Cybersecurity Truths
Trouble often stems from failed communications; and in the business world, how much trouble you’re in can often be measured in dollars and cents. While you might think you’ve mastered the art of communication, the reality is that you’re probably falling short of even your own expectations.
Setting, communicating, and understanding expectations between you, your company’s various departments, and external service providers is essential to the security and sustainability of your business. Failure to establish clear communication and realistic expectations can result in the oversight of critical business functions – and, unfortunately, few departments are more prone to falling into this trap than your IT department.
What Does The IT Department Do?
Technology continues to advance at break-neck speeds. As it does, cybercriminals are working double-time to keep up. But after working to maintain the availability, efficiency, and reliability of your company’s networks, computers, and data, how many hours are actually being spent battling bad actors?
Your IT department (or external IT service provider) is responsible for overseeing technical projects and ensuring that they align with your organization’s goals. Therefore, their primary objective is to ensure that your company’s networks, computers, and data are in working order and readily available. Conversely, data confidentiality and the integrity of your company’s information systems will actually fall under the responsibility of dedicated Cybersecurity or Governance Risk and Compliance professionals.
Oftentimes, when discussing the job functions of these two roles, the lines get blurred. And while you might expect your IT department to lead the company’s fight against cybercrime, the truth is that they just aren’t equipped to do so, nor do they have the time.
Wondering What (Specifically) Your IT Department Does? We’ve Compiled A List. Check It Out To Find Out If You Know Your Stuff!
If Not IT, Then Who?
When your IT department is responsible for the technical side of your business’ day-to-day operations, carving out a few hours every week for dedicated cybersecurity and compliance issues can be extremely difficult – if not impossible. Additionally, it’s likely that the financial resources already being utilized by your IT department are already strategically allocated, which means bringing in another full-time resource is unrealistic especially if you need that person to be able to provide executive-level oversight in the areas of data security risks and governance.
Fortunately, when it comes to establishing the infrastructure necessary to help protect your business from cybercriminals, as long as you take care to set clear expectations and maintain clear lines of communication throughout your organization, you have options. Here’s how to get started.
- Determine the expectations of all stakeholders and departments with regard to cybersecurity and data protection and define your organization’s goals.
- Budget and recruit accordingly and assess your company’s tech needs. A small- to mid-sized business’s tech needs might be completely different from the needs of a larger company.
- Consider your options when it comes to closing your organization’s existing expectation gaps.
Everyone in your company is responsible for cybersecurity and data. From maintaining and backing up your company’s network, to knowing safe email practices, and everything in between. Some businesses will determine that it’s worthwhile to bring in a cybersecurity professional, while others might seek out as-needed assistance from cybersecurity or governance risk and compliance professionals. It’s important to remember that you have options and those options can mean the difference between a thriving business and one that’s struggling to recover from a data breach.
To learn more about cybersecurity, governance risk, and data compliance, contact a member of Rea’s cybersecurity and data protection service team today.
By Travis Strong, CISA (Wooster, OH)