Proof of Compliance is in the Human Factor

Compliance and the Human Element

Technology has helped companies achieve stronger cybersecurity – but it has also enabled cyber criminals to deploy more successful attacks. With an imperative to secure data, human influence can mean the difference between essentially handing over sensitive data to an attacker and keeping it under lock and key.

Coupled with the cybersecurity talent gap, cybercrime growth, and cybersecurity budget limitations, keeping your company in compliance might feel like an insurmountable task. While turning to an automated security solution can alleviate some issues, where compliance is concerned, your security program should be customized, managed, and provable.

For example, companies contracted with the Department of Defense must meet Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements or risk losing federal funding.

With shinier tools in the hands of attackers who are also willing to spend ill-gotten gains, company security leaders  can feel like they’re walking blindfolded through a driving range: you’re more than likely to be hit by something.  These concerns only grow for leaders of large, successful organizations that hold PII or other sensitive data for employees and customers.

1. Considering Context in Decision-Making
Predefined tasks like alert management, threat detection, incident response, or event monitoring are excellent candidates for automation to free up personnel and increase productivity. However, there are nuances within security that require a live human to weigh in to make a context-based decision. These instances include:

• Interpreting difficult situations, such as a ransomware attack directly threatening sensitive data
• Assessing a security risk and corresponding response in light of broader business objectives
• Making an informed decision that aligns with compliance regulations

Cybersecurity threats can evolve rapidly and in unexpected ways, and real people are best at adapting and responding intelligently.

2. Interpreting Ambiguities
As we discussed earlier, compliance regulations in certain industries can be quite complex and contain myriad requirements. Any gray areas, ambiguities, exceptions, or important deadlines should be reviewed and interpreted by real people for a clear understanding of how compliance can best be achieved by the organization.

3. Developing Actionable Policies
Often, compliance demands actionable policies that impact business planning, whether it be timelines, budget, or staffing needs. A real person is best suited to review compliance requirements and turn them into actionable policies to ensure the company achieves and remains compliant, especially with more stringent regulations.

4. Handling Unforeseen Issues
The nature of cybersecurity is one of occasional unpredictability. Automation works well for routine tasks, but variables will undoubtedly arise that require human intervention. For example, a system might fail to recognize a sophisticated phishing attack or a unique threat that doesn’t fit a predefined pattern. Human analysts can identify and respond to these outliers more effectively, using industry experience and judgment to identify abnormalities that automated systems might miss or misinterpret.

5. Balancing Security with Usability
The best security program is one with a balance of automation and human intervention. Attempting to completely automate your cybersecurity program will likely create more headaches – firstly, it can result in overly strict security measures that hinder productivity and usability; and secondly, it could demand more human intervention purely because there are too many automations to know what should be acted upon.

Rigid systems can slow down workflows or even cause employees to circumvent security measures to get their work done. Build a program that is both secure and user-friendly.

6. Adapting to Evolving Threats
This one is simple. Automated systems aren’t going to automatically evolve to protect against the latest and greatest cybercrime tactics. Companies are responsible for updating their automations with the necessary protections, and human professionals should also be aware of burgeoning threats and engage in creative problem solving to adjust defenses as new vulnerabilities are discovered.
While automation can help with initial detection and response, real people need to be on top of emerging trends in order to make proactive adjustments.

7. Responding to Cyber Attacks
In the event of a cyber attack or security breach, human involvement is critical for effective incident response. That’s why companies should develop an incident response plan and engage in tabletop exercises to run through response activities.

While automated tools work in the background to detect and contain certain threats, once a breach occurs, humans need to lead crisis management, communicate with stakeholders, conduct forensic investigations, and ensure compliance during the recovery process. A cyber incident often requires rapid decision-making, and automated tools just aren’t that smart (yet).

8. Ethical Practices and Corporate Accountability
Cybersecurity isn’t just about following technical protocols —it also involves ethical practices and sound decision-making to maintain accountability throughout an organization. Humans are best equipped to act on best practices around balancing privacy with security, or ensuring that certain security measures don’t negatively impact productivity. Furthermore, humans are essential for providing accountability and transparency – and provability – that automated systems can’t.

Strike a Balance and be Proactive

As I’ve noted, relying on automated tools for cybersecurity is a necessary part of any successful security program. But
the human element helps prove compliance and manage threats and incident response to maintain compliance and
recover faster.

An MSSP partnership transforms your security posture from reactive to proactive. By continually testing and fortifying security systems, an MSSP ensures that potential vulnerabilities are addressed before they become breaches.

Relying on automated tools for cybersecurity 
is a necessary part of any successful security program. But the human element helps prove compliance and manage threats and 
incident response to maintain compliance 
and recover faster.