Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
ManagementSecurity Enterprise ServicesSecurity Leadership and ManagementLogical SecuritySecurity & Business Resilience

The human element to cyber resiliency

By James Hadley
resilience-freepik1170x658v.jpg
June 16, 2022

On the face of it, cyber resilience has a simple singular output — the continuation of operations despite an adversary’s efforts to the contrary. Scratch beneath the surface, however, and it quickly becomes apparent that achieving this relies on a complex network of interwoven factors to work in harmony. 


It requires a holistic approach to risk reduction — people, processes, and technology all continually optimized as the nature of the threat landscape changes. A multi-part countermeasure endlessly morphing to match emerging threats. 


This is no new revelation. Blueprints for a systemic approach to cyber resilience have been around since the 1970s, with a U.S. task force on computer security noting at the time:  “A combination of hardware, software, communications, physical, personnel, and administrative, procedural safeguards is required for comprehensive security.” 


Key actors realize this. The White House recently released suggestions for how organizations can protect themselves against a rising threat, providing a high-level guide for prioritizing different elements. 

Realization is only one part of the equation, however. Achieving and maintaining resilience is another part completely. 


Understanding resilience 

To achieve cyber resiliency, it is important to first agree on what it entails. This is not as straightforward as it sounds since executive teams and chief information security officers (CISOs) often have differing definitions. A lack of alignment at these early stages will cause everything to skew.     


It’s interesting, for example, to see the disparity in numbers from the World Economic Forum’s report about the ways cyber resiliency is understood. There is a perception from business executives that their organization is cyber resilient, yet security leaders aren’t so sure. In fact, almost half of security executives (45%) do not agree. This perception gap highlights how misaligned organizations really are in understanding threats. It also, unfortunately, suggests that while executives think they understand cyber resiliency, they likely require additional knowledge, skills, and judgment around cybersecurity as a whole. 


Publications such as the recently updated NIST Cyber Resiliency Framework go some way to helping organizations understand the breadth of elements at play. While such guides are not intended to be accessible to the majority of the executive function, they provide a crucial mandate from a government-backed organization for a systems-wide approach to resilience. 


Knowledge, skills and judgment in resilience 

Potentially the most valuable constituent part of resilience is the human aspect. Some of the most inspired acts of organizational cyber defense have been due to human capabilities - i.e., the security leader at Maersk, who was able to hunt down the last remaining copy of Active Directory in Nigeria to breathe life into an otherwise paralyzed company, for example.   


Getting this element right consistently and in a way that achieves strategic goals is difficult because human cyber capabilities cannot traditionally be measured. The fact that the impact of cyber risk is now spreading across the entire organization makes this even harder. Now you not only have to understand how the InfoSec team manages cyber risks, but also the legal, communications, supply chain, development teams, and more. Without understanding a baseline of how effective the workforce is in a cyber crisis, what ability it has to mitigate breaking threats, or how good AppSec capabilities are, for example, it is impossible to improve resilience.  


The impact of human capabilities on resilience is not static either. As the threat landscape continually advances, knowledge, skills, and judgment decay and become less relevant over time. Like anything in cybersecurity, up-to-date data is central to a relevant and effective risk reduction strategy.  


It’s only with relevant data to determine the level of human capabilities across the whole workforce that organizations know how truly resilient they are. Only then can they leverage a hugely underestimated part of the resilience equation.   

KEYWORDS: cyber resilience cyber security risk management security training

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

James headshot

James Hadley is CEO and Founder of Immersive Labs.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Cybersecurity
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Columns
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Logical Security
    By: Charles Denyer
Manage My Account
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Sureview screen
    Sponsored bySureView Systems

    The Evolution of Automation in the Command Center

  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

Popular Stories

Rendered computer with keyboard

16B Login Credentials Exposed in World’s Largest Data Breach

Verizon on phone screen

61M Records Listed for Sale Online, Allegedly Belong to Verizon

Security’s 2025 Women in Security

Security’s 2025 Women in Security

Red spiderweb

From Retail to Insurance, Scattered Spider Changes Targets

blurry multicolored text on black screen

PowerSchool Education Technology Company Announces Data Breach

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

July 17, 2025

Tech in the Jungle: Leveraging Surveillance, Access Control, and Technology in Unique Environments

What do zebras, school groups and high-tech surveillance have in common? They're all part of a day’s work for the security team at the Toledo Zoo.

August 7, 2025

Threats to the Energy Sector: Implications for Corporate and National Security

The energy sector has found itself in the crosshairs of virtually every bad actor on the global stage.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • insider threat

    The Human Element: Insider Behavior Facilitates Cyber Attacks, Erodes Business Trust

    See More
  • human-security-freepik1170x658.jpg

    The importance of the human element of security

    See More
  • Glowing blue fibers in darkness

    Verizon 2024 Data Breach Report shows the risk of the human element

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 9780367339456.jpg.jpg.jpg

    Cyber Strategy: Risk-Driven Security and Resiliency

  • facility manager.jpg

    The Facility Manager's Guide to Safety and Security

  • The-Complete-Guide-to-Physi.gif

    The Complete Guide to Physical Security

See More Products
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing