We started this series of 3 articles by looking at Shielding Your Crown Jewels 1/3: A Cybersecurity Framework for Protecting Critical Assets
We moved on to the second article that looked at Shielding Your Crown Jewels 2/3: Common pitfalls Protecting Critical Assets.
Now we are look at Article 3/3 on how to overcome the common pitfalls of protecting Critical Assets;
- Lack of a framework for protection of Critical Assets: To overcome this pitfall, organizations should establish a formal framework for protecting critical assets, including clear policies and procedures for managing protective measures. This framework should be communicated to all relevant stakeholders, and reviewed and updated regularly.
- Identify critical assets: To overcome the common pitfall of failing to identify all critical assets, organizations should establish a cross-functional team of stakeholders to ensure all relevant data and information is included. This team should include representatives from different business units, IT, cybersecurity, and risk management.
- Assess the risk: To overcome the common pitfall of failing to accurately assess the risk of each critical asset, organizations can enlist the help of third-party experts with specialized expertise in risk assessment. Alternatively, they can establish a formal process for risk assessment that includes input from all relevant stakeholders.
- Implement protective measures: To overcome the common pitfall of implementing the wrong protective measures or failing to implement them effectively, organizations should invest in cybersecurity expertise or partner with a trusted cybersecurity provider. They should also ensure they have clear policies and procedures in place for managing protective measures, and regularly review and update them as needed.
- Monitor and test: To overcome the common pitfall of failing to monitor and test protective measures regularly, organizations should invest in automated monitoring tools and establish a regular testing schedule. They should also prioritize monitoring and testing as an ongoing process rather than a one-time event.
- Continuously improve: To overcome the common pitfall of failing to stay up-to-date with the latest security trends and technologies, organizations should invest in cybersecurity research and training, and partner with third-party experts as needed. They should also establish a culture of continuous improvement, where all stakeholders are encouraged to identify and report potential vulnerabilities or threats. Additionally, to overcome the pitfall of lack of a framework, organizations should establish a framework for continuous improvement that includes regular review and updating of the overall protective measures framework.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, protecting critical assets is a crucial aspect of business security that requires a systematic and proactive approach. The framework for protecting critical assets provides a useful guideline for organizations to identify and prioritize their most valuable information assets, assess the risk of potential threats, implement protective measures, monitor and test those measures, and continuously improve their security posture.
However, there are common pitfalls that organizations must be aware of and overcome to successfully protect their critical assets. These include failing to identify all critical assets, accurately assess the risk, implement the right protective measures, monitor and test regularly, and stay up-to-date with the latest security trends and technologies.
To overcome these pitfalls, organizations should establish a formal framework for protecting critical assets, invest in cybersecurity expertise or partner with a trusted cybersecurity provider, establish clear policies and procedures for managing protective measures, regularly review and update their framework and protective measures, and establish a culture of continuous improvement where all stakeholders are encouraged to identify and report potential vulnerabilities or threats.
By adopting these best practices, organizations can better protect their most valuable information assets and reduce the risk of cyber-attacks and other security breaches that can have significant financial, legal, and reputational consequences.