Cybersecurity readiness enables organizations to achieve fundamental objectives

With the increase in digital adoption triggered by the pandemic, the threat surface of any organization has increased as people are working from anywhere, outside the protected network environment. This has opened a wide opportunity for the hackers. The threat landscape is evolving everyday as with the passing days the cyber-attackers are coming up with various sophisticated attacks. Hackers are gaining access to networks and data. Alongside the consistent evolution of technology is fuelling vulnerabilities. Due to this there are new risks every day, with existing threats evolving at a rapid speed..

Data security and risk management are now board-level objectives, so it is paramount that every CISO has a clear cyber vision and agenda with an emphasis on ransomware attacks, cyber-physical systems, data privacy laws, and board-level audits. There are no guaranteed safeguards, but by adopting a mature, strategic posture to cybersecurity, you can best prepare, defend and recover your organization. 

PARTNERS' VIEWPOINTS

Important factors for cyber security readiness
There are several steps that can be taken to plan for cybersecurity readiness within an organization:
1.    Conduct a risk assessment to identify potential vulnerabilities and threats. This will help determine the types of cyber attacks that are most likely to occur and the areas of the organization that are most at risk.
2.    Develop a security plan that outlines the measures that will be taken to protect the organization from cyber attacks. This plan should include policies and procedures for incident response, as well as guidelines for employee education and training.
3.    Implement technical controls such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and encryption to protect against known vulnerabilities and threats.
4.    Regularly test the effectiveness of the security measures in place by conducting penetration testing and vulnerability assessments.
5.    Develop an incident response plan that includes procedures to be followed in the event of a security breach.
6.    Continuously monitor and update the security measures as new threats and vulnerabilities are identified.
7.    Regular training of employees on security best practices and how to recognize and respond to potential cyber threats.
8.    Have an incident response team in place to handle a security breach, and regularly test and update their incident response plan.

Problems faced by the CIOs/CISOs
There are several common cybersecurity problems that CIOs and CISOs of organizations may face, including:
Advanced persistent threats: These attacks are often difficult to detect and can evade traditional security measures.
Ransomware: Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim's files and demands payment in exchange for the decryption key. Ransomware attacks can cause significant disruptions to an organization's operations and lead to the loss of important data.

To face the challenges
Some of the several ways to gear up and face the challenges that are brought by customers could be:
Listen and understand: Listen to the customer's needs, wants and complaints. Understand their perspective and try to empathize with their situation.

Communicate effectively: Communicate clearly and effectively with the customer, both verbally and in writing. Make sure that you convey your message in a way that is easy for them to understand. Be prepared: Be prepared for any possible challenges that may arise. Have a plan in place to address common issues and be able to respond quickly when a customer has a problem.

Be proactive: Be proactive in identifying and addressing potential issues before they become problems. Monitor customer feedback and complaints, and take steps to improve your products or services based on this feedback.
Stay positive: Maintain a positive attitude, even when dealing with difficult customers. Stay calm and professional, and try to find a solution that will satisfy the customer. Continuously train and develop your team: Provide regular training and development opportunities to your team to help them improve their skills and knowledge. This will help them be better equipped to handle customer challenges.

Leverage technology: Use technology to your advantage, such as automation, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, and social listening tools. Continuously improve: Continuously evaluate and improve your processes and procedures. Take customer feedback into account and make necessary changes.
Prashant Jain  
Director, JNR Management Resources

Important factors for cyber security readiness
Today’s Digital businesses need multifaceted interactions between people, applications, and data anytime, anywhere; resulting in an increase in the attack surfaces that are hard to protect. To safeguard operations and strengthen the security posture, embedding cybersecurity into an enterprise’s fabric is vital. It calls for protecting data, networks, assets, and everything online from unauthorized access, breach, or hacking.

Security is no longer is limited to just the perimeter or the end point , with employees working remotely security now needs to be managed at various edges whether it is at End Point , Network or for all the cloud applications so strategy may differ for every organisation depending on their environment , however for every organisation data security has to be the key thing to focus on whether on prem or no multi cloud.

Problems faced by the CIOs/CISOs
The arrival of big data platforms and enterprise-wide, cloud-based file sharing services means organisations must review their strategy for data security. They need to protect data from personal information that can identify a customer to sensitive intellectual property or proprietary information. As the cloud environment is more widely adopted, it becomes more of a target for security attacks. Organisations will need to ensure that they have developed security policies and guidelines for both public and private cloud use to mitigate the security risks and to manage the compliance.
With endpoint security breaches so prevalent across the world, many organisations are likely to move away from traditional prevention models and into protection-based security models so there would be a shift of focus from prevention to protection hence more and more organisations are adopting ZTNA as they move on their cloud journey.

