Why the future of your business lies in your CISO’s hands
Guest blog: Kevin Brown, Managing Director at BT Security as part of our #Cyber2021 Week.
New research into consumer, employee and business leader attitudes to cybersecurity makes it imperative that CISOs take a leading business role.
Our recent research, available here, confirms that cybersecurity is the top issue on the agenda in boardrooms around the globe. Only the pandemic has the power to overshadow security issues right now. And this means that it’s the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) who will be expected to step forward and enable the business as it settles into new ways of digital working.
But CISOs can only make effective plans if they understand the context and know what business leaders, employees and consumers think about cybersecurity. Will they cooperate and do whatever’s necessary to protect you and them? Or is there still work to do to win over hearts and minds?
BT Security’s largest ever research project – CISO under the Spotlight – identifies the major trends that are impacting the role of the CISO, and the worrying behaviours that show the need for a strategic response.
Your security depends on your people
The research backs up what I’ve seen in so many companies: people are still fundamental to cybersecurity. You can have all the solutions in the world, but if people don’t follow basic cybersecurity measures, you’re wide open to breaches. Despite all the cyber threats out there, the easiest way to infiltrate any organisation is still through an employee.
Our respondents were brutally honest and what they told us is alarming. 45% of employees said they’d had a security incident while working and not declared it. Alongside that, people knowingly take risks online, even though they understand the dangers. Employees are losing work laptops and phones and not reporting it or are giving their work logins and passwords to others.
Security wins customers
64% of consumers said they’d recommend firms that make big efforts to keep data secure. This shows that a business visibly on the cybersecurity ball will reassure consumers and create confidence in its digital products and services, carving itself a competitive advantage. Corroborating that point, 67% of consumers said that security is more important than convenience.
The research consistently shows that security is increasingly a deciding factor for customer choices. It also highlights the huge opportunity to differentiate your business by displaying your security credentials, given that only 16% of consumers strongly agree they trust large organisations to protect their personal data.
How can a CISO combat this?
Inside the organisation, CISOs need to look beyond technological solutions and super-charge the human firewall. Start by sharpening up security hygiene so your people adopt digitally safe behaviours and are actively on their guard against cyber threats. And externally, don’t be afraid to increase security measures. The good news is, the balance has tipped and there’s new positivity towards cybersecurity with consumers and employees ready to embrace more security measures to stay safe online.
I’ve just scratched the surface of the findings here; I really recommend you take a look at the full report to find out how critical the role of the CISO is to your cybersecurity and your business.
Dan Patefield
Head of Cyber and National Security, techUK
Dan Patefield
Head of Cyber and National Security, techUK
Dan leads the techUK Cyber Security programme, having originally joined techUK in August 2017 as a Programme Manager working across the Cyber and Defence programmes. He is responsible for managing techUK's work across the cyber security eco-system, bringing industry together with key stakeholders across the public and private sectors. Dan also provides the industry secretariat for the Cyber Growth Partnership, the industry and Governmnet conduit for supporting growth across the sector. A key focus of his work is to strengthen the public-private partnership across cyber security to support further development of UK cyber security policy.
Before joining techUK he worked as Forum Lead for the Westminster eForum. In this role he had a focus on the technology and telecoms space, on issues ranging from Broadband and Mobile Infrastructure, the Internet of Things, Cyber Security, Data and diversity in tech. Dan has a BA in History from the University of Liverpool.
Raya Tsolova is the Programme Manager for National Security at techUK.
Raya is responsible for all National Security related activities across techUK, specifically in the established programmes of Defence, Cyber Security and Justice & Emergency Services. Raya will leverage relationships with existing stakeholders across the three programmes, and will build new relationships between techUK and key stakeholders who are of interest to member companies.
Prior to joining techUK, Raya worked in Business Development for an expert network firm within the institutional investment space. Before this Raya spent a year in industry working for a tech start-up in London as part of their Growth team which included the formation and development of a 'Let's Talk Tech' podcast and involvement in London Tech Week.
Raya has a degree in Politics and International Relations (Bsc Hons) from the University of Bath where she focused primarily on national security and counter-terrorism policies, centreing research on female-led terrorism and specific approaches to justice there.
Outside of work, Raya's interests include baking, spin classes and true-crime Netflix shows!
Freddie MacSwiney is the Programme Manager for Defence and Cyber Security at techUK.
Prior to joining techUK, Freddie worked as a Government Adviser for a firm dealing in International Relations, where he briefed Politicians, Ministers, Heads of State, Diplomats around the world on key issues from Defence, Security and other key issues and aligned them with the UK.
Jill Broom
Programme Manager, Cyber Security and Central Government, techUK
Jill Broom
Programme Manager, Cyber Security and Central Government, techUK
Jill is techUK’s Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government, supporting the work of both programme teams and promoting better engagement between the public and tech sectors.
Prior to joining techUK, Jill worked as a Senior Caseworker for an MP, advocating for local communities, businesses and individuals, so she is particularly committed to techUK’s vision of harnessing the power of technology to improve people’s lives. Jill is also an experienced editorial professional and has delivered copyediting and writing services for public-body and SME clients as well as publishers.
With an MA(Hons) in American Studies from the University of Edinburgh, Jill continues to be fascinated by the history and politics of the USA. Otherwise, outside of work, she can be found up a hill, swimming in a loch or curled up with a good book.
The techUK Annual Dinner will take place on Wednesday, 13 July 2022. Our Annual Dinner is the established, must-attend business dinner in our calendar. The evening will begin with a drinks reception, allowing ample networking opportunities, followed by a fabulous dinner and speeches from the country's leading technology stakeholders.