The Most Trusted Cybersecurity Leaders to Follow, 2025
Amilkar Torres
Amilkar Torres-Ligman Chief Opera ng Officer Brava
– John C. Maxwell “
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
Guardians of the Digital World ‘
Astechnologycontinuestoadvance,sodothecomplexitiesandrisksassociatedwith
cybersecurity.In2025,organizationsacrossindustriesarefacinganever-evolving digitalthreatlandscape,makingcybersecurityleadershipmorecriticalthanever TheriseofAI-driventhreats,sophisticatedcyberattacks,andincreasingregulatorydemands haveplacedagreaterresponsibilityoncybersecurityleaderstosafeguardsensitivedata, systems,anddigitalinfrastructures.
Inthisedition,weproudlyrecognizeTheMostTrustedCybersecurityLeaderstoFollow in2025—visionarieswhoareattheforefrontofprotectingbusinessesandindividualsfrom cyberthreats.Theseleadersarenotjustsecurityexperts;theyarestrategicthinkers, innovators,anddefendersofdigitaltrust.Throughtheirexpertiseinriskmanagement,threat intelligence,andsecurityarchitecture,theyarestrengtheningcyberresilienceandsetting newbenchmarksforcybersecurityexcellence.
Whatsetstheseprofessionalsapartistheirabilitytoanticipateandmitigateemergingthreats whilefosteringasecurity-firstculturewithintheirorganizations.Theyaredrivingproactive cybersecuritystrategies,implementingnext-gensecurityframeworks,andleveragingAI, automation,andzero-trustmodelstostayaheadofadversaries.Theircommitmentto knowledge-sharing,ethicalhacking,andcyberawarenessismakingalastingimpactinthe fightagainstcybercrime.
Aswenavigateanerawherecybersecurityisnolongeroptionalbutessential,following thesetrustedleadersoffersvaluableinsightsintobestpractices,emergingtechnologies,and effectivedefensestrategies.Theirdedicationtosecuringthedigitalworldisnotjustabout preventingbreaches—it’saboutbuildingasaferandmoreresilientfutureforall.
Joinusincelebratingtheseexceptionalcybersecurityleadersastheycontinuetoshapethe industry,driveinnovation,andprotectthedigitallandscapein2025andbeyond.
CIO
CO NT EN TS
Amilkar Torres Blending Telecommunications Expertise for Unparalleled Operational Excellence
Grace Llojaj Highlighting the Increasing Necessity for Cybersecurity Strategies in Modern Enterprises
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David
Mia
Richard
Amilkar Torres-Ligman Chief Opera ng Officer
Grace Llojaj Consultant for Security, Risk, & Compliance
Lloyd Holder Chief Digital Officer
Mike Miller AI Analyst
Roy Toh CEO
SEI seic.com SiriusPoint siriuspt.com Appalachia Technologies, LLC appalachiatech.com Terra Interna onal terrabytegroup.com
Commi ed to innova on and opera onal agility, Amilkar ensures that Brava remains at the forefront of its industry, fostering sustainable growth and seamless execu on across all business func ons.
Grace's strategic approach to risk management and regulatory alignment enables businesses to navigate evolving security challenges while maintaining opera onal integrity and resilience.
With a strong background in data-driven decision-making, AI integra on, and digital infrastructure, Lloyd is dedicated to enhancing efficiency, customer experience, and business agility
With exper se in AI development, predic ve analy cs, and cybersecurity, Mike helps organiza ons leverage advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and security.
With a strong background in business development, technology solu ons, and sustainable innova on, Roy drives transforma onal ini a ves that enhance industry impact and opera onal efficiency
Brava brava.com
Chief Opera ng Officer Brava
Intoday'srapidlyevolvingdigitallandscape,the
cybersecurityindustryfacesunprecedentedchallenges, ashackersbecomemoresophisticatedandattacks morefrequentrenderingtraditionalsecuritymeasures increasinglyinadequate.Theurgencyforarevolutionary approachhasneverbeengreater
EnterAmilkarTorres,thevisionaryChiefOperating OfficeratBrava.Withovertwodecadesofexperiencein ITandtelecommunications,Amilkarbringsauniqueblend oftechnologicalexpertiseandbusinessacumentothetable. AtBrava,hechampionstheintegrationofcutting-edge technologieslikeartificialintelligence,machinelearning, andadvanceddataanalyticsintoBravatechnology solutions,especiallywhenitcomestocybersecurity This uniqueandinnovativestrategyisdesignednotjustto defendagainstthreats,buttocreateresilientsystems capableforrapidrecoveryanduninterruptedoperations, withtheultimateobjectiveofdrivingflawlessexecutionof digitaltransformationamongBravacustomerspartner whilesimplifyingtheirbusiness.
