With the proliferation of cyberattacks, the cybersecurity talent gap and hybrid work environments, the divide between security haves and have-nots has grown. This divide is the cybersecurity poverty line first identified by security expert Wendy Nather.
Organizations below the cybersecurity poverty line aren’t investing enough in cybersecurity to adequately protect themselves against cyber threats, either because they don’t have the will or the resources. This can make them vulnerable to cyberattacks, data breaches and other security incidents that can harm their reputation and finances.
The good news is that you can improve your cybersecurity posture without breaking the bank. For example, you can conduct a risk assessment to prioritize investments, find the most appropriate (not the most expensive) cybersecurity tools for your organization, provide cybersecurity training to your employees, and promote security collaboration among departments.
How to Rise Above the Cybersecurity Poverty Line
The following are some steps you can take to cost-effectively improve your cybersecurity posture:
- Assess cybersecurity risks to find vulnerabilities and prioritize improvements.
- Tackle low-hanging fruit first, such as:
- Implementing multi-factor authentication for all accounts, especially those with access to sensitive data.
- Creating a vulnerability reporting system so employees can spot and report security issues early.
- Keeping software and systems up to date to address known security flaws.
- Empower employees with regular cybersecurity training and awareness programs. These programs could include:
- Phishing recognition and prevention
- Password best practices
- Regular communication, such as an email newsletter, on security tips
- Adopt user-friendly security tools and policies, such as:
- Unified security platforms rather than point solutions
- Intuitive programs that are easy for employees to set up and learn
- Take advantage of free security resources like the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity Framework to implement a comprehensive security program.
- Promote collaboration on security across departments, particularly engineering, which leads efforts to deploy new technology, and security.
With these steps, your organization can climb above the cyber poverty line and have a more robust and effective cybersecurity program to protect against cyberattacks.
Just throwing money at security vulnerabilities won’t fix them. Success comes from a strong security education and teamwork culture, coupled with the right (not necessarily the most expensive) tools for your organization. Cyber resilience can be built with astute investments in people, processes and technology, even if you lack financial resources.
Looking to ensure your organization’s cybersecurity requirements are met? MBL Technologies can help. We offer a wide array of cybersecurity services to help you identify weaknesses in your security posture and implement cost-effective, targeted solutions. Contact us today to get started.
