Page 23 - Cyber Warnings - November 2015

Awareness: Getting Ahead of Cyber Security Problems

By Danny Banks, VP, Solutions Engineering, Hexis Cyber Solutions

Working at Hexis Cyber Solutions and having been immersed in the cyber security industry for
years, I’m hyper aware of the cyber threats facing companies and governments today. What’s
surprising though is how much and how wide spread awareness has become among the general
public.

In fact, during the first Democratic Debate for the 2016 Presidential Elections, one candidate called
out cyber warfare as our nation’s greatest security threat. It’s increasingly telling that the importance
of cyber security was highlighted among a group of people who are contending to be the next
president of the United States; it really does mark a shift in how serious cyber threats have become.

Increased awareness of cyber security drives
different actions among different groups:

Consumers and the General Public
With cyber security considered by some as the number
one threat facing our nation, it is no longer an industry
specific issue.

As awareness increases, I expect more consumers to
make decisions about the brands they choose based on
their confidence of the brand’s security.

The tangible and monetary ramifications of a breach
aside, retailers like Target took a hit on their reputation
when their network was hacked.

To keep consumer confidence, company executives will
expect more from their security teams.

The IT Security Teams
Awareness of cyber threats among C-suites and consumers turns the spotlight on IT security teams
and incident responders.

Cybercriminals are developing highly advanced techniques – techniques that covertly maneuver
past legacy technologies that operate as disparate point solutions.

When it comes to successful offensive techniques, today it’s all about integration. It’s about keeping
the notion of, “It’s not a matter of if, but when you get breached,” at the forefront of our minds.
Implementing solutions that enable integrated detection and automated response offers
countermeasures that are much more effective in today’s cyber war.

23 Cyber Warnings E-Magazine – November 2015 Edition
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