EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Attacks are on the rise, and with that, CISOs are working harder than ever to launch fierce prevention and defense strategies.

Seventy-nine percent of CISOs feel that they can successfully keep pace with the mounting barrage of attacks, but 21% of CISOs indicate that the capabilities of cyber attackers may outpace their defense strategies.

According to the new Forbes survey, the #1 priority among CISOs consists of protecting the brand and safeguarding intellectual property. The biggest hurdles in this endeavor are related to establishing a clearly defined cybersecurity strategy, budgetary constraints, and the talent shortage.

The resources here are designed to help you speed past these roadblocks. Read on to ramp up your security initiatives.

Strategy: Developing a reliable roadmap is, of course, critical to operational success when it comes to cybersecurity. In addition to banking on a strong set of plans, insure that you have a cybersecurity champion, a reliable senior leader, who can help you gain support for your initiatives. Be sure that either said person, or that you are able to communicate effectively with the executive leadership team.

Budget: Hopefully, your organization is way ahead of the game, and has markedly upped its budget since attacks have increased. If not, propose additional cybersecurity protocols and present the case for a bigger budget to senior leaders. Security breaches can cost millions, with the average breach requiring roughly $7.5 million in expenditures. You can’t afford to stay quiet about this.

Talent: Although 14% of the survey respondents indicated that they wish to bring more talent aboard, organizations are flailing when it comes to scouting out the right personnel. The dearth of cybersecurity professionals is contributing to risk. Seventy percent of business organizations report having struggled to find qualified cybersecurity professionals for the past three years, while 27% of companies cannot fill vacancies on account of applicant scarcity.

In searching for talent, one approach is to identify former military personnel with IT and cybersecurity training. After completing terms in the military, these individuals may be interested in employment in the private sector. The ‘battlefield’ mindset is a plus too.

For more information, visit Forbes.