With the global economy experiencing a slowdown, security teams are feeling the pressure to reduce costs without sacrificing security. But while it's important to be fiscally responsible, making cuts in the wrong areas can put your organization at risk.
Malicious actors know that businesses are under even more pressure during times of economic turmoil. They also recognize new opportunities to capitalize on these conditions - leveraging temporary vulnerabilities to inflict financial and potentially reputational damage. This is why it's important not to let your guard down and to continue to find ways to be proactive in your approach to security.
Follow these five tips for managing the cost of your security operations and making the most out of the resources you've got during times of uncertainty!
Explore your options
Now is a great time to take stock of the tools and resources you're using or not using today. Are they delivering the results you need? Will they still be relevant tomorrow or not? Get ahead on your research, due diligence, and planning so that when renewal time comes around again, you'll understand the best options available instead of getting stuck with a tool that no longer serves you or meets your requirements. Make sure you know and get what you're paying for, and there are no hidden extras!
Rationalize your time
Before cutting any resources, it's essential to consider where and how you spend your time most effectively. Will you be taking on more than your team can handle by making changes to your strategy or visibility? It's also worth considering what new and existing vulnerabilities you might have to face as a result. To help protect your organization, you need a security plan tailored specifically to your unique environment. In other words, focus on improving your risk reduction efforts and maximizing your return on investment (ROI).
Rally your team!
It can be very easy to overextend your team, especially if layoffs occur. Rally your analysts and managers to align on the right things to measure. Establish and communicate baselines and show how you are improving and demonstrating value over time. Highlight how your team supports the business and why security is critical to its success, almost like you're pitching a new product to your leadership team. Share any wins that aren't a cyberattack - jump at any opportunity to sell your team internally!
Simplify and automate
In challenging times, it is more important than ever for businesses to take a proactive approach to cybersecurity. Automation can be transformative, helping to speed up your processes and free up your resources. At Tines, we are biased in that we believe automation is the fuel that has allowed us to grow quickly and sustainably. We have been able to maintain a leanness because we have embraced automation in ways many startups aren't able to do. It's an efficient way to run our business, as it allows everyone on different teams to concentrate on more impactful work, which has numerous core benefits to the company.
Get creative
Sometimes there will be difficult challenges to deal with, but that's not to say you can't make work more enjoyable. Set fun targets around triaging, and allow your employees to experiment and be creative. Security cannot be 100% reactive, otherwise, your team will very likely burn out. Now is a great time for security leaders to encourage their teams to upskill. Not only is this good for their own career progression, but they're also more likely to stay and grow with an organization that prioritizes this. Suddenly, your security program might be in much better shape than before without you ever having to invest much more financially.
Conclusion
The worst thing that can happen to any organization is when people stop believing in it. The key is to keep your security team motivated and focused on the future. Leaders need to be visible and vocal and communicate a clear vision for the company. It's also important to provide people with new opportunities to learn and grow. If members of your team feel like they're stagnating, they will eventually leave. Keep your team engaged and excited about the company's future, and you will be able to weather these difficult times.
To learn more about how no-code automation can help improve your security operations, read this article.