1. Cybersecurity is connected to competitiveness, trust and reputation, which makes this a leadership issue. Executives have  no choice but to act immediately. 

• Cybersecurity must stay with executives in the boardroom

• Executives must accept this reality and comprehend their cybersecurity road map 

• Executives must allocate responsibilities, resources and budgets for all security processes and programs

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​2. Have and maintain a ZERO TRUST MINDSET.

• Verify everyone inside or outside of the network, and TRUST NOBODY until verification has been completed

• Implement continuous authentication, access controls and micro segmentation

• For all supply chains, operating regions, cloud services and operational technology EXTEND THE ZERO TRUST RULE

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3. Prioritize Cyber Hygiene 

• Non-negotiable must-have’s are patch and identity management and endpoint security, (see previous discussion EDR)

• Implement MANDATORY MultiFactor Authentication, (see previous MFA discussion) 

• Conduct regular backups and test recovery processes and encryption protection against ransomware and data breaches frequently

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4. Prepare for AI-driven Threats

• Thieves are using AI for deepfakes, spear phishing and malware automation, so BE PREPARED

• Deploy AI-driven tools to detect threats, anomaly monitoring and predictive defense, (see previous discussion AI based EDR)

• Avoid misuse and manage risks by embedding AI governance

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5. Get Ready for Quantum Disruption

• Start by identifying cryptographic inventories now, then plan migration to post-quantum cryptography (PQC)

• Quantum computing has the potential to break today’s encryption, strategize and be prepared

• You will gain trust and resilience advantages by adopting these processes right now

 

6. Create a Cyber-Resilient Culture

• Understand cybersecurity is a part of your businesses DNA, it's not a compliance checklist, and this "cheat sheet" is not something to place in a notebook on a shelf for later

• Make Cyber security a TEAM EFFORT and EMPOWER employees as your first line of defense

• Practice frequent phishing scenarios and conduct regular cyber awareness training, (see previous discussion Cyber Safety Tips)

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7. Test, Exercise, REPEAT

• PRACTICE an incident response plan, don't just document, actually go through the processes

• Run actual exercises with cross-functional teams and executives

• TEST supply chain resilience and business continuity under cyber-attack scenarios, (see previous discussion Business Continuity)

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8. Collaborate and Share Intelligence

• Cultivate and nurture partnerships with trusted vendors and government agencies

• Join ISACs (Information Sharing and Analysis Centers) to stay updated, share threat incidences and gain support

• Collaboration with these agencies can help to level an asymmetric cyber battlefield

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9. Address the Workforce Gap

• Face the truth about a global cybersecurity talent shortage, it's a real thing

• Recruit diverse talent and invest the money and time to professionally develop your workforce 

• Educate and encourage cross-disciplinary skills and actions that corroborate and align with your technical policies and business acumen

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10. Think Globally, Act Locally

• Regulations may vary worldwide but cyber attacks are borderless

• Consider all laws and regulations across your operating regions, and understand regulatory requirements, supply chain risks and data privacy laws

• Always remain compliant while maintaining agility

• And remember, your company may serve people globally, however, local IT engineers and architects will set the parameters to keep your business cyber secure and safe, (see previous discussion IT Engineers and Architects)

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The moral to this story is cybersecurity requires focus, leadership and investment. Use this cheat sheet faithfully if your organization wants to thrive and survive AI and Quantum.

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