Amilkarbelievesthatthefutureofcybersecurityliesin proactive,adaptivesystemsanddatadrivenprocessesand decisionmaking.Underhisleadership,Bravaismoving beyondtraditionalprotectionmethodstofostertruecyber resilience.Thisapproachextendsbeyondtechnology, emphasizingtheimportanceofcollaborationamong government,business,andacademiatostayaheadof cybercriminals.Hisholisticstrategyunderscoresa commitmenttocreatingasecuredigitalenvironmentthat benefitsbothindividualsandorganizations.
WithAmilkaratthehelm,Bravaisnotonlyrespondingto thecurrentthreatlandscapebutalsoanticipatingfuture challenges.Thecompany'sfocusonbuildingtrustindigital interactionsisreshapinghowbusinessesapproach cybersecurity.Underhisguidance,Bravaissettoplaya crucialroleinshapingthefutureofcybersecuritythrough itsinnovativestrategies,pavingthewayforasecureand resilientdigitalenvironment.
SupportingCybersecurityintheDigitalAge
Amilkar’sjourneyinthetelecommunicationssectorwas drivenbyhisdeepinterestintherapidlygrowingfield.This passionhasledhimtoguideBravainsupportingbusinesses throughtheirdigitaltransformation,ensuringtheyremain secureandconnected.
Ascybersecurityneedshavegrownexponentially,Amilkar, asCOO,ensuresthatBravaispositionedasakeyplayer, deliveringrobustsolutionsthatmeetthedemandsof boardroomsandpublicoffices,safeguardingdigital interactions,andpavingthewayforasecureandresilient future.
LeadingBravatoNewHeightsinTelecommunications andCybersecurity
AstheChiefOperatingOfficerofBrava,Amilkaroversees thecompany’sProduct,Care,Delivery,ManagedServices, Support,andEngineeringteamsacrossallmarkets.Hehas beeninstrumentalindrivingoperationalexcellenceand innovationinBrava’ssolutions,drivingthetransformation oftheConnect,Synergy,Stronghold,andCloudportfolios. Underhisleadership,Bravahasnotonlyenhancedits Technologyofferingsbutalsorevolutionizedthe cybersecurityindustry.Brava,originallyfoundedwitha visiontoprovideinnovativeandresilientcybersecurity solutions,hasgrownintoaleadingproviderof comprehensivetechnologyservices.
DynamicandFlexibleApproach
Bravakeystrategicapproachistomovefromconceptto solutionquicklyandcost-effectively,leveraginginnovative methodologies,cultivatingacultureofcontinuous improvement,andworkingcloselywithourcustomer throughconstantfeedback.Thiscollaborationwithclients, allowsBravanotonlytoprovideinnovativeproductsbut ensurealignmentwithcustomerspecificneedsand expectationsandaheadofcompetition.
Enhancing Operational Proficiency
Aprimeexampleofleveragingdigitaltransformationto enhanceoperationalefficiencyincybersecurityisthe deploymentofanadvancedthreatdetectionandresponse system.
FormingHigh-PerformingTeams
Buildingandleadinghigh-performingteamsinthe cybersecuritysectorrequiresacombinationoftechnical expertise,strongleadership,andacollaborativeculture. ThroughouthiscareerandespeciallyatBrava,Amilkar’s focushasbeenonhiringcustomercentrictalented individualswhoshareapassionforcybersecurityanda commitmenttocontinuouslearning.
Amilkarfostersacultureandsupportiveenvironmentthat fostersteamwork,innovation,andprofessionalgrowthall withadeepcommitmenttoBravacustomers.Byproviding teamswiththenecessaryresourcesandopportunities,Brava empowersthemtogrow,excelanddrivethecompany's success,ensuringarobustandforward-thinking cybersecurityoperation.
FosteringGrowthandInnovation
Cultivatingandbuildingpartnershipsthatencouragegrowth andinnovationincybersecurityinvolvesidentifying synergisticopportunitiesandforgingmutuallybeneficial relationships.AtBrava,thefocusisonprioritizing partnershipsthatalignwithstrategicgoalsandenhance capabilities.
