Continuous Cyber Attacks: Engaging Business Leaders for the New Normal

Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved.
Continuous Cyber Attacks:
Engaging Business Leaders for the New Normal

Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved.Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved.
Organizations face a cybercrime
wave that is increasing in
intensity and sophistication
Cyber defenses are threatened from well-funded,
highly motivated digital adversaries
Sophisticated hackers are using state-of-the-art
techniques
It’s never been easier or more lucrative for
adversaries to cash in on their efforts
Cyber-thieves operate across borders and rarely
face prosecution
2

Business leaders must establish
a holistic, end-to-end security
strategy to protect the organization
• Regulatory compliance is not enough
• Purchasing the latest security products can drain the budget
without improving overall defense
3
A solid cyber defense approach requires a shift in
approach: the organization’s business side must
partner with the security organization

The following 3 approaches
can help an organization
minimize cyber-crime risk
Make the business a better security
“customer”
Strengthen the partnership between
the business and security
Continuously exercise organizational
defenses
4
1
2
3

1Make the business a better
security “customer”
• A solid cyber defense requires
companies to interlock an
organization’s business stakeholders,
its risk management office and the
security team
• Develop a true relationship that asks
all employees to own responsibility
for security
5

When the business side fails to
cooperate with the security team,
multiple challenges emerge
• Security lacks sufficient top
management access
• The front lines remain unengaged in
security issues
• Ambiguity regarding who “owns” the
systems under attack
6
1

Strengthening the relationship
between the business and security
transforms the organization’s
security posture
Leaders take
responsibility to
keep security on the
agenda
Recognize the
complexity
of the challenge
7
Work together to identify
the organization’s
critical data
Evolve the
organizational culture
to attract and retain top-
tier security talent
2

Strengthen the partnership
between the business and
security
• Put security on the agenda
• Focus on cyber defense innovation
• Embrace and implement new ideas
• Develop security strategies approved by
leaders
• Make information security a business priority
• Inform employees on business security
requirements
8
2

security
Recognize the complexity of the
challenge
• Determine the best way to manage cyber
losses
• Develop a complete scope of potential
damage areas, including data, business
operations, company brand, consumer
confidence
• Recognize that future costs could rise
• Prioritize the protection of critical information
9
2

security
Work together to identify the
organization’s critical data
• Analyze the organization as a hacker
would to identify vulnerabilities
• Focus efforts on the truly critical assets
to reduce risk
• Delete or encrypt online information
• Reduce data volume where possible
10
2

security
Seek top-tier security talent
• Think proactively and creatively to attract and
retain scarce, expert security resources
• Build the executive team’s confidence in
security leaders
• Work with universities to develop cyber
defense recruits
• Look for expertise outside of normal channels
• Consider dual-track career paths for cyber
defense experts who seek higher managerial
roles
11
2

Exercise defenses with a
sparring partner to develop
organizational resilience
Relentlessly test defenses with a third-party
sparring partner who can realistically mimic
hackers
Assume security is compromised and
constantly hunt for intruders across the
environment
Be prepared to react rapidly in removing
attackers from the environment before they
can achieve their objectives
Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved.
3
12

The current digital attack waves
are dangerous for businesses
and governments. Leaders should
take action now to make their
organizations more resilient.
Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved. 13

Thank You
Please visit
www.accenture.com/cyberdefense
for additional information.
#CyberDefense
Follow us on Twitter
@AccentureSecure
14

About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company,
providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy,
consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining
unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40
industries and all business functions—underpinned by the world’s
largest delivery network—Accenture works at the intersection of
business and technology to help clients improve their performance
and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more
than 358,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries,
Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works
and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.
Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved. 15

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