Ten Examples of Aligning Business Objectives with Security Strategies

Aligning security with business objectives should be a top priority, but that is not always the case for many organizations.

Starting with a “Corporate Mission”, it is important to understand all the processes in the value chain required to deliver that mission, and what hurdles must be overcome within each to achieve the mission (ie, legal compliance), and the levels and resources required to prevent or respond to interruption to the mission.

Here are ten examples of what this means in practice (assuming a generic “mission”): 

1. Protecting customer data: If a business objective is to maintain customer trust and protect sensitive customer data, a corresponding security strategy would involve implementing robust data encryption, access controls, and regular security audits to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of customer information.
2. Ensuring business continuity: If a business objective is to maintain uninterrupted operations, a security strategy would involve implementing disaster recovery and business continuity plans. This may include regular data backups, redundant systems, and incident response procedures to mitigate the impact of potential security breaches or disruptions.
3. Meeting regulatory compliance: If a business objective is to comply with industry-specific regulations and legal requirements, the security strategy would involve implementing appropriate security controls and frameworks. This might include measures such as data governance, privacy policies, and regular compliance assessments to ensure adherence to relevant standards.
4. Safeguarding intellectual property: If a business objective is to protect valuable intellectual property (IP) assets, the security strategy would focus on implementing measures to prevent unauthorized access, theft, or misuse of sensitive information. This could involve strong access controls, employee training on data protection, and monitoring for suspicious activities or insider threats.
5. Enabling secure remote work: If a business objective is to support remote work or provide flexible work options, the security strategy would involve implementing secure remote access solutions and policies. This might include technologies like virtual private networks (VPNs), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and user awareness training to mitigate the risks associated with remote work environments.
6. Ensuring secure e-commerce transactions: If a business objective is to conduct online transactions and provide a secure shopping experience for customers, the security strategy would involve implementing secure payment gateways, SSL/TLS encryption, and regular vulnerability assessments to protect against data breaches and ensure the integrity of online transactions.
7. Enhancing brand reputation: If a business objective is to maintain a strong brand reputation and protect against reputational damage, the security strategy would involve implementing measures to detect and respond to potential cyber threats or incidents. This may include real-time monitoring, proactive threat intelligence, and incident response plans to mitigate risks and minimize the impact on brand image.
8. Facilitating secure collaboration: If a business objective is to foster collaboration among employees, partners, or clients while ensuring data confidentiality, the security strategy would involve implementing secure collaboration platforms, secure file sharing mechanisms, and encryption technologies. This would enable secure information sharing while protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access.
9. Supporting secure software development: If a business objective is to develop and deliver secure software products, the security strategy would involve integrating security practices into the software development life cycle (SDLC). This could include performing secure code reviews, conducting regular penetration testing, and implementing secure coding standards to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities early in the development process.
10. Addressing third-party risks: If a business objective involves working with third-party vendors, suppliers, or partners, the security strategy would involve assessing and managing the risks associated with these relationships. This might include conducting vendor security assessments, implementing contractual obligations for security controls, and regular audits to ensure third-party compliance with security standards.

The alignment between business objectives and security strategies should be tailored to the specific needs and risk profile of each organization.