Does this process flow look familiar? It is the compounding failure due to an absence of cybersecurity fundamentals.

When innovation plows forward without the benefit of cybersecurity, there will eventually be tears, finger pointing, denial, and loss.

Cybersecurity should partner at every phase to help communicate risks, architect in security principles, develop strong defenses, test for vulnerabilities, establish operational security monitoring, and prepare for crisis management to strengthen resilience.

Cybersecurity must facilitate the pursuit of innovation benefits without unnecessary burden or friction. Security, privacy, and safety can contribute to the overall appeal and business value of initiatives.

Build a partnership between innovation teams and cybersecurity. Showcase the mutual benefits and forge a lasting collaboration. Cybersecurity should not be the department of “no”, and instead be part of the team who says “Yes! …and let’s make this more trustworthy, protected, competitive, and valuable!”. Cybersecurity leadership should not only be the experts on cyber risk, but also how proper protections bring more value to the table!