Digital Risks Are Changing And CSOs Must Adapt

Picture this, a large organisation has been hacked, compromising the financial information of millions of people. 
News headlines detailing similar stories are now frequent, causing the job description of CSO to rapidly expand. In the past, the main responsibility of this role has been managing the physical security of an enterprise. 

But in today’s dominantly digital world, CSOs must expand their reach to not only monitor tangible risks, but also address the uninsured risks that live in the digital world.  

Digital risk continues to be a puzzling area for CSOs, but one that is only going to grow with time. 
In fact, the Gartner Digital Risk Management Hype Cycle recently found that less than five percent of enterprises are currently monitoring their digital risk.

With such a limited focus on digital risk, it is imperative that CSOs be proactive in addressing these vulnerabilities before they become larger enterprise issues. 

Two areas where CSOs should place their focus are cybersecurity around bring your own device (BYOD) policies and proper employee digital risk training. With a proper strategy in place to address these issues, CSOs can significantly alter their security landscape, ultimately protecting their company and reducing their digital risk exposure.

Bring Your Own Device
The acceptance of BYOD practices brings with them a bevy of digital risks, many of which are still being realised by CSOs. Traditionally, CSOs have focused on protecting the enterprise from hacks through their own systems, but the emergence of BYOD has extended these practices to include employee-owned devices. 

In leaving device selection up to the employees, security teams now find themselves having to account for wider technology platforms ranging from computers, cellphones and even tablets, each of which carry unique operating systems. To counter these practices, CSOs must serve as the first line of defense in establishing remediation strategies that protect employees and the enterprise from risks and breaches, no matter their device. In doing so, CSOs must understand the risks that these devices bring due to the nuances in their security protocols and employee usage.
 
Employee Education
Education is one of the best defenses against hackers. Many companies have security policies in place, but employees are not responsible for what they do not know. If employees undergo security training, enterprises can benefit from increased employee understanding of risks as well as help improve visibility into arising risks and appropriate remediation strategies.
In these training programs, employees should learn the signs of phishing emails, the importance of securing their devices when they aren’t using them and how to best set up passwords. 

This is also a good opportunity for the CSO to explain company policies with the employees. Such policies may include; how to report missing computers, how often passwords and security software should be updated and steps to take during a possible cyberattack.

CSOs must create an environment where employees know how to identify risks and inform appropriate parties when risk arise. This allows the enterprise to get ahead of the risk, helping minimise long-term damage.

Risk Management Starts with the C-suite
When it comes to enterprise security, C-suites should be vocal leaders on the importance of digital risk for the other employees to follow. A CEO who is very vocal about reducing digital risk will provide the leadership and employee buy-in that will resonate throughout the enterprise.

The role of a CSO will continue to evolve as the world of digital risk changes, so it is imperative that they take the time to understand where/how these risks arise as well as how to address them. With digital risk’s continual growth, now is the time for CSOs to act.

Security Magazine:   Image: AlphaStock / Nick Youngson

You Might Also Read: 

Cultural Strategies For Data Security (£):

BYOD Security Is Critical For Business:

Staff Training Is Important But Does Not Reduce Cyber Risk:

 

« Google To Open An AI Centre In Beijing
Russian Hackers Steal $10M From Banks »

Infosecurity Europe
CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

CYRIN

CYRIN

CYRIN® Cyber Range. Real Tools, Real Attacks, Real Scenarios. See why leading educational institutions and companies in the U.S. have begun to adopt the CYRIN® system.

Alvacomm

Alvacomm

Alvacomm offers holistic VIP cybersecurity services, providing comprehensive protection against cyber threats. Our solutions include risk assessment, threat detection, incident response.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

ManageEngine

ManageEngine

As the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine prioritizes flexible solutions that work for all businesses, regardless of size or budget.

Social-Engineer

Social-Engineer

Social-Engineer is a team of outside–the–box thinkers that share a common focus on human-to-human social engineering.

HANDD Business Solutions

HANDD Business Solutions

HANDD are independent specialists in data protection with expertise at every stage of the Protect, Detect and Respond cycle, from consultancy and design, right through to installation.

Cyber Threat Intelligence Network (CTIN)

Cyber Threat Intelligence Network (CTIN)

CTIN provides cyber threat intelligence services including training, platform evaluation, ISAC/ISAO systems development and counter botnet operations.

Caretower

Caretower

Caretower is one of Europe’s leading value added managed service provider in cyber security.

RIPS Technologies

RIPS Technologies

RIPS Technologies delivers automated security analysis for PHP applications as platform independent software or highly scalable cloud service.

MER Group

MER Group

MER Group is a world-leading solutions provider specializing in Homeland Security (HLS), Cyber and Intelligence, Communication Infrastructure and Tactical Communication Systems.

Emagined Security

Emagined Security

Emagined Security is a leading provider of professional services for Information Security and Compliance solutions.

Canopius Group

Canopius Group

Canopius is a global specialty lines insurance and reinsurance company and one of the top 10 insurers in the Lloyd’s insurance market.

CyberNews

CyberNews

Cybernews.com is a research-based online publication that helps people navigate a safe path through their increasingly complex digital lives.

Brace168

Brace168

Specialising in Cyber Security incident identification and response, Brace168 is uniquely positioned to provide a vast experience in managed security services to meet the needs of all business types.

Spyderbat

Spyderbat

Spyderbat ATI closes the manual investigation gap between detection and response by instantly presenting causally connected threat activity to security analysts at the onset of an investigation.

Sourcepass

Sourcepass

Sourcepass is an IT consulting company that focuses on providing expert IT services, cloud computing solutions, cybersecurity services, website, and application development.

Akto

Akto

Akto, the plug & play API security platform. Discover your APIs, run tests and find business logic vulnerabilities at ludicrous speed.

Securious

Securious

If you need to improve your cyber security or achieve cyber security accreditations, Securious provide an independent service that will identify and address your issues quickly and efficiently.

Bearer

Bearer

Bearer helps modern teams ship trustworthy products with the help of our code security solution built for security, privacy and engineering teams.

Dial A Geek

Dial A Geek

Dial A Geek are a Bristol-based B Corp that provides Managed IT Services to companies of 20+ users. We help businesses with a smart use of tech, including compliance and cybersecurity solutions.