Bycollaboratingwithindustryleaders,technology providers,andacademicinstitutions,Bravaleveragestheir expertiseandresourcestofosterinnovationandexpand marketreach,ensuringcontinuedgrowthandleadershipin thecybersecuritysector.
GlobalInsightsfromCALA
AkeylessonfromexperienceintheCALA(Caribbeanand LatinAmerica)regionistheimportanceofadaptabilityand culturalsensitivity Thediversemarketsinthisregion necessitatespecializedapproachestoaddressunique cybersecurityneeds.
Byunderstandinglocalcontextsandbuildingstrong relationshipswithstakeholders,Bravahassuccessfully deliveredeffectivesolutionsthatresonatewithclientsinthe
region.Theseinsightsareapplicableglobally,highlighting thenecessityofauser-centricapproachandadeep understandingofregionalnuancesincybersecurity
BravaStronghold
Brava'sadvancedapproach,particularlythroughtheBrava Strongholdsolution,significantlyenhancesnetwork resilienceandcybersecurityforbusinessesofallsizes. BravaStrongholdintegratesadvancedthreatintelligence, real-timemonitoring,andautomatedresponsecapabilities toprovidecomprehensiveprotectionagainstcyberthreats.
ThispioneeringapproachdistinguishesBravafromother cybersecurityprovidersbycombiningcutting-edge technologywithadeepunderstandingofclients'unique challenges,ensuringrobustandtailoredcybersecurity solutions.
RedefiningPersonalizedandInnovativeSolutions
WhatsetsBravaapartfromothercybersecuritysolutions providersisitscommitmenttodeliveringtailored,scalable, andinnovativesolutionsthataddressthespecificneedsof clients.Bravacontinuouslypushestheboundariesofwhat ispossibleinICTandcybersecuritysolutionsandservices.
Thecompany'sfocusonclientsatisfaction,operational excellence,andcontinuousimprovementensuresthatit remainsattheforefrontoftheindustry,providingcuttingedgeandeffectivecybersecuritysolutions.
EmbracingCuriosityandConstantLearning
Amilkaradvisesprofessionalsinthecybersecurityfieldto staycurious,adaptable,andcommittedtocontinuous learning.Thecybersecuritylandscapeisconstantly evolving,thethreatlandscapeisacceleratingespecially withAIcapabilitiesandstayingaheadrequiresaproactive approachtoacquiringnewknowledgeandskills.
Embracinginnovation,collaboratingwithpartnersand peers,andneverlosingsightoftheimportanceofprotecting thedigitalassetsofindividualsandorganizationsarekey Bymaintainingapassionforcybersecurityandadedication toexcellence,professionalscanmakeasignificantimpact inthisdynamicandcriticalfield.
How to Develop an Effective Incident Response Plan
Anincidentresponseplanisthestructuredapproach
towardeffectivedetection,containment,and recoveryfromsecurityincidents.Becausecyber threatsevolvefastinthisdigitallandscape,businessentities requireanincidentresponsestrategytobeproactive.A well-definedincidentresponseplanmeansthattheabsence ofonemaycausetheorganizationtosuffertremendous financiallossandreputationaldamageaswellas operationaldisruption.
KnowledgeofIncidentResponse
Theactofhandlingsecuritybreaches,cyberattacks,or systemcompromiseisgenerallyreferredtoasincident response.Therightresponseplanhelpsinlimitingthe effectsofanincidentandmaintainsbusinessoperations.A successfulplanfollowsastructuredapproach-from preparationtorecovery.
CriticalComponentsofanIncidentResponsePlan
• Preparation:Preparationisthebackboneofanincident responsestrategy Thisstageinvolvessecuritypolicy formation,employeetraining,andimplementationof allnecessarytoolsforthedetectionandmitigationof threats.Regularsecurityassessmentsandpenetration testinghelpidentifyvulnerabilitiesbeforetheyare exploited.Rolesandresponsibilitiesfortheresponse teamshouldalsobedefinedbyorganizationstoensure thateverythinggoesonasplannedincaseofan incident.
• DetectionandAnalysis:Firsttruereal-timedetection ofthreatsisofextremeimportance.Theinstallationof advancedmonitoringtoolsatanorganizationslevel willhelpindetectionofanomalyalongwith suspiciousactivities,justliketheSIEMsystem. Advancedalertingatearlystagesproducesautomated alertsthatawell-trainedresponseteamcouldanalyze fromsecuritylogsalongwiththeprobableseriousness ofasituation.Thesecorrectassessmentstakenatvery primarystagesdonotallowanyunjustifiedescalation ofthematteralongwithbringingcorrect countermeasuresintoaction.
