How Cybersecurity Boosts Competitive Advantage

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. But as we’ve been saying, it should be Cybersecurity Action Month. Because who isn’t already aware of the problem? The real discussion should be what to do about it. 

We’ve got some ideas below to get you started. But first, let’s consider a rarely discussed angle: how to use cybersecurity for competitive advantage. 

Certification boosts your brand. Depending on your sector, your clients may require compliance standards such as NIST, HIPAA, PCI DSS, or ISO 27001. Regardless, these standards are an objective indication your company can be trusted. One of our clients recently won new business simply by demonstrating they are working towards ISO 27001. 

It can lower costs. Cybersecurity is an ongoing expense, but if you can show that your business has put in place some quite reasonable security practices, it will lower your cybersecurity insurance premiums.  

It creates the framework for digital transformation. The culture, governance, and skills necessary to make your company safer are also part of a more streamlined operation. Well-organized operations find cybersecurity improvements simpler; similarly, secure organizations find it easier to improve their operations. 

It keeps your business flexible. Many organizations enable hybrid or remote jobs to attract and retain talent. Cybersecurity goes hand-in-hand with a remote workforce.  

The alternative is bad for business! Companies that experience data breaches or pay ransoms often incur major costs and reputational damage. To put it simply, poorly managed cybersecurity is a competitive disadvantage. 

The above makes a compelling argument for why you should get on top of the cybersecurity of your business. If you’re looking for the how, see our Cybersecurity Knowledge Center, which is full of useful content with actionable, non-technical advice.