To face the challenges
Given the immense opportunity for career growth in the cybersecurity industry today, having the right guidance is a must. The industry faces many challenges from a staffing perspective currently from the skills shortage to employee burnout, this makes the role of a mentor that much more important as others navigate these challenges.

We have of late been hiring fresh talent from good universities and putting them through a program to acquire skills based on their interest and getting them to scale up as a multifaceted resource at the same time ensuring they are learning new age technologies is a must.
In that process we are able to offer our customer the latest technology and are able to keep our customers abreast with the latest, while adopting the technology we do ensure that we bring in our services to ensure smooth transition for our customers.

Sanjay Patodia 
CEO & Director, Galaxy Office Automation

Important factors for cyber security readiness

Taking proactive measures is the first step towards reducing your organization's cyber exposure and protecting data and systems from malicious actors.

There are many steps that organizations can take to improve their cyber security readiness. A few of them are:
·       Identifying the organization's critical assets and systems.
·       Assess the vulnerability associated with each asset and system and understand the weak points.
·       Implement controls to mitigate identified risks and test controls regularly to ensure they are effective against the latest threats. For example, simulating attacks or running regular vulnerability scans.
·       And finally, train employees on cyber security best practices.

Problems faced by the CIOs/CISOs
There isn't any silver bullet in cybersecurity. However, there are some great strategies that CIOs can use to secure their environment from the latest cybersecurity threats like Ransomware, Phishing, Malware, Man-in-the-middle attacks, and DDoS attacks.
CIOs in 2023 face a host of new cybersecurity threats and must stay ahead of the game to secure their environment. The key is to utilize the latest technology available and understand which solutions are best for an organization’s specific security needs. Investing in measures such as cyber risk assessments, data loss prevention tools, and employee training can help mitigate risks. By having a comprehensive plan, CIOs will be better prepared to protect against malicious actors so that their organizations can thrive in the future.

To face the challenges
It is estimated that over 80% of organizations do not have a comprehensive cybersecurity readiness plan in place. While the need for such plans has been highlighted in recent years by high-profile cyber-attacks, most companies still fail to take the necessary steps to protect themselves.
The key is to create a comprehensive strategy that takes into account people, processes, and technology - all connected through an effective cybersecurity roadmap. As threats become increasingly sophisticated, it's only natural that you stay on top of protection measures too; ensuring your organization remains resilient against emerging cyber threats and ahead of the risk curve.

Mohan Kumar T L 
Director, Netpoleon India
 

Important factors for cyber security readiness
Organizations should be aware of their existing attack surface, regular cyber security risk assessment audit, more important is educating users about cyber security knowledge and awareness, essentially organizations should always have cyber security response plan ready and well documented. Factors such as zero trust security, layering of security defenses, regular security audits, cybersecurity training, understanding regulatory requirements and penalties help organizations to better prepare for cyber security readiness.

Problems faced by the CIOs/CISOs
Increasingly complex compliance and regulatory requirements, Cybersecurity talent shortage, and emerging technologies which pose a new threat to cybersecurity, Quick adoption and implementation of new technologies are few of the common problems being faced.

Commonly adopted technologies
Most common ones - API Base Integration, Mobile Technologies, AI and Machine Learning, Integration between Multiple Security Tools, Business Intelligence Tools, Cloud, IOT, Cybersecurity, Asset Inventory Management are the most prevalent technologies being adopted by many organizations to increase productivity.

To face the challenge
The core of all customer interactions is understanding the customer's needs and pain points and finding the best way to satisfy them. It begins with actively listening to the customer as they explain their issue. Essentially, to understand the correct context - follow-up questions are the better option to determine if we can address that issue to their utmost satisfaction.

Vikas Vishwasrao  
Technical Head, Acceron Infosol

Important factors for cyber security readiness

Understanding the Customer Infrastructure thoroughly is the first step. We meticulously gather customer infrastructure details including Network, Applications, Users, and Data. We also understand their On-Prem and Cloud infrastructure. We do a first level audit to identify the security gaps. We prepare a short-term, mid-term, and long-term technology roadmap for the customers in their journey to achieve total security. The process includes several tools, templates, and interviews with key stakeholders. Vast experience of our Cyber Security Consultants plays an important role here. We don’t just limit ourselves to the technology gaps, but also the human factors (User Behaviour, User Cyber Security Awareness etc.).

