Enterprise Security Risk Management (ESRM): Be Proactive…

What are three major questions that most CxO executives and Boards of Directors need to answer when confronting information security issues:

1. Is your security policy enforced fairly, consistently and legally across the enterprise.
2. Would our employees, contractors and partners know if a security violation was being committed?
3. Would they know what to do about it if they did recognize a security violation?

In today’s complex 5G wireless world, global supply chains, nation states or insider threats to the information infrastructure of a company or government agency are not static, one time events.

With new exploits, vulnerabilities, and digital attack tools widely available for download or X-as-a-Service (XaaS), a “complete information security solution” in place today can easily become outdated and incomplete tomorrow.

As a result, a comprehensive security architecture solution must be flexible and dynamic, continuously monitored and updated.

Presently, the news of “Zero-Day” digital-threat events tends to spread through the computer security world in a “grapevine” manner.

Threat information is obtained from specialized websites, e-mail listservs, cyber managed services and countless other informal sources.

This haphazard system is incomplete and therefore raises enterprise security risk management concerns when evaluating the damaging, costly effects of an aggressive, systematic digital event.

A comprehensive security solution requires the careful integration of people, processes, systems and external events that allows correlation and implementation of a “layered” defense coupled with a firm application of risk-management principles.

To fully protect electronic information architectures, an organization needs current intelligence and analysis that allows constant adjustment and fine-tuning of security measures (e.g., firewalls, intrusion-detection systems, virus protection) to effectively defend against a rapidly changing landscape.

Threats and vulnerabilities relating to computer networks, websites and information assets must be addressed before an attack occurs.

Proactive Awareness and the ability to make informed decisions are critical.

So what?

In short, as our global electronic economy plays an increasing role in the private and public sectors, critical infrastructure organizations must take advantage of the resulting new opportunities for growth and gains in efficiency and productivity.

Realizing these gains, depends on an organization’s ability to open its information architecture to customers, partners and, in some cases, even competitors.

This heightened exposure creates greater risk and makes an organization a more likely target for attack (e.g., information and monetary theft, business ransomware disruption).

The cost of critical infrastructure failure climbs exponentially in relation to increasing reliance on our integrated systems with partners, subsidiaries and your vital supply chain.

Be proactive…