Cybersecurity Program Development

I’ve built cybersecurity programs for 20 years and I always start here. With a process rooted in the business first. 🧙🏼♂️ If you haven't worked though a process to build your cyber risk program, you're hoping, not knowing if you're protected. I use this to advise cyber leaders  I use this to build programs as a CISO I use this in my speaking sessions on cyber programs 🧠 Here's the 9 steps to comprehensive cyber risk management 1️⃣ Business Mission → Know what your company is trying to accomplish → Understand how security enables their success → This is your foundation, skip this & everything crumbles 2️⃣ Culture & Risk Appetite → Learn how decisions are made → Understand appetite for risk & change → This tells you how to position things internally 3️⃣ Industry Compliance → Identify what regulations you must meet → These drive your baseline requirements → Risk appetite may show up here also 4️⃣ Security Strategy   → Combine steps 1-3 into your strategy → Define how & who for decision making → Keep it simple = strategy not process or policy 5️⃣ Business Impact Analysis & Asset Management → Catalog all assets: systems, data, apps, processes → Assign business owners (not IT or Cyber) → Identify critical systems, these get priority 6️⃣ Risk Assessment → Map threats against your assets & BIA   → Quantify impact in dollars, not technical terms → Define mitigation costs, test where needed 7️⃣ Current State, Desired State → Compliance + Framework (ex: NIST CSF) = guide → Assess where you are vs where you want to be → Document gaps = projects, programs, tasks 8️⃣ Budget & Buy In → Present gaps as business risks, not tech problems → Get budget approved before building timelines → Make executives look smart for funding you 9️⃣ Road Map → Sequence projects based on risk & budget → Plan out short & long term (6, 12/18 months) → Revisit the entire roadmap annually The biggest mistake I see? Jumping straight to tech without understanding the business. Then they wonder why leadership questions every purchase. You can't secure what you don't understand. You can't prioritize without knowing impact.   You can't get budget without proving value. Foundation first. Business value always. 💬 What step do you struggle with?⤵️ 🔄 Repost to help others protect their business 📲 Follow Wil Klusovsky for wisdom on cyber & tech business

🔐 Layers of Cybersecurity: Building a Strong Security Foundation Cybersecurity is not just about installing security tools — it’s about creating multiple layers of protection that work together to defend an organization from evolving threats. A strong cybersecurity strategy includes: • Security Governance – Policies, frameworks, compliance, and risk management that guide security decisions. • Threat Intelligence – Detecting, analyzing, and proactively hunting threats before they cause damage. • Defensive Security – Protecting networks, endpoints, applications, and identities. • Security Operations – Continuous monitoring, incident response, and automated security workflows. • Security Awareness & Training – Educating employees to recognize phishing and practice good cyber hygiene. • Technology & Data Protection – Encryption, secure architectures, endpoint tools, and reliable backups. • Cyber Resilience & Recovery – Business continuity, disaster recovery, and continuous improvement. Cybersecurity works best when people, processes, and technology come together in a layered approach. Organizations that invest in these layers are better prepared to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber threats.

“𝐈𝐒𝐎 𝟐𝟕𝟎𝟎𝟏 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦” -  𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 A Manufacturing company engaged a 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐎 with a single, clear mandate: Achieve ISO 27001 certification. That objective was met. What stood out was what followed. Security was implemented in a way that aligned with how the business actually operates, not as a one-time compliance exercise. As confidence grew, the scope expanded naturally-not through scope creep, but through trust. The engagement evolved to include: -Governance, risk, and compliance maturity -Security awareness aligned to operational risk -Information security and privacy integration -Third-party risk management -Security operations improvements -Physical security initiatives tied to real business exposure The result was a shift in how security was viewed internally. It moved from a checklist to part of the company’s leadership infrastructure. The value wasn’t just the certification. It was having risk translated into decisions, compliance into confidence, and security into an enabler of the business. --- Hi, I’m Harris D. Schwartz, 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐎 & 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫. I help CEOs and executive teams strengthen their security posture and build resilient, compliant organizations. With deep expertise across 𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓, 𝐈𝐒𝐎, 𝐏𝐂𝐈, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐃𝐏𝐑, I focus on making security a business enabler, not just a control function. If you’re planning how your security program should evolve in 2026, this is the right time to start the conversation. #CyberSecurity #FractionalCISO #CISO #RiskManagement #GRC #ISO27001 #ExecutiveLeadership #CyberResilience 

