Security Fatigue on Management
Stress and burnout caused by difficult situations, such as the pressure to understand and choose from all different cybersecurity solutions: multi-factor authentication, managed detection and response, mobile device management, DNS filtering, etc., can impact not only the decision-making process, but also the cybersecurity posture of your organization.
One of the reasons why managers get to a high level of security fatigue is because so many security solutions that were previously utilized by enterprises are now necessary for small and medium businesses too, in addition to regulatory and cyber insurance requirements. To help mitigate supply chain attacks, customers are starting to ask their vendors about their internal security or even mandating specific security requirements for you to do business with them.
Software solutions are organizations’ primary course of action to mitigate cyber threats. Hackers are aware of this and capitalize on the psychological gaps in cybersecurity and the lack of professional guidance because often organizations integrate inappropriate technological solutions, don’t have a cybersecurity response plan, leave the human element vulnerable, etc.
Hackers put significant effort and resources to target the whales of the corporate world – the senior executives. After all, who has more access to systems and data than an executive.
Decision-Making Tips
IT security is constantly evolving, making security fatigue difficult to solve. Below are just a few security pointers executives should be aware of in order to prevent any intrusive tactics that would permit cybercriminals to gain illegitimate access to a business system.
- Ask for advice, for example, ask what the difference is between security services and how you should prioritize the services to best improve your security posture.
Sometimes, we think we must solve all problems internally, but reaching out to cybersecurity professionals for advice, people who bring valuable experience and judgment, will boost the likelihood of making well-informed decisions.
- Limit the number of decisions you take in a short interval.
This can be helpful for preserving your decision-making capacity.
- Avoid last-minute decisions.
- Prioritize and set deadlines for making decisions.
- Be aware of your judgment and biases.
- Learn from decisions you have made in the past.
Practice human-centered cybersecurity.
As cybersecurity continues to evolve, complexity increases, making it difficult for employees to manage and fully understand a system. The human-centered cybersecurity approach is crucial to ensure people are a centric pillar when developing systems, IT security policies, and so on.
Complex activities such as cybersecurity-related processes require deep focus on people and organizations when designing systems to ensure human performance does not deteriorate when interacting with modern technologies, security policy compliance, change management and regulatory guidance.
Facilitate and reward a culture of cybersecurity.
A viable solution to security fatigue is the creation and maintenance of a security-focused company culture.
Regular, high-quality cyber awareness training, the right threat detection and prevention tools, effective incident reporting channels, and offering rewards to proactive employees can all contribute to sustainable cultural change at your company.
In Closing
Decision and security fatigue can have serious cybersecurity related implications. By understanding how security fatigue operates and how to prevent it, you will be putting yourself in a better position to make optimal decisions.
Also, choosing the right cybersecurity solutions can be overwhelming. Collaborating with a managed security service provider (MSSP) is beneficial. MSSPs provide organizations with guidance and services that imply specific threat prevention, detection, and response methods and protocols to protect their business assets.
