Are you aware of all cybersecurity risks in your operating environment?

Being aware of your operating environment has never been more important, but at the same time, that environment has never been this unpredictable. It might sound like an unsolvable equation but fear not – good planning is half the battle.

With a tailor-made Cybersecurity Roadmap, your organization has all the tools to put the essential key structures in place. Whether you need to deepen your understanding of the current situation, identify areas where you need to develop or build practices for the future, a roadmap can provide you with valuable insight and tangible recommendations. The value of careful planning should never be underestimated.

Today, a thought-out roadmap with a clear action plan is a prerequisite for businesses. We’ve listed three scenarios in which organizations benefit the most from implementing a Cybersecurity Roadmap.

1. Going from reactive to proactive

Too often, cybersecurity is put on the back burner until something unfortunate happens.

Instead of merely reacting to incidents, organizations should strive to systematically improve their cybersecurity and balance their risk level. To do this, everyone in the organization needs to understand the importance of cybersecurity and its role in the bigger picture. By building a steady cybersecurity culture within the organization, employees begin to understand why everyone needs to do their part. After all, it’s not just the IT department who’s responsible for cybersecurity – we’re all in it together.

A Cybersecurity Roadmap can help shed light on overlooked issues and communicate development needs throughout the organization. It provides a holistic view of the organization’s cybersecurity status and allows management to designate each department with its own areas of responsibility.

Also, when a new CISO, CIO, or Head of Information Security is appointed, an overview of the current cybersecurity posture is needed. The new person needs to know what they are working with – and for this, a Cybersecurity Roadmap is the perfect tool.

2. Justifying cybersecurity investments to management

Sometimes, the importance of cybersecurity investments may be hard to justify, especially if the organization’s cybersecurity professionals are not also financial experts. Upper management expects clear figures and precise estimates – and they’re right to do so. Cybersecurity investments should never be hasty decisions but always based on carefully considered facts.

A comprehensive roadmap pinpoints risks and gaps, as well as providing recommendations on how to take action. When you can make distinct arguments based on solid facts, creating a suggestion of the needed cybersecurity budget, and explaining it to management becomes easier.

With the help of a Cybersecurity Roadmap, management can understand the effort needed to cover cybersecurity and therefore be able to allocate resources in places where they are needed the most. Over time, cybersecurity can even become a field that can also help a company stand out, create value and generate revenue. For more on the ROI of cybersecurity, see our whitepaper on the topic.

3. Proving stakeholders you are at the top of your game 

These days, being able to show that your organization considers cybersecurity a top priority from day one – and implements it every step of the way – can offer a real advantage in sales situations and future negotiations.

In the constantly changing business environment, stakeholders expect proof of security. Often, companies use audits and certifications to convince stakeholders of the state of their cybersecurity. These tools are great when demonstrating what has been done, but what if your organization is in the middle of a journey towards better cybersecurity?

With the help of a detailed action plan, you can prove that you know how to develop your processes to reach the target cybersecurity state. Show the stakeholders that cybersecurity is considered like any other business decision in your organization – and taken very seriously.

A good Cybersecurity Roadmap always communicates the right proof points, at the right time. It includes valid and topical information on the current state of the company, but also a tailor-made plan for the future. With a comprehensive view on where you stand and what you need to improve, you can paint a clear picture of your cybersecurity posture and communicate it to your stakeholders. By maintaining your roadmap, you can ensure you’re always at the top of your game.
 

Do you know how secure your organization is? See the full spectrum here.

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