Name: Antoine Smith
Strategic Budgeting: Balancing Training and Technology in
Cybersecurity
To maximize impact with limited resources, I would prioritize
employee training while maintaining core cybersecurity technologies. This
approach addresses the human factor in cyber threats and supports a
layered defense strategy.
Budget Allocation Strategy
As Chief Information Security Officer, I must make informed decisions that
reduce risk while staying within budget. Cyber threats frequently stem from
human error—clicking phishing links, misconfiguring systems, or using
weak passwords. While technology provides automated protection, it cannot
fully compensate for poor user behavior. Therefore, I would allocate
approximately 65% of the budget to training and 35% to technology,
focusing on long-term behavioral change and essential technical safeguards.
Prioritizing Training
Training empowers employees to recognize and respond to threats.
Phishing simulations, secure password practices, and role-based awareness
programs help reduce the likelihood of breaches. This week’s readings
emphasized that human error remains one of the leading causes of
cybersecurity incidents. By investing in training, I strengthen the
organization’s first line of defense. However, training must be ongoing;
employees may forget protocols or become complacent without regular
reinforcement.
Maintaining Core Technologies
Cybersecurity tools like firewalls, endpoint protection, and intrusion
detection systems are essential for monitoring and blocking threats. These
technologies offer scalability and consistency, but they can be expensive and
require regular updates. Without trained users, even the best tools can be
bypassed or misused. That said, I would still invest in baseline protections
to ensure coverage against known vulnerabilities and compliance
requirements.
Strategic Balance
By investing more in training, I reduce the likelihood of human mistakes. At
the same time, maintaining core technologies ensures that threats are
detected and mitigated. This layered approach reflects the defense-in-depth
model discussed in the module. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s practical
and sustainable given budget constraints.
Conclusion
In conclusion, balancing training and technology is essential to managing
cyber threats effectively. Training addresses the root cause—human
behavior—while technology provides automated defenses. With limited
funds, I would lean toward training but ensure that critical systems remain
protected. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and both people and
tools must work together.