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This section provides an overview of unique challenges faced by high-growth and start-up organizations and a summary explanation of the foundation of a cybersecurity roadmap.
Advancements in the threat landscape have necessitated advancements in both IT and security tools. As more innovative solutions and methodologies (hybrid networks, behavioral based security tools, attack surface management, and so on) are available and implemented, management and administration has become more inefficient, costly, and time-consuming. Security professionals are trying to monitor alerts from multiple consoles and remediate varied hardware across an ecosystem while trying to move toward a more modern and centralized approach to security. This scenario is particularity applicable to high-growth and start-up companies, as cyber funding and qualified security personnel are not yet established.
In the past, a company typically identified an issue (such as lack of network monitoring) and bought a siloed solution to solve it. Operationally, the organization would buy various solutions over time to solve specific needs. These point solutions were typically based on the lowest cost or most convenient tools, resulting in multiple, disparate systems that must be administered and monitored. The challenge with this approach is that the point solutions quickly become unmanageable as networks have expanded, clouds have matured and gained adoption, attack surfaces have expanded, and the workforce is no longer stationary. COVID and the sudden transformation of IT stacks and workforce requirements increased the complexity, resulting in:
To reduce the impact of security costs, management requirements, inefficiencies, and today’s cybersecurity challenges, organizations should employ a more manageable outcome-based approach. A cybersecurity roadmap is indicative of any other established project or program and employs many of the same methods as a traditional project management plan. It includes anticipated schedules, order of operations, labor and personnel needed, impact assessment, and cost.
The cybersecurity roadmap is a strategic plan that comprehensively outlines the steps that a business will take to protect its digital assets and information from cyber threats. It maps out the cybersecurity initiatives, technologies, and practices that a business will implement over a specific period to achieve its cybersecurity objectives.
The roadmap typically includes the following elements:
A cybersecurity roadmap is an essential document for any business that wants to protect its digital assets and information from cyber threats. It helps businesses to identify their vulnerabilities and risks, prioritize their cybersecurity initiatives, and develop a strategic plan to achieve their cybersecurity objectives. Developing a strategic and measured approach to security infrastructure implementation will also establish a level of trust and confidence of stakeholders in the security process, potentially increasing budget allocations for security projects.