Cybersecurity Private Equity

Cyber TRUST™ Index

157

-2

52 Week

166

135

Index at 100 on January 1, 2020

TRUST INDEX IN PROCESS
OF BEING UPDATED- EXPECTED
COMPLETION FEB 23

The True Cybersecurity Costs and Their Possible Progression

Cybercrime is on the rise, and businesses of all sizes are feeling the effects. You need to be prepared to invest in cybersecurity solutions to protect your company’s data. The true costs of cybersecurity can be hard to pinpoint, however. This can lead to questions about how to make sure your investment is protecting your business against the latest cyber attacks, such as a data breach. This article discusses the various costs of cybersecurity and how you can make sure your business is protected from today’s most dangerous threats.

What Are Cybersecurity Costs?

Cybersecurity costs are the expenses associated with creating and maintaining effective cybersecurity measures. It is important to understand how much these costs can be, as they can quickly add up, with even small businesses incurring substantial expenses.

What to Consider When Looking at Cybersecurity Cost

Cybersecurity costs vary depending on industry, business size, and the extent of the company’s cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Consider the following costs as you factor in the expenses of cybersecurity relevant to your organization.  

1. Software Development Costs

Software is often a critical component of cybersecurity measures, whether it’s to monitor a cyber attack, identify security vulnerabilities, or implement security solutions, such as firewalls and IDS/IPS. Knowing how much a sophisticated security infrastructure will cost and how much a cybersecurity service provider charges can help you prioritize which software programs will be most effective in keeping data secure and compliant with regulations.

It is also important to consider the ongoing maintenance and support costs associated with the software you decide to use as well as any future upgrades that may be necessary. You will also want to analyze the scalability of any software developer before investing in their products; some organizations have packages designed for quick expansion when organizations grow quickly and some do not.

2. People Costs

You will also need to hire dedicated personnel who are trained in cybersecurity best practices and have the expertise necessary to implement and maintain these systems. Disasters can quickly spiral out of control without engineers, analysts, and other cybersecurity technicians on your team if even one vulnerability goes unchecked.

Artificial intelligence (AI) solutions are becoming increasingly viable in cybersecurity, but it is still unwise to completely rely on them as there may be unexpected holes humans can spot with more ease. Always include a provision for hiring trained professionals when calculating the budgetary implications of your cybersecurity initiatives to ensure you have experts with real-world experience on the job.

3. Ongoing Maintenance Costs

Many companies forget about the need for ongoing maintenance when it comes to cybersecurity costs. This oversight can unfortunately cause a business’s financial security to collapse.

It’s important to remember that, just like other security systems or computer systems, cybersecurity systems need constant tending and updates. Companies should adopt strategies to regularly check for vulnerabilities or weaknesses in their systems and review any security policies they have in place on an ongoing basis.

Keeping on top of the latest technological and legislative changes is important, too, and you may even want to engage with a cybersecurity services specialist for comprehensive advice. These steps can help ensure ongoing maintenance is done correctly as cyber threats will continue to evolve. Businesses, therefore, must stay up to date with new cybersecurity services and technologies that can protect against emerging risks. This may require ongoing maintenance costs as well as additional training for cybersecurity staff, but the benefits likely outweigh the expense.

How to Budget for Cybersecurity Costs

Large companies often have whole teams or departments devoted to cybersecurity and staying up to date with the latest threats. Small and medium-sized businesses, however, also need these measures, though they may not have the resources or personnel to focus on this important responsibility. Here are some tips for budgeting for cybersecurity costs to help bridge that gap.

1. Outline a Budget

Creating a budget and plan for future cybersecurity investments can help you make more informed decisions about what solutions are right for your business. You’ll need to calculate the total security costs your company incurs each year, including software licenses and maintenance fees, hiring costs for technical employees such as engineers or analysts, and any additional services that may be required.

2. Research Available Options

The next step after you’ve gathered your budget information is to research available cybersecurity options. Read customer reviews and consult with cybersecurity specialists or other experts to get a better understanding of what different solutions may cost – and whether they’re worth investing in.

3. Optimize Existing Systems

See if there are steps you can take to optimize existing systems and decrease costs before you commit to any new security solutions or procedures. One example is to review if your current software program is effective at monitoring and detecting cyber threats. Another option is to find out if there are ways you can improve your team’s training on cybersecurity best practices. You may be able to reduce the overall costs of cybersecurity by optimizing your existing systems while keeping your data safe.

What to Know About Near-Future Changes in Cybersecurity

Cybercrime continues to evolve, and we can expect to see changes that could affect how businesses protect their data. One example is the increased adoption of AI-enabled solutions, which could potentially lead to hackers taking advantage of these capabilities for nefarious purposes.

Advances in quantum computing are also expected to result in sophisticated new hacking techniques. So-called “quantum attacks” could compromise even the most robust cybersecurity systems.

Businesses must stay up to date with the latest trends and developments in cybersecurity technologies and strategies for these reasons. Companies can make sure their data is better protected by continuously monitoring the threat landscape. 

Growing Investment Opportunities in the Cybersecurity Space

Cybercrime continues to evolve, and it is more important than ever for businesses to take proactive steps to invest in robust cybersecurity measures. That need has led to more growth opportunities in the cybersecurity industry. Startups with an eye on these trends could be poised to provide new solutions and great value to companies of all sizes. 

Option3 unites cybersecurity startups and investors, creating potential growth for both parties. We know the ins and outs of the industry and we see the space for startups is burgeoning. That’s why we’re helping to fund them. Contact Option3 for more information if you’re interested in investing in this dynamic industry.

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