UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE MEANING OF OPENNESS AND CLARITY IN ONLINE SECURITY
This article was originally published at Black Hat’s website, you can read it via this link right here
Dr. Erdal Ozkaya (Group CISO at MAVeCap) recently discussed his insights on the current state of cybersecurity in education – focusing on the missing components.
This week, we take a closer look at one particular aspect of Ozkaya’s current initiatives: the drive to establish more transparent practices in cybersecurity.
So, what exactly does transparency entail in this realm; and how could enhanced transparency enhance both perceptions of cybersecurity in varied sectors, as well as the efficacy of cybersecurity initiatives?
What is transparency in online security?
“In a nutshell,” according to Ozkaya, “transparency in cybersecurity involves being forthright and sincere concerning cybersecurity risks, incidents, and the steps an organization takes to safeguard itself. This encompasses:
- Revealing breaches: Promptly and openly notifying consumers, stakeholders, and regulators when a security incident has transpired and the potential repercussions.
- Sharing best practices: Being proactive in disseminating information about cybersecurity strategies, tools, and insights to the broader community in order to elevate the collective security standards.
- Disclosure of vulnerabilities: Engaging with security experts and offering channels for responsibly identifying and addressing software vulnerabilities.
- Effective communication: Steering clear of technical jargon and elucidating cybersecurity concepts in a manner that is comprehensible to non-technical stakeholders.”
Of utmost importance, transparency nurtures trust – even when divulging information about unfavorable occurrences. The act of revealing such information “denotes a commitment to responsibility and establishes trust with customers and the general public.”
Proactively unveiling incident-related details also curtails misinformation, aiding in the reduction of rumors and inaccuracies. It primes the ground for swift issue resolution and well-informed decision-making – “stakeholders can make more informed risk evaluations when presented with clear insights into an organization’s security stance,” Ozkaya highlighted.
So what hampers organizations from embracing transparency relating to their security status?
Several impediments exist to transparency. One such hurdle is the apprehension that “disclosing excessive information could benefit assailants,” potentially jeopardizing the company’s security.
Revealing disconcerting facts about attacks runs the risk of instigating unwarranted alarm among users or clients, thereby denting the organization’s standing and sales figures. Prematurely publicizing breaches that are yet to be substantiated, or when the full particulars of the breach remain uncollected, can aggravate mistrust more than silence on the incident itself.
Additionally, legal and regulatory complexities present another challenge: “There are evolving laws governing the nature and timing of security incident disclosures,” Ozkaya underscored, necessitating thorough compliance checks to ensure alignment with extant regulations before notifying stakeholders of a breach.
It ultimately boils down to a tightrope act. “It’s about striking the right balance of transparency – enough to enlighten and be answerable, but not so much that it introduces additional risks.”
Progressing in the right direction
A growing number of entities realize that fostering a culture of transparency confers advantages to their operations and image, while fostering a safer cyber environment. As we proceed, transparency is poised to emerge as a distinguishing element in its own right – with customers gravitating towards businesses that uphold clear-cut, accessible cybersecurity policies and disclosure frameworks.
“On the whole, transparency in cybersecurity is transitioning from being perceived as a vulnerability to being recognized as a hallmark of sound security practices,” added Ozkaya. “It’s a multifaceted territory, but increasingly pivotal in our digitally interconnected planet.”
Acknowledgments to Dr. Erdal Ozkaya. Keen to glean insights from the cream of the crop in the cybersecurity domain? Join us in Riyadh for Black Hat MEA 2024.
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