Introduction

Balancing the investment between advanced cybersecurity technologies and employee training is critical for creating a solid defense against cybersecurity threats. As a CISO, I was asked to develop a budget for cyber technologies and training to safeguard against cybersecurity threats. This essay focuses on allocating a $1 million cybersecurity budget, balancing technology investments and employee training tools, and highlighting the importance of the human factor in cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity Technology

Cybersecurity is all about protecting computers and networks from attacks. Cyberattacks become more sophisticated as technology advances, with threats like ransomware, phishing, and zero-day exploits (when a hacker uses a security flaw in software or hardware). To keep up with these threats, we need special tools to quickly spot and stop attacks from occurring. Some of the tools used for protection include Endpoint Protection, which secures individual devices with software that can detect and remove malware. As well as AI, Artificial intelligence can automatically detect and respond to cyberattacks faster and improve security while also defending against AI-powered attacks. AI helps detect and neutralize threats due to “real-time anomaly detection, smart authentication, and automated incident response (Marr, 2023)”.

Employee Education/ Training

Many cybersecurity problems happen because of mistakes made by human error, like clicking on fake emails (phishing), using weak passwords, or not paying enough attention to security. This shows how important it is to train employees properly. Whether the threat comes from an employee making an honest mistake or someone deliberately trying to harm the company, good training can help prevent it. For example, training should include teaching workers how to spot suspicious emails. Employees should also learn to create strong passwords and use extra security steps like multi-factor authentication; an example of this is DUO. It’s also important to teach them how to handle sensitive information safely and understand important rules that apply due to laws like HIPAA that protect health information. With the proper training, employees can help keep the company safe from cyber threats, which creates “a concrete distinction in the protection of data assets (Cano, 2019)”.

Budget Allocation

The company plans to spend $1 million on cybersecurity, with 65% of that $650,000 going toward technology tools and infrastructure. This money will improve things like firewalls, protection for individual devices (endpoint protection), and AI-powered security tools to better defend against cyber-attacks. The remaining 35%, or $350,000, will be allocated to employee training. The focus will be on teaching employees how to recognize phishing scams, create strong passwords, and handle sensitive information safely. While technology is important for blocking cyber threats, human mistakes are often the weakest security point. By training employees, the company can reduce the risk of successful attacks, especially those caused by phishing and weak passwords, which are the most common ways attackers get in.

Conclusion

Investing in technology and training is crucial to solid cybersecurity. Technology helps protect against cyber threats, while training ensures employees understand how to stay safe online. With a budget of $1 million, the best approach is to spend 65% on upgrading technology and 35% on educating employees. It is also essential to keep improving the technology and training over time, ensuring everything stays up-to-date and ready to handle new threats as they surface, as technology constantly changes.

References/ Citations:
Marr, Bernard. “The 10 Biggest Cyber Security Trends in 2024 Everyone Must Be Ready
for Now.” Forbes, 11 Oct. 2023, www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/10/11/the-10-biggest
cyber-security-trends-in-2024-everyone-must-be-ready-for-now/.
Cano, Jeimy. “The Human Factor in Information Security.” ISACA, 9 Oct. 2019,
www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2019/volume-5/the-human-factor-in-information
security.