ENGAGEMENT
A leading global manufacturer recognized that its cybersecurity policies, which had been developed several years prior, might no longer be sufficient to address the current threat landscape. To ensure that its policies were still effective and aligned with industry best practices, the company engaged DayBlink Consulting to assess its current state, identify any gaps or deficiencies and recommend necessary updates. Additionally, we were tasked with establishing a governance mechanism to support the long-term success of the policy team.
PROBLEM
The client’s cybersecurity policies had been developed at a time when the threat landscape was markedly different. Over the years, the company had grown significantly, expanding its operations and adopting new technologies that introduced additional vulnerabilities. The cybersecurity policies, however, had not been consistently updated to reflect these changes. As a result, the company was concerned that its existing policies might not fully address the current risks, leaving it exposed to potential breaches and non-compliance with regulatory requirements.
Our initial review of the policies revealed several issues. First, many of the policies were outdated, referencing legacy systems and practices that were no longer in use. This occasionally led to inconsistent application of security measures across the organization. Second, there were significant gaps in coverage, particularly concerning emerging threats such as ransomware and supply chain attacks. The policies also lacked clarity in defining roles and responsibilities, making it difficult for employees to understand their individual obligations in maintaining cybersecurity.
Moreover, the absence of a formal governance mechanism meant that there was no structured process for regularly reviewing and updating the policies. Without such a mechanism, the relevant team struggled to keep up with the fast-evolving cybersecurity landscape, increasing the risk of gaps going unaddressed and policies becoming obsolete. The company sought a comprehensive approach to bring its cybersecurity policies up to date and ensure their ongoing relevance and effectiveness.
SOLUTION
To address these challenges, DayBlink Consulting thoroughly assessed the current cybersecurity policies. We conducted interviews with key stakeholders, reviewed existing documentation and benchmarked the company’s policies against industry standards and best practices. We also analyzed the company’s current and future threat landscape, identifying areas where the existing policies were inadequate and/or insufficient.
Based on this assessment, we identified the areas where the policies needed to be refreshed. We focused on three key areas: updating the content to address current and emerging threats, simplifying the language to improve clarity and accessibility and aligning the policies with the company’s broader business objectives and regulatory obligations.
To ensure the long-term success of the relevant team, we established the relevant governance mechanism, which included the creation of a Policy Review Board, consisting of representatives from key departments such as IT, legal, compliance and human resources. The board was tasked with overseeing the regular review and update of cybersecurity policies, ensuring that they remained relevant and effective in the face of evolving threats.
We also developed the relevant processes for the Policy Review Board, including guidelines for policy creation, review, approval and dissemination. This process was designed to be iterative, allowing for continuous improvement of the policies. Additionally, we introduced metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of the policies and the governance mechanism, providing the Policy Review Board with the tools needed to make informed decisions about future updates.
Finally, we provided training and workshops for the policy team and other key stakeholders. These sessions were designed to build the necessary skills and knowledge for maintaining and evolving the cybersecurity policies over time, ensuring that the company could respond proactively to new challenges and risks.
RESULT
The engagement led to a significant improvement in the company’s cybersecurity posture. The refreshed policies provided comprehensive coverage of current and emerging threats, ensuring that the company was better protected against a wide range of cyber risks. The updated content and simplified language made the policies more accessible and easier to understand, leading to greater consistency in their application across the organization.
The establishment of the Policy Review Board and the governance mechanism ensured that the policies would remain relevant and effective over the long term. The regular review process enabled the company to quickly identify and address any gaps or deficiencies in the policies, reducing the risk of exposure to new threats. The use of KPIs and metrics allowed the company to continuously monitor the effectiveness of their policies, providing a data-driven approach to policy management.
The training and workshops equipped the policy team and other stakeholders with the skills and knowledge needed to maintain and evolve the cybersecurity policies. This ensured that the company could sustain the improvements made during the engagement and continue to protect its assets and data in an increasingly complex cybersecurity environment.
Overall, DayBlink Consulting’s engagement provided the company with a robust and sustainable approach to cybersecurity policy management, significantly enhancing their ability to protect against current and future threats. The success of this project also reinforced the importance of regular policy review and governance, positioning the company as a leader in cybersecurity within their industry.