Many have realized that every day needs to be about cybersecurity. Still, not everyone recognizes its importance, and there’s more work to do on this front. That’s why the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) created a non-profit organization, the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA), and launched Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
Now in its 19th year and co-led by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a collaboration between the public and private sectors that continues to build momentum and impact as it raises public knowledge of cybersecurity best practices among Americans.
The U.S. isn’t alone in this effort. Other countries have also formed their own programs that also take place annually during October. Their investments help push a shared agenda on a global scale:
- Canada: Cyber Security Awareness Month (Cyber Month) by Get Cyber Safe
- Europe: The European Cybersecurity Month by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) in partnership with the Commission and Member States
The main point of these programs is for individuals and organizations to get involved—at a personal and professional level. And while technology makes a business run, cybersecurity continues to be rooted in the human element of the business. In part, because of the focus on the human element, Taos believes in the value of these programs to help raise awareness inside the organization and promote the value of being cyber-safe in both function and operation.
Of course, remembering and investing in cybersecurity isn’t always straightforward. The mission to quickly bring data-driven products and services to market can often take priority, leaving cybersecurity in the operational rearview mirror. While it’s true that cybersecurity shouldn’t get in the way of innovation and speed to market, the other side of the coin is equally critical. Organizations mustn’t forego cybersecurity when working on their accelerated digital transformation.
Often this realization of the need for cybersecurity to be embraced throughout the organization boils down to resources and having access to skilled talent in the right places at the right time—DevOps, CloudOps, DataOps, and SecOps. These operational team members need not only to be well versed in their job functions but also to understand the bigger picture of each other’s roles and their own roles in helping the organization achieve its cybersecurity objectives.
More than half (57%) of organizations are impacted by the global cybersecurity skills shortage
— The Life and Times of Cybersecurity Professionals 2021 Volume V, July 2021
Service providers, like Taos, can step in as fully trained, highly experienced teams available on an as-needed basis, giving organizations access to the skill sets necessary to problem solve and empower data-driven decision-making in implementing cybersecure engineering, cloud, and data operations. This staffing support is also flexible and scalable based on a company’s needs and can adjust to the company’s budget requirements.
For example, having objective advice during a cloud security and risk assessment can prove extremely valuable and instrumental in delivering tangible results to the leadership team and meaningful outcomes to the business. Outside experts can help close the skillset gap needed for these types of activities, plus offer an objective view of the necessary next steps to achieve the overall security and compliance initiatives across your IT operations programs.
The global cybersecurity workforce needs to grow 65% to effectively defend organizations’ critical assets
— (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study, March 2021
Partner with strategic experts that understand security, technology, operations, and business
If you have a gap in security talent at your organization, now more than ever, you should consider getting the expertise you need to succeed. Take advantage of the awareness generated globally during Cybersecurity Awareness Month to raise awareness internally.
Of course, being aware of the challenges faced in cybersecurity is just the first step. The explicit goal is to take action to reduce your operational risk and increase cyber resiliency throughout your environment. And Taos can help you by:
- Developing a solid cybersecurity strategy
- Garnering deep leadership buy-in
- Establishing a well-defined plan
- Closing the skills gap
October is a time to remember what it means to empower more of the organization to make security a priority. It starts with the human element of the business, focusing on bringing the proper cybersecurity knowledge and talent in to streamline cybersecurity throughout the company.
Building a cyber-resilient organization should be your mission—but you don’t have to do it alone. Taos is here to help you with this endeavor, and we would be honored to be part of your cybersecurity journey this month and beyond.