The CEO’s Guide to Choosing the Right Cybersecurity Partner

Digitization has definitely improved efficiency for business owners, as technological innovations contributed to an easier task management and increased productivity. Unfortunately, our digitally connected world also creates vulnerabilities that can be exploited by people with the right skills.

Cybercriminals, hackers, and sometimes even employees can launch or be a factor on cyberattacks that inherently cause significant damage to the business.

Aside from operational disruption and data loss, billions of dollars are at stake when these cybercrimes occur. In order to combat these attacks and efficiently improve cyber resilience, active engagement from CEOs and other senior leaders of private and public businesses are needed, especially when it comes to choosing the right IT solutions company in the Philippines.

 

What CEOs Should Expect from IT Security

 

Ensuring that cyber resilience is well-implemented in the company is not limited to the hands of the IT department. Since the issue of cyber security covers a range of business issues, coordination within the entire business organization must also be achieved to make sure that everyone is on the same page in combating cybercrimes.

Improving cyber resiliency also requires a strategic and cultural change within the organization. As the CEO, make sure that you’re clear that you expect the following:

• A list of information assets of the business and the equivalent degree of protection that they require.
• The skill-set needed to respond to various security breaches.
• A scalable cybersecurity-driven business model.
• An assessment of their given capabilities and risks.

Key Steps before Choosing a Provider

 

In implementing digital resilience for your business, it is significant that you choose a security services provider that can address all of your needs. Here are guidelines that can help you:

 

Identify the issues within the organization.

You can choose which cybersecurity program suits your business by identifying the issues that are at stake. What are the information assets at risk? What degree of protection do you need? If you are not familiar with this, engage with possible IT consulting providers that can help you identify what your business needs are.

Remember that cyber criminals have coordinated and sophisticated attacks, which requires a comprehensive cybersecurity program from your end.

 

Identify how you can deliver the new cybersecurity program.

A new cyber security program requires a number of changes in policies, including stricter rights on passwords, limited access to accounts, and reviewing the security systems of the applications. It may also require specific solutions to help your organization manage these policies, etc.

Allot resources for training employees to ensure the proper implementation of the new cyber security program.

 

Ensure the alignment of business and technology.

After you or your consulting partner have assessed and identified the necessary requirements for the implementation of the cyber security program within the organization, develop a plan that will align your business with the technology. An integrated cybersecurity program will increase the overall IT security of your business.

 

Evaluating Your Potential Providers

 

Now that you have identified the key steps before choosing a security services provider, it’s time to assess the vendors in your short list.

 

See what their facilities look like.

A good services provider is equipped with top-notch and latest technologies. The provider should have disaster-recovery capabilities.

 

Identify their day-to-day processes.

Your service provider should feel like an extension of your IT department. They should have a portal that allows you to communicate directly with their team on a day-to-day basis including project status updates, bug reports, and trouble tickets.

 

Look into the skills bench of their team.

Check individual certifications and licenses. Ensure that their employees have the right skill set to fulfill your business needs. Asses if they receive continuous training to see if they’re updated with the latest technologies. It has to be noted that in terms of such companies that you may want to handle your information security needs, a good balance between IT security standards, audit skills and technical skills are required so that each item won’t just be identified as a risk, but should support these risk findings on a standards and technical scale.

 

Ensure the cultural match between the organization and provider.

Ensure that the services provider matches well with your organization. While there are a lot of competitive vendors out there, not everyone will turn out to be a good match to your business.

You can identify this by making sure that the provider’s capabilities can address your business’ needs and priorities. Look for a partner that is familiar with the industry that your business is in, and the technologies that you are using within your organization.

 

Given the stakes, achieving digital resilience can only be best achieved when the senior leaders of the organization actively participate. An excellent cyber security program is only as good as its integration with the organization’s business model.

With these points in mind, it is up to you, on how you can further scale your business with leverage in cyber security. To know more about the cost of cyber security, see “The True Cost of a Data Breach.”