• Containment:Themomenttheattackisidentified, containmentofthethreatbecomesthetoppriority. Containmentvariesbasedonthenatureoftheattack. Short-termcontainmentincludesisolationofaffected systems,revocationofcompromisedcredentials,or blockingmalicioustraffic.Long-termcontainment includesapplyingpatches,updatingsecurity configurations,andimplementingstronger authenticationmechanisms.Propercontainment preventslateralmovementwithinthenetworkand reducesfurtherdamage.
• Eradication:Afterthecontainmentprocess,theroot causeoftheincidenthastobeeliminated.Itmay involvemalwareremoval,closureofsecuritygaps, andhardeningofthesystem'sdefenses.Theforensic analysisperformedenlightensonattackvectorsand thewaysinwhichsuchincidentsmaybeprevented fromhappeningagaininthefuture.Thisstage preventstheorganizationfrombeingrepeatedlyatthe mercyofthethreats.
• Recovery:Therecoveryphasefocusesonrestoration ofnormaloperations.Thiswouldincludechecking integrityofthesystems,restoringdatafromsecure backup,andobservingsystemsforpossiblesignsof stilllingeringthreats.Aphasedrecoveryapproach ensuressystemsarestableenoughbeforefull-scale operationsresume.Continuousmonitoringpostrecoverydetectsanomaliesthatmightindicatea secondattack.
• LessonsLearned:Eacheventprovidesexperience, whichgoestostrengthenthesecurityposture.An after-incidentreviewcanalsohelptoestablishholes intheprocessofresponse,areasthatwouldneed improvement.Documentationofanentireincident responseactionsandconsequenceshelpsthe organizationsunderstandhowtopolishtheirsecurity andimproveresiliencebeforethreatscomeinagain.
BestPracticeforanEfficientIncidentResponse Program
1. Create a Team Dedicated to an Incident Response Process
Agoodresponseteamcanminimizetheeffectofasecurity incident.Suchateamcouldinvolvecybersecurityexperts, ITpersonnel,legaladvisers,andcommunicationspecialists. Theyshouldbeawareoftheirresponsibilitiesandprepared toactquicklywheneveranincidentoccurs.
2. Implement Real-Time Monitoring and Threat Intelligence
Continuousmonitoringisaboutfindingthreatsatthe earlieststagespossible.UsingAI-poweredthreatprotection solutionsandthreatintelligenceplatformsinreal-time enhancesanorganization'sabilitytoidentifyrisksbefore theyamplifyfurther.IntegratingSIEMsolutions,endpoint detection,andfirewallsguaranteesstrongsecurityvisibility.
3. Establish Clear Communication Protocols
Communicationinanincidentmustbesmoothand organized.Theinternalandexternalcommunicationplan willhelppreventthespreadoffalseinformationandpanic. Therightchannelsshouldbeusedtoinformstakeholders, includingemployees,clients,andregulatoryauthorities. Thiswillensureclearmessaging,maintainingtransparency andtrust.
4. Test and Update the Response Plan Regularly
Itshouldnotbestatic.Readinesscanbeensuredbyregular testing,includingsimulatedcyberattackexerciseslikered team/blueteamdrillsortabletopexercises.Periodicupdates willkeepiteffectiveinviewofnewthreatvectorsand compliancerequirements.
5. Compliance with Regulatory Requirements
Mostindustrieshavetheirparticularcyberlawsthat businessesmustcomplywith.Adherencetostandardslike
GDPR,HIPAA,orISO27001furtherstrengthensthe securitypostureandensureslegaltroublesareavoided.It ensuresconstantknowledgeofemergingcompliance standardsthatenhancesthemanagementofrisksasa whole.
TheBusinessImpactofanEffectiveIncidentResponse Plan
Aneffectiveincidentresponseplanprotectsbrand reputation,preventsfinancialloss,andensuresbusiness continuity,inadditiontomitigatingsecuritythreats. Organisationsthatareabletorespondquicklyand effectivelytocyberincidentsgainacompetitiveadvantage inthemarketbecausetheydemonstrateresilienceand reliability.
