Page 25 - Cyber Defense eMagazine August 2023

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wild west of the late 19 century. Laws existed but few knew them; enforcement varies wildly from town
to town and situation to situation.

Policies help bring order to the chaos of a highly decentralized system by informing decision makers.
Savvy organizations grasp this reality and approach the cyber security landscape with a clear
perspective. They recognize that crafting comprehensive policies is a strategic investment, not a
bureaucratic necessity.

As a cyber security leader, now is the perfect time to champion policies. While CEOs and CFOs fret
about a recession, make policymaking your key investment for 2023. Embrace principles like "a security-
centric culture" and "proactive, people-focused governance" to develop defenses that prove more robust,
adaptable and cost-effective than those solely reliant on technology.

The Indispensable Role of Policies

Well-written policies represent more than a series of dos and don'ts. They serve as a roadmap, guiding
your organization through the complex terrain of cyber security. They document the organization’s
regulatory requirements and aspirational cyber security posture. They establish norms and expectations,
delineating the route for everyone to follow. Contrary to common practice, policies should be the
foundation of the cyber security strategy. Whether it’s enforcing multi-factor authentication, handling
confidential data or adhering to incident response protocols, policies provide clarity, direction and
justification.

A Guiding Force in Decision-Making

The “people, process, technology” triad is a foundational concept in cyber security. Despite having top-
notch tech and processes in place, the “people” component can potentially weaken your defense. But
with sound policies in place, you can transform this potential vulnerability into a strength. Policies guide
individuals towards sound decision-making, fostering a culture where everyone plays a part in
strengthening the defenses. They are your dependable guide in handling complex cyber security
situations, offering a set of principles to help users navigate this intricate domain. Policies ensure that
each decision contributes positively to your organization's defense, rather than compromising it.

Policies at the Center of Awareness

Beyond setting direction, policies serve as educational tools. Thoughtfully designed policies promote
good practices and underscore the importance of compliance. Not every team member needs to be a
cyber security specialist. But leaving them uninformed is a serious mistake. Once written, policies must
be shared broadly and consistently. They should be the cornerstone of your awareness campaigns with
constant cross-references and reinforcement. Consider a DevOps team working at high speed to deliver
new functionality. An awareness of the solution development lifecycle policy may make the difference
between a developer opening an unprotected cloud workload to the internet and making a smarter choice.

Cyber Defense eMagazine – August 2023 Edition 25
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