who will come out on top in this battle?
‘The Good’: The one who bets on cybersecurity
Whether it’s the CIO, CISO or Head of Cybersecurity – ‘The Good Guy’ has one of the most important roles in this story, and the most complex:
He knows the dangers he faces, which is why he is convinced that it is essential to invest in cybersecurity to ensure business continuity. His main task is to do everything in his power to boost cybersecurity at all levels of the organization. But he must also overcome challenges that prevent him from advancing at the pace he needs to…
Objectives:
- Promote a culture in which cybersecurity is a priority, conveying to management the real risk of not investing in it and making employees aware of the dangers to which they are exposed on a daily basis so that they are not the weakest link.
- Protect critical company assets, such as sensitive data, confidential customer information, intellectual property, and anything else whose compromise could lead to economic and reputational disaster.
Challenges:
- Insufficient budgets that do not allow you to invest in the best security technologies and services you need to deal with the most complex cyber-attacks.
- Shortage of specialized talent capable of monitoring, preventing, responding to and mitigating incidents before it is too late.
- Stay abreast of the constant innovation and new cyber-attacks that have emerged since the rise of AI, increasingly imperceptible to users, and devastating to the enterprise.
Therefore, to meet these challenges and keep the business protected, ‘El Bueno’ is clear that he cannot do it alone.
The CEO: The one who must look after the company’s reputation.
This is where the CEO, the big decision-maker, comes into play. His or her leadership will make the difference between a company that moves forward and one that lags behind.
No one questions the need to invest in security cameras, access control or anti-theft locks in offices. So why not apply the same logic to digital security? Ambitious CEOs are clear: ignoring cybersecurity is a luxury no company can afford.
But it is not an easy task either…
Objectives:
- Ensure business continuity and digital trust of stakeholders, because an incident that totally or partially paralyzes your activities could put at risk both your employees and the trust of customers, suppliers and other partners.
- Ensure that the company complies with cybersecurity and data protection regulations, making sure that there is a clear strategy and the right people responsible for compliance. In fact, with the NIS2 directive, your role is also key, as you are legally responsible for any incidents that occur.
Challenges:
- Allocate the necessary budget to invest in cybersecurity while maintaining a balance with other strategic objectives of the company.
- Having an ally, a cybersecurity specialist who works side by side with the CIO in the tasks of monitoring, prevention, mitigation and incident response, giving them the peace of mind they need to take care of other important issues.
‘The Bad Guy’: The cybercriminal driven by greed
Cybercriminals are not just hackers in hoodies and sweatshirts. They are resourceful, organized groups motivated by one thing only: money. Driven by greed and pure malice, they aim to steal a company’s most valuable assets, such as personal data and confidential information, as well as shut down the business, and then extort large sums of money, jeopardizing the continuity of the company and the privacy of its employees and customers.
And in this story, the ‘bad guy’ has a big advantage: while the CIO and CEO must be constantly prepared, he just needs a lucky day. And by taking advantage of advances in technology to create ever more sophisticated and almost imperceptible cyberattacks, it is becoming much easier for them.
We are no longer talking about simple phishing to steal credentials, but about attacks because, in addition to causing great economic losses, they can also cause irreparable damage such as the loss of customer confidence and the company’s reputation.
As in all stories, it’s up to ‘the good guys’ to keep the bad guys from getting their way.
Are you ready to play your part in this story?