Problems faced by the CIOs/CISOs
Demand from the business users in adopting latest Digital technologies is the foremost challenge faced by CIOs/CISOs. They need to rapidly scale-up to the demands of their business. In the process, a lot of new technologies and applications are introduced into their infrastructure. Keeping the platform updated, ensuring security for users (internal) and customers (data) are the key challenges. Inadvertent or conscious breaches cost millions of dollars to the business. Today CxOs are flooded with multiple technologies and information overflow. They are looking for a reliable Cyber Security Technology Partner who can de-clutter this information overflow for them as per their requirement and off-load the pressures of securing the organisation. SNS comes into play here.

Commonly adopted technologies
Digital Journey involves anytime, anywhere, and any channel business. Availability of applications for users and customers are vital round the clock. This means, highly available Cloud infrastructure (Compute, Storage, Network), Secure Web Applications, Online business applications (Office Suite, CRM, Mail), and Mobile access. Security on Cloud, Securing the Cloud and Securing the Users (Endpoints) are the focus areas. SSO & MFA, Information Rights Management, Data Loss Prevention are focused on Users and Endpoint Security. While on the higher layers, such as Security Analytics (SIEM, SOAR), Automated Response, Threat Intelligence, and Breach Attack & Simulation (BAS) are helping the customers to ensure strong defence and have a proactive approach to security.

To face the challenges
Point by point solutions or siloed approach is often the cause of failures. You may well sell a large and expensive security solution, yet it may not meet the customer requirements. Thorough understanding of customer infrastructure, business roadmap, how they want to align the technology to their business goals are the areas a true consultant will look at. We, at SNS, are specialised and focused on Cyber Security. While others ALSO do Security, We ONLY do Cyber Security. We look at the 360-degree aspects of the customer (business, infrastructure, IT team skill sets of the customer) before jumping into bill of materials. We back it up with our highly specialised, trained, and certified Cyber Security experts in offering implementation and support. Post-implementation, we are always in touch with our customers through Quarterly Business Reviews (QBR) and Customer Success Management (CSM) activities.

N. K. Mehta 
Managing Director & CEO, 
Secure Network Solutions India

Important factors for cyber security readiness

We started our journey on security solutions long back with SIEM etc almost 1 decade back over a period we increased our portfolio to almost all other aspects related to security except SOC.

Problems faced by the CIOs/CISOs
Increased type of cyber threats, less budget and not enough skilled resources internally are the major issues hence dependence on external vendors for solution design and deployments, hence need of dependable partner.

Commonly adopted technologies
It all depends on what is the infra architecture and what are the types of n/w, OS,DB and applications. One solution doesn’t fit all, here each solution required to be customised to meet the challenges and budgets.

To face the challenges
If a customer comes for a solution we undertake a view of their IT infra and suggest a road map but if a customer comes after an attack very little we can do to salvage as response time too is critical to restore. Hence we always encourage our customers to be proactive and sensitise them on newer threats and solutions for it.
Deepak Jadhav  
Director, VDA Infosolutions.

Important factors for cyber security readiness
In the beginning of the year we thought of adding some cybersecurity products along with services in our portfolio and started looking for the same. Meanwhile Sophos launched CyberSecurity as a Service and we just jumped onto it and with this service we could fulfil our gap in Security portfolio. Here the most important thing we saw was a security company providing a service with the Security experts which is very imp and we do not have to invest in skill so we need not worry about the attrition.

Problems faced by the CIOs/CISOs
All the CIos/CISOs get the alerts very regularly but they neither have time nor have a team to decipher the alerts and mitigate the same. So the biggest challenge is the skill they are facing.

Commonly adopted technologies
By default they install SIEM tools and outsource to the third party advisors for the alerts.We have signed up with Sophos for the CyberSecurity as a Service and taking it to customers to resolve their problems.

Jiten Mehta  
Chairman, Magnamious Systems

Important factors for cyber security readiness
Cyber Security is a term comparable to keeping your house and assets safe and free from any theft and misuse.
An organization to keep itself safe and secure must know and segregate the critical and sensitive data/information/applications from the rest. Based on this segregation they need to adopt and implement the security solution in consultation with their information security consultant. The factors to be considered about this are, Categorization of data, training of all in the organization on data and mail handling and System hygiene.

