CSOs and CIOs acknowledge that most of their employees are not confident with the security measures deployed in their organizations
IT leaders point out that organizations across the world have implemented Information Security Programs (ISPs) but the Management and employees are unaware of how to measure the results from these programs. C-suite executives are hesitant to even invest in technologies that can prevent perceived and unidentified attacks.
Some IT leaders prefer standard compliance measures like AICPA or PCI DSS as parts of their ISP measures. Security professionals however point out that such technologies do not cover the entire enterprise risk environment as they focus only on certain areas of conventional standards security standards and risk.
CIOs say that due to the unquantifiable nature of cybersecurity measures, organizations are thinking twice before investing in technologies, hence they opt for compliance as an inadequate but the only possible solution.
C-suite leaders point out that CMMI is not a quantified science and presents a wide range of risk within the ISP elements. The integration is a good tool to justify the necessity to invest in data and information security.
Security leaders acknowledge that many organizations tend to confuse information security with information technology. Most leaders view new solution requests as enhancements rather than must-have measures. Security teams point out hiring members for the team is considered as operating expense rather than ISP enhancement. Organizations need to realize that such requests are related to risks and in the end, reflect in the CMMI list.
CMMI was developed by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association as a standard to measure performance and maturity in business. In the current lockdown situation, several high-profile breaches have forced the CIOs to reassess the security profiles of their organizations.
The initial level of CMMI
CIOs say that the initial level of CMMI is used to evaluate the ISP of an organization. When a firm has a poor ISP, it is in a reactive stage. In such a scenario, the poorly coded procedures and unpredictable measures will have unstable results. Such companies will have poor security postures, limited strategies, and be inefficient in dealing with potential threats.
The second level of CMMI
At this level, organizations continue to be in a reactive posture, but organizations can manage such attacks with a better security posture. CIOs say that since at this level organizations don’t document these processes, it remains at a reactive level.
Defined stage
IT leaders say that when organizations document the process, their ISP shifts to a proactive role in the cybersecurity profile. CIOs tailor these processes to clearly defined standards that comply with the business requirements.
Quantitatively managing the risks
Organizations reach this maturity level where all policies, prevention measures, and retaliatory policies are clearly defined. CIOs point out that an organization requires a strong leadership team with a healthy budget, executive team support, and effective strategies.
