Concerns Mount as Senior Risk Leaders Deem Current Cyber Resilience Programs Ineffective

In an era of escalating cyberattacks and an ever-evolving threat landscape, organizations worldwide are recognizing the importance of long-term cyber resilience. This goes beyond mere detection and prevention of cybersecurity incidents to encompass the adaptability, responsiveness, and recovery capabilities of their workforce.A recent Immersive Labs report conducted by Osterman Research, which surveyed senior security and risk leaders, revealed that cyber resilience has emerged as their foremost strategic priority for 2023. Concerns over ransomware, supply chain vulnerabilities, and third-party attacks, along with coding weaknesses, are driving this pressing need for resilience.Report InsightsThe report shed light on the current state of cyber resilience within organizations, painting a worrisome picture. Despite the majority having existing cyber resilience programs, these initiatives fall short of proving real-world cyber capabilities among teams.Half of the surveyed organizations are unprepared, underscoring the urgent requirement for comprehensive improvements in this critical area.Lack of confidence and ineffective approachesConfidence levels in cyber resilience remain alarmingly low across organizations, with a stark disparity between technical teams and the general workforce.Compounding the problem is the reliance on ineffective and ad hoc methods for building cybersecurity competence and assessing resilience. The prevalent reliance on industry certifications, classroom training, and reactive learning pathways offers little success in combating the speed and sophistication of cyber threats. Only 32% of organizations believe industry certifications effectively mitigate cyber threats, highlighting the need for a new approach.Key takeaways

1. Cyber resilience takes center stage: As the highest-ranked strategic and spending priority in 2023, organizations are increasingly recognizing the paramount importance of cyber resilience.
2. Threats drive prioritization: Ransomware, supply chain risks, and vulnerabilities are the primary concerns that compel security leaders to focus on cyber resilience.
3. Existing programs fall short: Despite having cyber resilience programs in place, many organizations struggle to navigate the vast array of cybersecurity indicators, leaving them ill-prepared to combat evolving threats.
4. Questionable reliance on traditional methods: Industry certifications and classroom training are found to be insufficient in addressing cyber threats effectively, while ad hoc learning pathways hinder the workforce's ability to keep pace.
5. Lack of an assessment framework: Organizations lack a cohesive framework for measuring cyber capabilities, resorting to disjointed indicators, tests, and unrelated metrics.
6. Progress, but room for improvement: While some organizations are taking early steps towards effective cybersecurity, the journey to assess, build, and prove cyber resilience remains ongoing.

As organizations grapple with an increasingly hostile digital landscape, building cyber resilience has emerged as a top priority. The findings from this result emphasize the urgency for a new approach that encompasses the development and validation of cyber capabilities across teams.Moreover, a framework for measuring cyber resilience is indispensable for identifying skills gaps, addressing vulnerabilities, and providing evidence of preparedness to senior leaders. By embracing a proactive and comprehensive strategy, organizations can navigate the intricate challenges of cybersecurity, fortify their resilience, and mitigate the potential impact of cyber incidents.To learn more about how risk leaders view the cybersecurity landscape, read the entire report here.