Introduction
As it has for years, cybersecurity continues to be a top concern of business leaders. Not a week goes by, it seems, without a new new security incident making the headlines.
Especially vulnerable are small and midsize enterprises. Midsize organizations are often required to maintain regulatory compliance requirements along with SEC and executive-level reporting. Leaders of these organizations understand the risk of a security breach as well as anyone, yet they face challenges their counterparts at larger institutions often don’t. The root of the problem comes down to a combination of three things: money, knowledge, and opportunity.
A cybersecurity program requires investment.
This includes money spent on security technology, processes, and people, and the amount can be significant. For instance, building an in-house security operations center (SOC) typically requires over 14 full-time security analysts for 24x7x365 coverage, not to mention the investment needed for software tools, continuing education, process development, written procedures, and regular testing exercises.
More investment is needed to implement and support security technologies, including the cost of skilled resources. These tools, however, are essential for creating a security architecture capable of preventing, detecting, isolating, and remediating attacks, reducing the attack surface, and recovering operations.
Hiring security talent, given the high demand and shortage of skills in the marketplace, is challenging for every organization. Even more so for Mid-Market organizations, because the field is competitive, and those with the skills and experience can be selective, often choosing to work at the place that will provide them with the best financial incentives and opportunities for career growth.
These challenges can seem daunting. Fractional leadership, however, can provide you with the knowledge and strategic guidance you need to overcome these obstacles.