Agoodplanalsoenhancestheconfidenceofthecustomers. Clientsarelikelytotrustfirmsthattakedatasecurity seriouslyaswellashavetransparentriskmanagement practices.Thirdly,proactiveincidentresponsestrategies reducedowntime,conservingproductivityandoperational efficiency
Conclusion
Asuccessfulincidentresponseplanisastrategicinvestment incybersecurityresilience.Organizationsshouldminimize potentialrisksandbecomebetterequippedtostandtheir groundbyimplementingstructuredresponseprotocols, usingadvancedthreatdetectiontools,andalwaystailoring strategiestorefinethem.Inaworldwhereacyberthreatis inevitable,preparednessorquickresponsewillmakethe differencebetweenanincidentturningintoacrisisorintoa managedevent.Organizationsthattakeincidentresponse seriouslynotonlyprotecttheirdigitalassetsbutalsosustain long-termsustainabilityandmarketreputation.
The Most Trusted Cybersecurity Leaders to Follow, 2025
Grace Llojaj
Highlighting the Increasing Necessity for Cybersecurity Strategies in Modern Enterprises.
Understanding the unique challenges and solutions in securing sensitive data across critical sectors!
Asthedigitalenvironmentchangesrapidly,some
unseenguardiansofourcyberspaceswork constantlytokeepussafefromever-increasing threats.Toprovidesecureconditions,theseprofessionals usetheirknowledgesothatcompaniescanprosperwithout havingtoconstantlyworryaboutcyberattacks.
Theirimpactisfeltineveryindustry,wheresecurityand trustarecritical,includinghealthcareandbanking.They enableenterprisestogrowsecurelywhilealsoprotecting againstbreachesbycreatingstrongframeworksand encouragingpartnerships.
GraceLlojajisaleadingcybersecurityexpertwhois revolutionizingriskmanagementandcompliancewithin companies.Shehasnearlyadecadeofexpertiseandhas beeninstrumentalinbuildinggovernanceframeworksfrom scratchforbusinessesinavarietyofindustries.
Sheenthusiasticallyvolunteeredfordifficultprojectsasa projectmanager,whichledtoherengagementincreating third-partyriskmanagementandcomplianceprocedures. GraceworksasaConsultantforSecurity,Risk,& ComplianceatSEI,whereshehelpsFortune500firmsand startupsalikenavigatethedifficultworldofcybersecurity
Underherinfluence,herapproachemphasizesbuilding strongrelationshipswithorganizationalleaderstoalign cybersecurityinitiativeswithbusinessobjectives.Through herwork,Gracenotonlymitigatesrisksbutalsocultivates
acultureofsecurityawarenessthatempowersteamsto navigatethedigitallandscapeconfidently
Below are the interview highlights:
Canyoupleaseintroduceyourselfandyourmotivation toembarkonthissector?
IgotmystartincybersecuritywhenIwasaProject Managerbysimplyraisingmyhandforanyprojectthat cameacrossmydeskthatsoundedinterestingor challenging.Thisishowthestandingupofathird-party riskmanagementprogramandagovernance,risk,& complianceprogramwasassignedtomenearlytenyears ago.
Atthetime,mycompanydidn’thaveaGRCorTPRM program,soIwasresponsibleforcreatingthesefrom scratch.Sincethen,Ihavefocusedprimarilyon cybersecurity,riskmanagement,andcompliance consulting,workingwithstartupstoFortune500 organizationsacrossfinancialservices,healthcare, aerospace/defense,andotherhighlyregulatedindustries.
Couldyoupleasegiveabriefintroductiontoyour companyanditsinceptionstory?
SEIwasfoundedinCincinnati,OH,in1992byDanPierce. Afteryearsinconsulting,hedecidedthathewantedto buildafirmthatprovidedbroad-basedownershiptothe consultantsinameaningfulway.Today,over65%of consultantsatSEIownstockinthecompany.Thisisjust onefactorthathasmadeSEIthe#1BestFirmtoWorkFor byConsultingMagazineforthepast2years.
Grace Llojaj Consultant – Security, Risk, & Compliance
SEI
I have focused primarily on cybersecurity, risk management, and compliance consul ng, working with startups to Fortune 500 organiza ons across financial services, healthcare, aerospace/defense, and other highly regulated industries.
Howdoyouapproachbuildingrelationshipsandtrust withorganizationalleaderstodrivecybersecurity initiatives?
WhenIamstartinganengagement,Ialwaystrytomeet one-on-onewiththestakeholdersandleadershipsoIcan takesometimetogettoknowthemonapersonalleveland understandwhatmotivatesthem,theirpersonalgoals,and whatiskeepingthemupatnight.
