Building Security Maturity With Cybersecurity Program Management

Published 11/19/2021, 11:00am

Terms like ‘robust’ or ‘comprehensive’ are bandied about frequently by security practitioners in reference to cybersecurity, with the implication that they represent a gold standard for cybersecurity programs that achieve the highest levels of prevention, protection, and response. But are these terms an accurate depiction of a mature and complete cybersecurity program?

The short answer is no. When ransomware or phishing attacks happen, businesses often experience disruption to their operations while saying “Wait a minute. We have at least 10 different cybersecurity protection and detection tools operational. What happened?”

Contrary to belief, ‘comprehensive cybersecurity’ doesn’t mean ‘The business with the most security tools wins’, nor does it mean that a business is guaranteed the best protection available. The key to avoiding an attack or minimizing an attack’s impact comes down to something called security maturity.

Indications that a Business’s Security Maturity is Faltering

Unfortunately, for many companies, a data breach or ransomware or phishing attack is the first indication that the cybersecurity program isn’t operating as it should. Indicators of an immature cybersecurity program include:

What is Security Maturity?

Organizations with mature security programs all have similar approaches to the cybersecurity lifecycle:

• Culture — They integrate cybersecurity fully into the business culture, from executives and board members down to entry level and junior staff and across to customers and vendors.
• Process — They have documented and formal security processes and plans in place, perform continuous assessments of their security solutions, and apply security frameworks, like NIST-CSF.
• People — They have a clear security staff structure in place (which may include both internal staff and external augmented security experts), with the CISO a fully integrated member of the executive team.
• Architecture — They have a comprehensive security architecture made up of fully integrated tools, technologies, processes, and standards.

How cybersecurity program management helps build security maturity

If comprehensive or robust security isn’t just adding more tools, then what does that mean for mature cybersecurity program management?  It isn’t about selling an organization more security tools and technologies. In fact, sometimes all an organization may need to improve its overall security maturity is an analysis of its current security profile and some advice and consultation around how to better use and integrate its existing security tools.

Cybersecurity program management helps organizations assess their security programs, identify business risks, prioritize any gaps, and build a roadmap for improved prevention, protection, detection, and response. It integrates technologies and architectures and leverages expertise across a wide range of cybersecurity disciplines—like vulnerability management, governance, risk, compliance (GRC), identity and access management (IAM), and cloud security. Information security program management also helps businesses understand, build, implement, manage, and maintain a truly comprehensive security approach that helps lower cyberattack risk.

Understanding your level of security maturity is the first step

Knowing your security maturity level is key to deciding whether it makes sense to apply a cybersecurity program management approach. To assess your organization’s level of security maturity, we encourage you to take our new security assessment questionnaire, which explores the extent of your current security program, your experiences hiring cybersecurity talent, and how you would rate your security program’s functionality.

Managed security services to consider

Upon completing a cybersecurity maturity assessment with a third-party service provider, organizations gain valuable insights into their current security posture and areas for improvement. To bolster their defenses based on their assessed level of security maturity, investing in tailored cyber threat management services is crucial. Specifically, incorporating managed security services into their cybersecurity strategy can significantly enhance their ability to detect, respond to, and mitigate cyber threats. Here are three essential services to consider:

• Managed Detection and Response (MDR): For organizations at the foundational level of security maturity, MDR services offer a vital layer of protection. As a managed security service, MDR provides around-the-clock monitoring, early detection of potential threats, and rapid response to incidents. This service is particularly beneficial for companies that may lack the resources or expertise to manage complex cyber threats effectively, ensuring that they can minimize the impact of any security breaches.
• Threat Intelligence Services: At an intermediate level of security maturity, integrating threat intelligence and incident response services can dramatically improve an organization’s understanding of and readiness against cyber threats. These services deliver actionable intelligence on the latest threat landscapes, including emerging threats and hacker tactics. Armed with this information, businesses can proactively tailor their security measures to better anticipate and defend against potential cyber attacks.
• Advanced Endpoint Protection (AEP): For organizations that have already achieved an advanced level of security maturity, Advanced Endpoint Protection (AEP) provides an additional layer of defense against sophisticated attacks. AEP solutions utilize cutting-edge technologies like machine learning and behavioral analysis to identify and neutralize advanced threats, including zero-day exploits and ransomware before they can cause harm.

Incorporating these managed security services based on the organization’s specific security maturity level allows for a more targeted and effective cybersecurity strategy. By doing so, businesses can significantly enhance their protective measures, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle the evolving landscape of cyber threats.