Cycles That Drive Cybersecurity

The cybersecurity industry moves fast! The attackers are constantly adapting and relentless in their pursuits that victimize others. New users are being added to the global online ecosystem. Services are hungry for data, which is rising in total value. The result is more attacks and greater impacts. These detrimental effects shift consumers’ expectations which in turn drive the slow gears of regulation. With greater public concern comes a willingness to spend money on solutions. This drives innovation and the advancement of cybersecurity defenses.

Having observed and participated in the cybersecurity field for over three decades, I first outlined this strategic cycle nearly 20 years ago. It has proven consistently true as an underlying engine that propels the cybersecurity industry forward.

This cycle will not stop anytime in the foreseeable future and there are lessons to be learned.

• Anticipate future threats: Don’t just address today’s issues — invest in understanding and preparing for what’s next.
• Recognize the delay: Solution providers will always lag behind attacker innovation. Be prepared for the attacker’s window of opportunity where tech tools fail, but behaviors and processes may provide risk mitigation. 
• Stay agile: Build teams and processes that can adapt as quickly as the threat landscape changes.
• Think strategically: Never be fully committed to dealing with the issues of today, but allocate investments in the challenges we can anticipate in the future. 
• Collaborate and share knowledge: The more we work together, the stronger our collective defenses become.

Understanding the undercurrents that create chaos in cybersecurity can help leaders better navigate the storms and troubled waters more safely and sustainably.