Digital Transformation Requires a Strong Strategy

As organizations go through their digital transformation and move to digital platforms, effective cybersecurity measures are critical to protecting assets and the viability of the company. The protection of this digital environment includes infrastructure, applications, data, and control structures. Therefore, effective cybersecurity programs should begin by aligning the cybersecurity strategy with the organization’s business goals. This alignment should include balancing risk with functionality and convenience.

These new digital businesses have additional challenges of information risk and security management. Their leaders must understand the risks associated with business unit innovation, while balancing the need to adopt innovative technology approaches for this innovation with the imperative to protect the enterprise and its data.

Technology products do not necessarily ensure a well-protected environment. As you’ve seen in our previous blogs, buying more appliances does not necessarily improve security. A company’s approach to PPT (People, Processes, and Technology – not PowerPoint in this case) must be applied and orchestrated in a thoughtful manner to truly achieve a reasonable level of cybersecurity protection.

A good strategy is critical. Distilling your strategy into a formal plan with clearly defined goals and responsibilities, benefits your organization in many ways. This process must span from alignment of the cybersecurity strategy, to prioritization of available resources including budget. Additionally, it must include a clear balance of risk versus functionality / convenience for decision making. Finally, the process must integrate cybersecurity risk management with overall enterprise risk and improve communication between stakeholders.

I hope this provides some food for thought as you make the journey of digital transformation. Stay tuned for more ideas coming soon.