I would like to start this article with a fact: by the end of 2025, the global cost caused by cyber-attacks is expected to exceed $10.5 trillion, 15% more than three years ago. This statistic leaves us with a clear message, and that is that there is no doubt that it is increasingly necessary to treat cybersecurity as a strategic business priority.

So, here are 3 key questions that every CEO should know how to answer to understand the cybersecurity context, and be prepared for what’s coming.

1. What will change in cybersecurity in 2024?

Undoubtedly, the most relevant change in cybersecurity will be – and already is – artificial intelligence.

But beware, the impact of AI on cybersecurity is paradoxical: it will be a transformative tool to improve defense against cyberattacks, but, at the same time, it will also increase the quality and quantity of cyberattacks.

We know that AI will be used by cyber attackers to launch more sophisticated and intelligent attacks. This will result in the dominant cybersecurity threats during 2024 being harder to detect, from personalized phishing to automated malware, because they will adapt to try to evade detections and compromise business assets.

However, it will be AI itself that will help us detect and respond to cyber threats in the shortest possible time, thanks to its real-time anomaly detection capabilities, machine learning and automated incident response, among others.

If we compare it to a game of chess, the AI will be the queen and will have the ability to create powerful strategic advantages for both the attacker and the defender.The management committee will have to make the most of the moves of this key piece because one wrong move could lose them the game.

2. Is there a way to get ahead of the attacker?

“Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will win hundreds of battles,” says Sun Tzu in the military treatise “The Art of War.” Personally, I like to use this famous phrase as an analogy for cybersecurity…

• Know your enemy: It is vital to have up-to-date and accurate information about the cyberattack, based on 3 key elements: the techniques used by the attacker, the common characteristics of the cyberattack and the behavior of the cybercriminals once they have compromised the organization.
• Know yourself: For example, you should know what your business assets and weaknesses are, perform regular security audits, encrypt information, foster a culture of cybersecurity at all levels, etc.

Once we have identified both the enemy and ourselves, we have one last point to anticipate the attacker. To do so, I will use another phrase from Sun Tzu: “The best defense is a good offense”. In other words, it is going to be very important to have modern security solutions based on AI and behavioral analytics, along with a team of cybersecurity specialists and an incident response plan.

All this will allow us to identify the threat at an early stage, anticipate it quickly and effectively, improve our security posture, prevent in many cases a breach before it occurs, and minimize the impact on the business, thus becoming more cyber-resilient.

You must know the enemy, know yourself and counterattack when an incident occurs, as this will be the art of getting ahead of the attacker.

3. What is the first step my company should take in 2024 to increase its cybersecurity?

There are several steps companies should consider to boost their cybersecurity. The first of these is not technical, but rather organizational: raising awareness of the need to invest in cybersecurity and adapt it to business models and assets.

It is common for most companies not to question investing in ERP, inventory software or invoicing processes, for example. But only companies with ambition know that if none of them are secured, the moment these assets are compromised, the business will be affected and thus cause a total shutdown of the company with all the economic and reputational damage that goes with it.

Security must be brought into the digital environment just as physical security is invested in and prioritized with security cameras, access controls or anti-theft locks, among many others.

Once this is clear, there is one more step. Last but not least, it is essential to have a team of cybersecurity specialists.

This is where a security operations center(SOC) comes into play, bringing together technologies and a cybersecurity team to analyze, manage and respond to emerging security breaches.

As a cybersecurity guard and 24×7 video surveillance service, a modern SOC allows you to reduce the risk that your assets could be compromised by a security breach.

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Don’t wait for an attack to protect your business

Those of us who work in the world of cybersecurity know the great consequences that cyberattacks can have for a company, no matter how common they may seem. Therefore, the main mistake is that many – not to say the vast majority – are still waiting for problems to appear before taking action. And sometimes it’s too late, because being reactive is very expensive.

Digitally ambitious CEOs know that in this new era of artificial intelligence, they will only be able to protect business assets well if, on the one hand, they promote cybersecurity awareness throughout the organization, and, on the other hand, if they adopt a Zero Trust security strategy.

As a conclusion, in 2024 the dangers will advance, but so will the technology and the awareness of the importance of cybersecurity in companies. However, it is up to each individual which path he or she wants to take. Shall we move forward together?

The pandemic has been a turning point for many companies, highlighting the importance of being agile to surf the waves of change generated by a world that is increasingly digital, more connected – and with greater security risks, for this reason – and which is advancing at a high speed pace.

Those futuristic science fiction movies are already a thing of the past in the present that we live in. An example of this is IoT applications, the use of data, process automation, the application of artificial intelligence… where the playing field is the cloud.

Today, the cloud is a necessity, but the vast majority of companies do not take advantage of its full potential. This hinders their possibilities when it comes to innovating and advancing with the speed and security necessary to progress and always remain competitive. However, only those companies with digital ambition understand the importance of driving innovation as a competitive advantage to lead tomorrow.

The DNA of companies with digital ambition

The genome is the unique combination of genes and constitutes the operations manual with all the instructions for any living organism to develop and grow. Like human beings, in companies we can also talk about a genome that influences their growth and development, whose DNA contains the genes of each company that are expressed through its vision, value proposition, training, corporate culture, etc

Technological advances, digitization, cyberattacks… have caused the genome of some companies to evolve over the rest to continue advancing and remain competitive. We are talking about companies with digital ambition, and they have 3 unique genes that are decisive in influencing their development and growth: the innovative, resilient, and analytical genes.

The innovative gene (INVR)

Digitally ambitious companies are constantly looking for new ways to use technology to improve their business processes, products and services. They are aware of the importance of the cloud and, therefore, seek innovative solutions in order to maximize its full potential.

For this reason, they have a strategic vision of investment in IT, being a key area, and they are aware that innovation is a fundamental part of the business, so they are also willing to experiment with emerging technologies and take risks to get the most out of it. technology party.

The resilient gene (RSLT)

Companies that develop the resilient gene increase their ability to adapt, compete and thrive in a changing and uncertain environment. A resilient company is more sustainable, that is, it is capable of maintaining its stability and continuity over time despite obstacles, adversities and the competition itself in its sector.

For this reason, and in an environment where security threats and attacks are increasing and more sophisticated, a company with digital ambition knows the value of investing in cybersecurity to protect not only its digital assets, but also its reputation and the trust of its stakeholders, from customers to shareholders.

The analytical gene (ANLTC)

Companies with digital ambition promote a data-driven culture. Companies that understand the value of data and the importance of analytics to convert information into business insights and make better data-based decisions; not in assumptions. The analytical gene means that these companies have a clear tendency towards operational excellence and a clear customer focus.

For this reason, companies with digital ambition have solid strategies focused on optimizing processes and taking advantage of the maximum potential of data with automation solutions, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence.

The CIO, business leader

If before we talked about the genome as an instruction manual, it has no value if nobody follows it. In the case of companies with digital ambition, it is the CIO or technology director who must guide the company from the Management Committee to follow this manual and promote it to create that competitive advantage that can be developed with these differential genes.

Today, the CIO is a leader with a strategic vision who understands the objectives and priorities of the business and leads the IT area so that the company continues to grow and always remains competitive.