Spendingtimeinvestingintheserelationshipsearlyonpays dividendswhenitcomestogettingbuy-in,understanding theirpainpoints,andcollaboratingtodriveresults.
Canyoushareanexampleofasuccessfulcybersecurity projectyouled,andwhatkeyfactorscontributedtoits success?
OneverysuccessfulcybersecurityprojectthatIledwasa riskassessmentandmitigationplanforalargecorporation. Thedeliverablesincludeddevelopingariskquantification framework,assessingorganizationalrisksagainstthat framework,andcreatingaprioritizationandactionplanto mitigatetheidentifiedrisks.
Thekeysuccessfactorsforthisparticularprojectwerethe abilitytounderstandtheorganizationalrisktoleranceto developtheriskframeworkandtoengagewithcrossfunctionalstakeholderstounderstandwhatriskswere presentintheirfunctionsthatmightberelevantfroma cybersecurity,datasecurity,anddataprivacyperspective.
Howdoyouassessanorganization'scybersecurity maturity,andwhatframeworksormethodologiesdo youfindmosteffective?
Whenassessinganorganization’scybersecuritymaturity,I trytocollectquantitativedatathroughcurrentstatesecurity
policiesandcontrolsandqualitativedatathrough stakeholderinterviews.
Thisallowsmetobenchmarkthecurrentstateandconduct agapanalysisagainstbestpracticestodeveloparoadmap forrecommendedenhancements.TheframeworksthatI mostcommonlyuseareNISTCybersecurityFramework, NISTRiskManagementFramework,NISTAIRisk ManagementFramework,ISO30001,ISO27001,and COBIT5.
Whendevelopingacybersecuritycapacity-building plan,whatarethecriticalelementsyouconsiderto ensureitalignswiththeorganization'sgoalsand culture?
ThefirstthingItrytounderstandwhendevelopinga cybersecuritycapacity-buildingplanistheorganizational mission,vision,andstrategicplan.Fromthere,youcandrill downintotheobjectivesofacybersecuritycapacitybuildingplantounderstandwhatsuccesswilllooklikein theeyesofyourstakeholders.
Thiswillhelpyoudetermineifyoushouldbemorefocused ondatasecurity,compliance,scalingforgrowth,adding toolstothetechstacktoaddressgaps,etc.Afocused approachiscriticaltobuildingaplanthatalignstothe client’scultureandgoals.
Howdoyoubalancetheneedforproactive,offensive securitymeasureswiththeorganization'sriskappetite andcompliancerequirements?
Anorganization’srisktolerancewilltellyoualotabout howtheyapproachsecurity.Offensivesecurityisjustone toolinyourtoolkittoprotecttheorganizationasawhole. Activitiessuchasvulnerabilityscans,penetrationtesting, andredteamexercisesmightbeamatterofensuring complianceaswell,dependingupontheorganization’s
standardsandregulatoryrequirements.Theseitemsshould beundertakenonaregularbasistohelptheorganization assesstheircybersecuritypostureandprioritize improvements.
If you are not constantly learning in cybersecurity, you are going to be behind.
Intheeventofasecurityincident,whatisyour approachtoleadingtheincidentresponseeffortand ensuringeffectivecommunicationwithstakeholders?
Ideally,youwillhavepracticedfortheeventualityofa cybersecurityincidentpriortoitactuallyhappeningthrough tabletopexercisesandincidentresponseplanwalkthroughs. Whenanincidentdoesoccur,thefirstthingIturntoisthe plan,ifitisbuiltoutproperly,incidentresponseshouldfeel morelikerunningawell-practicedplayfromtheplaybook ratherthanachaoticemergencysituation.
Startingwithempathythatweareallonthesameteamto gettheissueresolvedandremindingtheplayersoftheir roleinthatiscriticalinaligningtheteamquickly.Constant communicationwithstakeholdersisalsocriticaltoensuring thateveryonefeelsasthoughtheyareintheloopand understandwhattheyneedtodotohelptheteammove throughthesituation.
Howdoyoustaycurrentwiththelatestcybersecurity trends,threats,andbestpractices,andhowdoyou incorporatethisknowledgeintoyourwork?
Ifyouarenotconstantlylearningincybersecurity,youare goingtobebehind.Subscribetoindustrynewslettersand alerts,attendwebinarstolearnaboutthelatesttechnologies andtools,andmaketimetogotonetworkingeventsand conferencessoyoucanspeakwithotherpeopleinthefield. AfewresourcesthatIrecommendsubscribingtoarethe CISAalerts,ISACA,IAPP,ISC2,andWiCyS,andmanyof theseorganizationsmayhavealocalchapterthathostsinpersoneventssoyoucannetworkwithfellowcybersecurity practitionersinyourregion.
