How cybersecurity leaders can build strategic planning assumptions into security strategies for next 2 years

Cybersecurity has merged seamlessly into daily life. Due to the alarming increase in cyberattacks, it has become difficult for cybersecurity specialists to choose appropriate countermeasures from the outset of a project so that there is no delay as it progresses to completion. 

It has become a testing phase for cybersecurity leaders as strategic planning has become paramount to safeguarding the assets of one's organization. Strategic planning is not a short-term goal to be designed. Still, it's an eventual goal to be deliberated toward accomplishing security strategies for the coming years. 

Below are a few points that prioritize the cybersecurity leaders' strategic planning assumptions: 

Projections of the cybersecurity market: According to projections, the cybersecurity market would increase from USD 240.27 billion in 2022 to USD 345.38 billion in 2026, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.5% for 2022–2026 to meet the global Gross domestic product (GDP). 

Emphasis on Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI): The Global Cybersecurity Index, a prominent resource that assesses nations' commitment to cybersecurity and encourages action toward the secure digital ecosystems required for recovery and progress, is published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The leaders need diligent planning to improvise the current GCI index of one's country.  

Advocacy of National Governance Frameworks: Adoption of National Data Governance Framework Policy that strives to improve data availability, quality, and utilization in line with the decade's emerging and existing technological needs. 

Employee privacy rights

A company's rules and methods for collecting, using, and disclosing the personal information of past, present, or potential workers are outlined in an employee privacy policy document. Some privacy policy components may be required by labour regulations, while others may be unique to a particular organization. Regulations to provide Employee privacy rights need to meet the global GDP. 

Enforcement of Security Service Edge (SSE)

SSE forms the pillar for better security monitoring and enhancement. As organizations deal with many third-party applications, vendors, and remote workers, the safe and secure way to connect and access applications is a major concern. By 2025, more enterprises are working to use a strategy to blend the web, accessing cloud services and related private applications via a single vendor SSE. 

Use of zero-trust models

As an organization grows, the interactions within and outside the realm also increase. It has become obvious to monitor and track each interaction happening within and outside the organization. Using the zero-trust model becomes important as a calculated cybersecurity strategy that secures a company by doing away with implicit trust and constantly confirming each stage of a digital transaction. 

Protection of operational technology (OT) environments

Threat actors have launched several attacks against OT, including on the hardware and software used for keeping track of and monitoring industrial control systems, assets, and other operations. Instead of worrying about information theft, cybersecurity leaders in this field must focus on the actual risks to people and the environment. 

Business Continuity Planning (BCP)

Due to a sudden pandemic, many organizations collapsed due to poor planning. When a large-scale disruption hits, the business must go on without hindrance. Building a resilience strategy to support Business Continuity Planning is important to reduce the exposure to pandemic attacks. 

Accountability

The new normal considers cybersecurity a business risk rather than a simple technical IT problem as it hampers progress and reputation. As per Gartner, the involvement of top executives must be made mandatory and reflected in their employment contracts. 

Habitual action

Organizations must spread awareness through games, campaigns, bulletin boards, webinars and more so it becomes a habit among employees to adopt cybersecurity in the organization's culture.

These are the strategies to be incorporated on a policy level and then implemented in the coming months. Let us know on the comments if we’ve missed out on anything else. 

This article is written by Swarnalatha Devarakonda, Director Emerging Technologies, UNext Learning