In today’s time, having a trusted cybersecurity advisor is utterly essential for all kinds of businesses, irrespective of the industry they belong, primarily because of the growing use of high-end devices that make it easier to access data.
According to a Forbes’ report, data analysis propels the current cybersecurity practice; therefore, the amount and quality of data you share determine the degree of security and your potential to discover threats.
If you talk particularly about data analysis, it’s nothing but the process of examining, disinfecting, changing, and modeling data to explore valuable information to make sound decisions.
Although, cybersecurity risks are growing both in numbers and scale; however, the firms offering cybersecurity solutions are also mushrooming across the world. In layman’s terms, the increase in cyber threats is leading to both the growth and demand for cybersecurity advisors.
Businesses associated with following industries must take the support of a skilled and reliable cybersecurity advisor to identify and manage threats as they emerge.
- Banking, Capital Markets, & Fintech
- Insurance
- Asset Management & Hedge Funds
- Foreign Banks
- And Non-Financial Services
However, the challenges that most business face today is how to figure out a competent and reliable cybersecurity advisor. They are often confused about what makes a strong cybersecurity advisor. Besides, they are also unaware of the fact that what skills they should be looking for in their advisor, who can assist board directors in dealing with the emerging threats.
So, if you are also one among them, here are some crucial traits that you should look for in your cybersecurity advisor.
Sheer Professionalism
Sheer professionalism is utterly essential to stand out from the crowd, no matter which industry a professional belongs to, and cybersecurity is no exception. Therefore, when it comes to picking a cybersecurity advisor for your business, make sure that you look for professionalism in them. They must be devoted to their work, and should always try to figure out innovative ways to help their clients identify and manage emerging risks.
Strong Analytical Skills
Since your cybersecurity advisor has to deal with professionals belonging to all levels of your business, they must have strong communication skills. Besides, it’s also necessary for them to possess a unique ability to listen to others because that’s what helps them in figuring out the complex cybersecurity risks.
And once they discover the emerging threats, they should be able to communicate them to the relevant authorities. They should also have strong critical thinking and data analysis skills.
Ability to Maintain Transparency
Another important skill that you should look for in your cybersecurity advisor is the ability to maintain transparency at all levels. They should be able to inform the board directors about everything that they find fishy because that can bring tremendous change in an organization and the way its people operate.
Solid Knowledge of Cutting-Edge Technologies
Your advisor should be able to guide on what kind of tools and technologies you should use to avoid threats and enhance your productivity. In short, they must have the ability to analyze your organizational processes and inform you about what’s wrong with them.
Besides, they must know how emerging cybersecurity risks can affect your business and what should you do to manage them.
They should be able to offer strategic solutions to manage both technical and non-technical threats linked to your business. On top of that, your security advisor must enhance your awareness about the risk factors as that can help in avoiding potential risks.
Offer Guidance To Meet Compliance Standards
They must have the required knowledge and experience of creating a clear roadmap for businesses like yours to meet compliance standards.
They should be able to develop a strategy for your business to meet compliance standards. For example, they must inform you about the problem with your policies and processes, and how to improve them. In short, they should be able to discover solutions to meet your business needs.
Desire To Understand Your Company Culture
There is little dispute that each organization functions in a specific way and cybersecurity advisor must understand it to work effectively. If they fail to have a comprehensive understanding of the personalities of board members, and the way your company functions, then perhaps they will never be able to offer you reliable solutions.
Apart from that, they should be able to gain your trust and maintain it effectively to create a lasting business relationship.