Most security programs fail for one simple reason: They only show up after something goes wrong. The strongest organizations do the opposite. They train before the incident happens  all year long. Here’s a 12-month Cybersecurity Awareness Roadmap that turns security from a checkbox into a habit: 1️⃣ January – New Year, New Security Habits → Sets the tone for the year → Phishing awareness campaign, security advisory, quizzes, phishing webinar 2️⃣ February – Data Privacy Focus → Protects trust and compliance → Data privacy overview, advisory, breach reporting, privacy webinar 3️⃣ March – Business Continuity → Prepares teams for real disruptions → BCP tabletop exercises, emergency response training, BCP advisory 4️⃣ April – Physical Security → Reduces offline and people-driven risk → Emergency drills, document protection sessions, people-risk webinar 5️⃣ May – Secure Remote Work → Secures work beyond the office → Remote work best practices, MFA advisory, remote work webinar 6️⃣ June – Password Management Month → Eliminates easy attack paths → Strong password guidelines, secrets protection, awareness webinar 7️⃣ July – Social Engineering Awareness → Trains teams to spot manipulation → Role-playing scenarios, advisories, simulations, interactive sessions 8️⃣ August – Mobile Device Security → Protects data on everyday devices → Mobile security best practices, advisory, staff webinar 9️⃣ September – Insider Threats & Security Culture → Strengthens trust without fear → Insider threat awareness, culture-building sessions, training 🔟 October – Cybersecurity Awareness Month → Makes learning engaging → Huntress CTF, weekly themes, guest speakers, videos, gamification 1️⃣1️⃣ November – Phishing & Email Security → Defends against advanced attacks → Phishing sessions, reporting mechanisms, email security training 1️⃣2️⃣ December – Year-End Recap & Future Planning → Reinforces lessons and looks ahead → Year-end review, employee recognition, security advisory, holiday tips You can buy the best tools on the market. But untrained behavior will still bypass them. The organizations that suffer fewer incidents don’t rely on luck. They build awareness month by month. Because cybersecurity isn’t an event. It’s a mindset. Which month do you think organizations neglect the most  phishing, insider threats, or business continuity?  Repost if this roadmap reflects how security should be done.

This study introduces the CYBITJET Framework, integrating cybersecurity into every phase of IT project management. Validated through a case study on a Personal Health Record (PHR) system, it aligns IT project goals with business objectives and cybersecurity best practices. Key Frameworks Covered: • NIST CSF: Enhances cybersecurity for critical infrastructure. • COBIT 2019: Connects IT governance to business goals. • ISO/IEC 27000: Guides information security management. • NIST RMF & SSDF: Focus on risk management and secure software development. • ISO 31000: Standardizes risk management across functions.

➡ Blueprints Alone Aren’t Enough: Guiding Cybersecurity to Compliance When regulatory frameworks require compliance, a blueprint can show the way, but understanding how to implement it takes experience. Recently, I worked with a client facing a customer-mandated regulatory framework, helping them not just identify compliance gaps but interpret each requirement’s role in a robust cybersecurity program. Through guided implementation, we developed their Security Operations Center, incident response policies, and a proactive risk management program, transforming a daunting checklist into an actionable, resilient security strategy. #Cybersecurity #BlueprintToCompliance #RiskManagement #RegulatoryCompliance #VirtualCISO #CyberResilience #GapAssessment #SOC #CustomerCompliance #SecurityStrategy https://lnkd.in/eg28cbtu

Not all cybersecurity guidance is the same... and that’s a good thing. Different tools serve different purposes. I get asked all the time, “what should we use to build out our cyber program?” Here’s how I explain it: Building your cybersecurity program is like building a house. ◾ A framework like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) is your blueprint. It helps you define what you're building, why it matters, and how all the pieces fit together. ◾ A control set like NIST SP 800-53 or 800-171 is your materials list and building code. It tells you what’s required and gives specific instructions for implementation. That difference matters. You can’t build something resilient just by piling up materials. You need a plan. You need context. That’s why I often recommend starting with a framework, especially for organizations building or evolving a cybersecurity program. Cybersecurity isn’t just about controls or checklists. It’s about designing something that protects your business. If you’re not sure where to begin (or if it feels like your current program is held together with duct tape), start with the blueprint. Then bring in the tools.