Problems faced by the CIOs/CISOs
There is a lack of knowledge amongst the entire workforce, adoption of right solutions, hefty recurring investments and budget approvals.

Commonly adopted technologies
Multiple technologies available in the market with ease of implementation and maintenance.

To face the challenges
Regular Upskilling and knowledge updating is needed. Regular interaction with customers and the health check of their systems periodically is also prioritized.

Kavita Singhal 
Director, Kamtron Systems

Important factors for cyber security readiness
A cybersecurity readiness presents and discusses fundamental objectives that organizations must achieve in order to consider themselves cybersecurity ready.

Cybersecurity readiness is defined as the state of being able to detect and effectively respond to computer security breaches and intrusions, malware attacks, phishing attacks, theft of data and intellectual property from both outside and inside the network. 
Cybersecurity plan objectives are defined and a timetable, milestones, measures and metrics are established for each of critical components that an organization needs to possess for a high degree of situational awareness into its network operations and network utilization. Without a comprehensive understanding of its most important information assets, how its information systems and networks operate, how its information systems support business operations, and what information is moving in, out and through its networks, an organization cannot achieve cybersecurity readiness. Cloud is a shared responsibility. The organization needs to know that Identity, Infra & Encryption needs to be identified and protected by Cloud security products.

Problems faced by the CIOs/CISOs
The CISO leadership position is primarily responsible for establishing the correct security and data governance practices for a company, and for enabling the capabilities for a scalable, low-risk business operations framework for a company in a constantly-shifting technological environment. A CISO cares about a company’s entire security strategy and all of the complexities therein: protecting against a data breach, meeting industry data compliance regulations, establishing and refining employee management while developing protocols to reduce the human error weaknesses that impact security, disaster recovery and business continuity solutions, documentations, and finessing senior stakeholder management. It’s a big role with an enormous set of challenges.

Commonly adopted technologies
Mobile Technology, Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, AI & ML, Augmented Reality, Big Data and Real-Time Analytics, Digital Twin, API-Based Integrations etc.

To face the challenges
We need to transform and evolve with new Cybersecurity technologies and compliance, come out of legacy and adopt Next Generation Solutions, move from signature based to signature less, focus more on threat hunting, threat detection and prevention, MDR, ZTNA framework, Cloud Security etc.

Manasi Saha  
Owner & Founder, Macaws Infotech

Important factors for cyber security readiness
Most of the organizations still in puzzled mode on Cybersecurity readiness, either they spend on wrong products or they keep on thinking which way to choose. According to the NIST Cybersecurity framework, an organization must have five functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover, to be eligible for Cybersecurity readiness.  To intricate, identify the available assets in the network, the vulnerabilities, protect those assets and remediate the vulnerabilities using tools or devices like Firewalls, patch management solutions etc.  

Similarly, detection of known-unknown threats, may be zero day attacks, using behavioural analysis and respond effectively by recovering the data or stopping the malware to act further. Many solutions are present in the market now. 

Problems faced by the CIOs/CISOs
We all know the kind of problems we faced in Covid Times, most of us suffered with some or kind of losses. Similarly the IT industry has suffered losses due to the change in format of cyber problems. Few points which were the worry factor in those days, in fact they are still challenges for some organizations, like Inability to monitor user in WFH/flexible work hours, Increased number of phishing attacks, More number of Ransomware attacks on end user systems, Absence of solutions with Threat Intelligence and Analytical capabilities, Lack of Internet bandwidth for individuals and many other. Initially it took time for the organizations to reach the right product, hence we helped them to  conclude.      

Commonly adopted technologies
It was really a challenge for customers to choose the product with a restricted budget. Solutions like Data Leak Prevention, Behaviour based detection, Bandwidth hungry Patch Management Solution, Proxy in Hybrid environment, Limiting access to corporate data for Work from Home users were in demand.  
Some of the organizations also went for a Data Encryption solution to prevent data theft. Many organizations adopted the new solutions to address their concerns. 

To face the challenges
Initially in post-covid days it was a difficult time for us also. Changing focus of Customers towards end user products, remote infrastructure management solutions, behaviour based detection tools, forced us to keep the on-premise solutions in briefcase. And then we started working on those solutions.  
Right now, we are well equipped with the list of technologies to address their concerns and also continuously spending on the technical team training with required level of hands-on. Vendor certifications are also a part of the training progra
Amit Mahajan 
VP Technical, VIBS INFOSOL