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How to rebuild trust after a cybersecurity breach?, IT Security News, ET CISO
AI innovation and adoption are rapidly advancing in India and globally. Yet, at this peak of technological progress, trust in institutions is waning. A recent study by Edelman reveals that 39% of people are twice as likely to fear the mismanagement of innovation. When institutions mishandle innovation, nearly half of the respondents said they would reject the technology. This erosion of trust is further fueled by increasing cyberattacks and data breaches, leaving customers increasingly concerned about data protection. Only 41% believe it has become easier to protect their data online.Cyber risk has evolved from being merely an IT concern to a critical business risk. A cyberattack can severely damage customer trust, which, once lost, is incredibly difficult to restore, especially in the aftermath of a data breach. Rebuilding trust must be a top priority for organizations globally, yet the constant stream of cybersecurity breaches and system outages makes this increasingly difficult. A striking example is the global IT disruption caused by a routine CrowdStrike update, which affected approximately 8.5 million Windows devices.
Rebuilding trust is not impossible. It requires a robust, proactive, and preventative cybersecurity strategy, along with comprehensive resilience plans to mitigate the impact of any incidents. The pressing question is: where should organizations begin?
What to do when a breach occurs?
Preventive security is essential for mitigating the worst outcomes, yet threat actors only need to succeed once, while organizations must be vigilant 100% of the time. This reality makes breaches inevitable. The damage from cyberattacks can range from financial losses to a broad loss of confidence in the company’s ability to conduct business securely.
In the event of a breach, the first step is to limit the damage by establishing a prevention-focused security posture that can minimise the fallout. If an organisation lacks a preventive security strategy, implementing one should be the top priority after restoring business operations. Customers must be assured that prevention is the primary focus.
Equally important is demonstrating that the organisation is executing a cohesive incident response plan. This includes making appropriate and transparent disclosures, complying with jurisdictional regulations, and communicating effectively with customers. Special attention should be given to informing customers about any interruptions to business continuity, providing a clear timeline for resolution, and alerting them to their potential exposure while offering solutions for remediation as quickly as possible.
Building trust begins way before an attackPrevention has always been a formidable challenge for cybersecurity professionals. While difficult, it remains the cornerstone of building trust. The key to achieving a strong preventive security posture lies in consolidation. With 67%of Indian organizations using 10 or more cybersecurity tools in the past 12 to 24 months, tool sprawl has hindered effective prevention.
Many organizations have adopted a patchwork of point products to handle various security functions. This approach often results in fragmented security, inadequate protection, and systems that struggle to keep pace with the evolving needs of the business—all while organizations pay a premium to manage multiple vendors. Threat actors have certainly noticed these vulnerabilities.
The solution is to deploy consolidated platforms. Research from Gartner shows 75% of organizations are now consolidating security vendors, up from just 29% in 2020. Preventive security tools, such as exposure management, are an excellent starting point for this consolidation journey, as they provide critical context for the threats that pose the greatest risks.
Exposure management is designed not only to respond to threats but also to identify and prevent them from becoming breaches. When deployed on a consolidated platform with full interoperability, exposure management enhances visibility and transforms the toolset into a proactive, prevention-oriented program. This limits the potential fallout from a breach before it ever occurs, helping to preserve customer trust.
There is no shortcut to business resilience. The best path is through a prevention-focused cybersecurity posture. Trust is built on the assurance that an organisation is committed to protecting mutual interests, which requires investment in consolidated cybersecurity platforms that can evolve alongside the business and the threat landscape.
Moreover, being prompt and transparent in disclosures and communications is crucial, as delays increase the risk of additional reputational damage, and obfuscation erodes trust. Building trust takes time, and strong, consolidated cybersecurity is increasingly becoming a key differentiator. It’s time for organizations to embrace preventive security to rebuild and maintain trust.
The author is Bob Huber, Chief Security Officer and Head of Research, Tenable
Disclaimer: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETCISO does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETCISO shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organization directly or indirectly.
