In the first blog in this series, we introduced the concept of cybersecurity program architecture and identified five types of change that can impact your defenses. In this second and concluding post, we’re going to look at how to architect a cybersecurity program with each of these changes in mind.
Elements of a Future-Proof Cybersecurity Program
In general, architecting a cybersecurity program demands a big-picture perspective. For example, when your enterprise needs specific technical functionality, you don’t automatically implement it internally. Most of the time, you evaluate available offerings in the marketplace and decide which specific vendors are best suited to your needs. Likewise, you shouldn’t plan to operate every element of your security program. There's a balance between what makes sense internally and where you’d be better off relying on a trusted partner. In terms of managed detection and response (MDR), be sure to look for a partner that can provide you with the necessary scale, visibility, experience, and adaptability.
Now let’s look more closely at each of the five types of change and explore how best to handle them in order to future-proof your cybersecurity.
- Handling new and emerging threats
New threats and threat types can arise quickly, often only becoming apparent in isolated areas, before rapidly spreading across the entire threat landscape. As a result, a partner with global reach and visibility across thousands of enterprises will have a far greater chance of detecting new threats early. This gives your organization a critical heads-up and time to proactively mitigate a threat before your enterprise is targeted. - Handling technology changes
New technologies are by definition new – enterprises have limited exposure and little experience in how to handle them. As a result, they also often struggle to incorporate these technologies into their security program. When you partner with a cybersecurity firm with an open platform, these new technologies can seamlessly be integrated. You get access to new technology that slots effortlessly into your detection and response ecosystem. World-class MDR providers have open platforms that can do precisely this – allowing you to quickly take advantage of new technology that improves your cybersecurity, driving more effective defense against the latest types of attacks. - Handling economic or political changes
Your business leaders will already be aware of economic and political changes in your specific sector. However, you may not have the capacity to handle security-related changes, such as rapid increases in the volume of incidents, or a spike in attempted attacks on your organization. By partnering with a specialized firm with dedicated counter-threat researchers, you can leverage their proactive and expert analysis of threat groups, tactics and techniques. - Handling organizational changes
Changes in your organizational structure and responsibilities, or a shift in focus and priorities, can lead to disruption in your security operations. A flexible security provider with an open and agile platform can help your organization stay focused and monitor and respond to threats more effectively – regardless of what’s happening in your organization. Seek out a partner that allows you to seamlessly shift between a fully managed service and a software-only program. This way, if your business needs to change, you can do so freely without changing the underlying platform. - Handling unexpected events
Unexpected events are, of course, unexpected and will usually impact more organizations than just yours. This is where an experienced security services provider really comes into their own. Working with thousands of enterprises around the world, they will quickly be able to amalgamate, synthesize, and define recommendations and best practices on how to handle these unforeseen changes. Even better, the right partner will have the ability to immediately help you with incident response, leveraging a rich set of contextual information within an integrated MDR platform.
Keep Calm and Carry On
Change is like a roller coaster – both exhilarating and terrifying. It moves at lightning speed and can turn your whole world upside down (and the person sitting beside you will more than likely be screaming). Of course, from a cybersecurity perspective, a more measured response is essential. This means being prepared for the types of changes we have examined here and ensuring your organization can respond with speed and agility. This is not a responsibility you have to shoulder alone – there's an ecosystem of technology and service providers that have the expertise and solutions to best serve your security needs. With the right provider, you can leverage their broad scope and visibility, as well as their ability to rapidly see and respond to changes.
Building Resilience for the Future
Architecting a future-proof cybersecurity program is much like designing a skyscraper. Just as an architect must consider shifting landscapes, changing regulations, and wear and tear, cybersecurity leaders must design programs that are adaptable, robust, and resilient, while still maintaining user experience. By leveraging the right mix of internal capabilities and external tools and expertise, your organization can create a cybersecurity program that drives user productivity, while standing tall in the face of change.
To find out how Secureworks can help you future-proof your cybersecurity program, reach out to one of our experts to discuss your options today.