Whatroledoyoubelievedataprivacyandgovernance playinanorganization'soverallcybersecuritystrategy, andhowdoyouensuretheseelementsareaddressed?
Intoday’scybersecurityrealm,whichismoreaboutdata securitythanithashistoricallybeen,dataprivacyand
governancearecriticalelementstoyouroverall cybersecuritystrategy.Thebestwaytoensurethatthese elementsareincludedistogetallofthestakeholdersinthe roomtogethertocollaborate,sharesynergies,and understandoneanother’spriorities.
Thecybersecurityfunctionshouldbeworkingwithdata privacytounderstandhowdataneedstobestored,shared, andtrackedtoensurecompliancewiththeever-evolving dataprivacyregulations.Likewise,theyshouldalso cooperatewithgovernance,asitiscriticaltoensurethat cybersecuritypoliciesandproceduresarecompliantwith organizationalgovernancestandardsandregulatory requirements.
Canyoudescribeachallengingsituationwhereyouhad tonavigatecomplexpoliticalororganizationaldynamics toachieveacybersecurityobjective,andhowyou overcamethosechallenges?
Oneofthebiggestchallengesthatfrequentlyariseswithin organizationsthatimpactscybersecurityoutcomesisnot havingclearrisktolerancedefinitions.Itisoftencriticalto determineriskstandardsinternallytobeabletoassess cybersecuritymetricsandprioritizetheirremediation.Itis oftenthecasethatdifferentstakeholdershavedifferentrisk tolerancesthatconvergearoundcybersecurityissues,andit iscriticaltodiscernhowtoalignthoseintoasingle organizationalframework.
ArecentexampleofthisisforanAIgovernanceproject thatIled.Inthisinstance,thebusinessfunctionsareeager toadoptAItechnologiesandhaveamindsetthatwecan layeronsecuritycontrolsafterthefactbecausetheydon’t wanttostifleinnovation.
Theprivacy,compliance,andlegalteams,ontheother hand,wereveryconcernedaboutputtingguardrailsinplace beforedeployment,whichthebusinessfunctionssawasnot beinganenablerofbusinessoutcomes.Wewereableto implementarapidreviewcycleforapprovedAI technologies,models,andmodelsasweaddednewuse casestoenablethebusinesstomovequicklywhile operatingsafelyandresponsibly
Why Multi-Factor
Authentication is a Must for Online Security
Cyberthreatshaveneverbeenmoreatanall-time
highwithdigitaltransactions,online communications,andremoteworkbecoming thenewnorm.Cybercriminalscontinuallyrefinetheir tactics,targetingbusinessesandindividualsalike. Traditionalpassword-basedsecuritymeasuresaloneare nolongersufficienttosafeguardsensitiveinformation. Thatiswhenmulti-factorauthenticationcomesintothe pictureasoneofthevitalsafeguards,withthereduction inunauthorizedaccesssignificantly.
UnderstandingMulti-FactorAuthentication
Multi-factorauthenticationisthesecurityprocessin whichaccesstoanaccount,system,ornetworkis grantedaftertwoormoreformsofidentificationhave beenprovidedbytheuser.MFAishighlycomplexto cybercriminalsasitincorporatesseverallayersof securityinsteadofrelyingonlyonapasswordfor approval.Thetypicalcomponentsoftheauthentication processare:
• Somethingtheuserknows–PasswordorPIN.
• Somethingtheuserhas–Mobiledevice,security token,orsmartcard.
• Somethingtheuseris–Biometricauthentication suchasfingerprint,retinascan,orfacial recognition.
MFAreducesrisksofunauthorizedaccess,evenifa passwordiscompromisedthroughtheuseofatleasttwo oftheseelements.
TheGrowingThreatofCyberattacks
Thisnewgenerationofattacksischangingrapidlywith sophisticatedtechniquesusedtobreakintosystems. Credentialtheftisoneofthemostwidelyusedtactics andincludesphishingforlogininformationor keyloggingforthesamereasons.Onceinsidethe account,thedamagemaybesevere-fromfinancialloss toidentitytheftorcorporatedatabreaches. Alltheserisksareminimizedwithanaddedsecurity layerbyimplementingMFA.Ahackermayeasilyobtain apassword,butthentheywouldalsoneedasecondor thirdverificationfactor,oftendifficultorimpossibleto acquire.
