Original iteration of this article was published in CIO Applications.
Bill leads the Information Technology team at SEH with a focus on strategic leadership, equipping employees with essential resources to enhance productivity and drive innovative solutions. His leadership is pivotal in navigating cybersecurity threats and guiding the firm through technological advancements.
The rising importance of cybersecurity transforms the focus from a mere technical detail to a core strategic concern for every company–a critical issue that impacts each aspect of a company's operations and all its stakeholders. Cyberattacks extend beyond financial losses; they can damage reputations, incur significant legal liabilities and disrupt operations. Given these high stakes, comprehensive oversight and active engagement from a company's board of directors are essential, as they are ultimately responsible for governance and organizational performance. This elevated awareness of cyber risks has significantly matured the approach to business continuity for many organizations, ensuring they are better prepared to manage and mitigate these threats effectively.
The cyber threat landscape has evolved significantly in recent years, with cyberattacks becoming more sophisticated, frequent and targeted. These attacks can originate from a variety of actors, including nation-states, cybercriminals, hacktivists and insiders. They exploit a range of vulnerabilities, from weak passwords and phishing emails to unpatched software and human errors. The variety of assets affected is broad, encompassing data, systems, networks and devices. Consequently, the impacts of these attacks are diverse, ranging from data breaches and ransomware to denial-of-service attacks and sabotage.
Recent research has indicated that five key trends continue to influence the cybersecurity landscape:
As the cyber threat landscape evolves, so too does the role of IT professionals. No longer merely the guardians of an organization's cybersecurity, IT professionals have become crucial enablers and facilitators of business continuity strategies. They are tasked with implementing and maintaining the technical controls and tools that support the organization's cybersecurity goals. They also play a vital role in educating and empowering fellow employees on best practices and behaviors that enhance the organization's resilience and create a culture of responsibility.
No longer merely the guardians of an organization’s cybersecurity, IT professionals have become crucial enablers and facilitators of business continuity strategies
- Bill Kloster, Chief Information Officer
As cybersecurity increasingly becomes a business risk, the board of directors holds an essential role in overseeing and guiding the organization's cybersecurity strategy. They are charged with setting the tone and culture of cybersecurity awareness within the organization and are responsible for defining the organization's risk appetite and tolerance levels. They also ensure that the organization possesses the necessary resources and capabilities to manage cybersecurity risks effectively while monitoring and evaluating the organization's cybersecurity performance and compliance.
With the growing awareness of cyber security risks, the role of a user of technology has changed to become more proactive in protecting against cyber threats. Educated and empowered employees demonstrate behaviors that enhance the organization's cybersecurity posture. This means that users of technology are now relied upon to take an active role in protecting themselves and the organization from cyber threats. The result is an organizational culture that understands the importance of cybersecurity awareness, acceptable use guidance and the role each employee plays in protection against cybercrime.
Cybersecurity presents a complex and dynamic challenge that requires a collaborative and proactive approach from all stakeholders within an organization. Team members, working in complementary and interdependent roles, play a crucial part in strengthening defenses and ensuring the organization's cybersecurity resilience. Essential measures include:
By adopting these measures and working together, stakeholders can cultivate a culture of cybersecurity awareness that effectively safeguards the organization and its stakeholders from cyber threats.