Scenario: You need to educate your executive team or board of directors on cyber security, explaining your current status and future needs. Since they may not be tech-savvy, it’s essential to make the information relatable and understandable. Don’t worry—we’ve got your back. This blog will guide you through one effective technique – cyber security with the Cyber Defense Matrix.
What You’ll Learn:
- Find a useful tool that helps you see where your organization stands and plan for the future.
- Start important talks about risks and staying strong by looking at security from different angles.
- Learn how to ask smart questions to vendors, partners, and stakeholders.
Let’s start with the Cyber Defense Matrix
In 2014, Sounil Yu, Chief Security Scientist at Bank of America, set out on a mission to crack the code of the cyber landscape. His creation? The Cyber Defense Matrix—a framework that’s now a cornerstone for cybersecurity pros.
What’s Inside?
Functions:
- Identify: Take inventory of your assets, measure attack surfaces, and prioritize.
- Protect: Patch vulnerabilities, limit impact, and manage access.
- Detect: Spot security events, hunt intruders, and use analytics.
- Respond: Act swiftly during incidents, eradicate intrusions, and assess damage.
- Recover: Restore services and learn from the experience.
Assets:
- Devices: Hardware gadgets (computers, servers, IoT devices).
- Networks: Invisible threads connecting devices.
- Applications: Software sidekicks.
- Data: Guarded information.
- Users: The humans wielding these cyber tools.
Cyber Defense Matrix
Left of Boom and Right of Boom
So, you’re asking, what does this mean? Let’s go old school. Imagine cybersecurity as a cartoon- Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. ‘Left of boom’ is like the moments before Wile E. Coyote’s dynamite explodes. You’re setting up traps, putting up defenses, and hoping the boom never happens. ‘Right of boom’ is the aftermath when the dynamite goes off and there’s chaos everywhere. It’s all about damage control, patching up holes, and figuring out what went wrong. Basically, left of boom is avoiding the explosion, and right of boom is dealing with the mess afterward! Imagine a chart where the “Boom” represents a cyber incident.
Now, let’s break it down:
“Left of Boom”
Preemptive Measures: Actions taken before an attack occurs.
Examples
- Implementing security controls and best practices.
- Conducting vulnerability assessments.
- Educating employees about security awareness.
- Regularly updating software and patching vulnerabilities
“Right of Boom”
Response and Recovery: Actions after a cyber security incident
Examples
- Investigating the breach.
- Containing and mitigating damage.
- Restoring affected systems.
- Communicating with stakeholders
To Summarize, “Left of Boom” focuses on prevention, while “Right of Boom” deals with response and recovery. Both are essential for effective cybersecurity. Its important to have the essential cyber security knowledge and for navigating cyber security with the Cyber Defense Matrix.
Impact on IT Professionals
As an IT professional, you need to understand how this helps you.
Left of Boom: “Prevention and Preparedness”
- Risk Mitigation: Implement security controls to reduce attack likelihood.
- Proactive Measures: Regular scans, patch management, and best practices.
- Cost Savings: Prevention is cost-effective.
- Career Boost: Demonstrating expertise enhances reputation
Right of Boom: “Response and Recovery”
- Timely Action: Swiftly respond to breaches.
- Forensics and Analysis: Identify vulnerabilities.
- Communication Skills: Effective crisis communication.
- Career Value: Proficiency in incident response is highly valued
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Here is how to share the Cyber Defense Matrix with your Executive Team/Board
Left of Boom:
- Risk Management: Executives can make informed decisions by understanding potential threats and implementing preventive measures.
- Strategic Planning: Knowing the organization’s security posture helps allocate resources effectively.
- Compliance: Compliance with regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) is easier when proactive security measures are in place.
Right Of Boom
- Crisis Management: Executives need to lead during incidents. Understanding response protocols ensures effective crisis management.
- Legal and Reputation Impact: Executives must navigate legal implications and protect the organization’s reputation.
- Investor Confidence: Demonstrating robust incident response builds investor trust.
“Left of Boom” and “Right of Boom” are critical concepts in cyber security. For executives, understanding both phases enables informed decision-making, asset protection, and stakeholder confidence. Meanwhile, IT professionals benefit by mastering prevention and response, enhancing their effectiveness in safeguarding systems.