MFAinBusinessSecurity
Fororganizations,theirownconfidentialityof customers'details,financialrecords,andinternal
messagingcanneverbecompromised.Lossofdatamaybe liabletofinancialdamage,reputationalloss,andliabilities. OrganizationswhointegrateMFAprovideasecurity architecturewhichmakesitsignificantlymoredifficultfor attackerstoexposevulnerabilityinaccess.
MostregulatorybodiesdemandMFAwithinindustries handlingsensitiveinformation,especiallyfinanceand healthcareindustriesandgovernmentinstitutions.Itnot onlyaddsstrengthtosecuritybutkeepsbusinessesaway fromheavypenaltiesandlegalissues.
BuildingCustomerTrust
Withcybersecurityawarenessinthemindsofconsumers, demandandexpectationfrombusinesseswouldgrowfor safe-guardingpersonalinformation.Confidentoftheirdata, customersmayuseaserviceoraplatformthatprovides MFA.Securitybreachdoesnotlimitlosstomonetaryloss; italsoimpactsthetrustofthecustomerswithinthe particularcompany Asaresultofsuchmistrust,sales,as wellasbrandreputation,couldbelostinthelongrun,too.
MFAwillshowtheworldthatorganizationshavemade effortstoensuresecurity.Inaway,thisisacompetitive advantagebecauseconsumerswanttodobusinesswith companiesthatprotecttheirdataandoffersecureloginsas well.
Conveniencevs.Security
Theaddedstepsthatoccurduringlogincanbeavery commonconcernaboutMFA.Afewusersarenotwillingto identifythemselvesmorethanonceinthatprocess,which, accordingtothem,isinconvenient.However,withthe advancementinauthenticationtechnology,ithasbecome muchsmootherandeasierfortheuser.Forinstance,the biometricauthenticationfeatureandthepushnotification ensureverificationwithoutlosingoutonsecurity.
Currently,mostofthesystemsutilizeadaptive authenticationwhereitisbasedontheuser'sbehaviorand risklevel.Forinstance,iflog-inattemptisfromaknown deviceandlocation,thenveryminimalauthenticationsteps wouldberequired.Incontrast,whenanattemptismadeto loginfromanewlocationthentheauthenticationstepsare increasedasameansofmitigatingunauthorizedaccess.
ImplementationStrategies
ImplementingMFAneedsproperplanningtoensurethatit isintegratedsmoothlywithoutaffectingtheuser experience.Businessesshould:
• Selecttherightauthenticationmethods:Different industriesandusergroupshaveuniquesecurityneeds. SelectingtheappropriateMFAapproachisessentialto balancesecurityandconvenience.
• Educateusers:Employeesandcustomersshouldbe informedaboutthebenefitsofMFAandhowtouseit effectively
• Monitorandchangesecurity:Cyberthreatsareeverchanging;therefore,authenticationmethodsmustbe reviewedandupgradedregularly.
• Alternativebackupauthentication:Usersshouldbe providedwithanalternativeverificationmethodin casetheyloseaccesstotheiroriginalauthentication factor
FutureofMulti-FactorAuthentication
Thefutureofauthenticationwillbepasswordless,where traditionallogincredentialswillbereplacedbybiometric authenticationandadvancedsecurityprotocols.Future innovations,intheformofAI-driventhreatdetectionand behaviouralbiometrics,willaddmorestrengthtoMFA systems,makingthemmoreadaptiveandintelligent.
MFAisfarfromfadingawaywiththeriseofcloud computing,distributedwork,andinterconnecteddigital ecosystems.Itisgoingtoopenthedoorstocybercrooksfor thosebusinessandpersonalusersthatfailtotakeproactive measurestowardrobustauthenticationsystems.
Conclusion
Multi-factorauthenticationisnolongeraluxuryintoday's digitalworld;itisanecessity.Thedayhaspassedwhen mererelianceonapasswordwouldbedeemedsafefrom sophisticatedcyber-attacks.MFAisthegoodwatchman whokeepsunauthorizedaccessatbayforpersonal accounts,corporatedata,orfulfillmentofindustry-specific compliancerequirements.
Thestrengthsofinvestmentinstrongauthentication mechanismsarethatsecurityisincreased,andusersfeel confidenceandtrust.Thereissureprotectioninthelongrun withtechnologycontinuouslyimproving. CIO
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