There are two types of games, according to the author and inspirational speaker Simon Sinek. As he explains in his book “The Infinite Game,” a finite game has clearly defined players, rules and a narrative arc involving a beginning, middle and end. An infinite game, on the other hand, has none of those factors: No set of known players, no set-in-stone rules and no definitive finish line.
If you’re a business leader, you’re playing “the very definition of an infinite game,” Sinek writes.
Companies with finite-minded leaders tend to fail because they’re too focused on short-term results and the status quo. Meanwhile, the author explains that infinite-minded execs find ways to stay in the game as long as possible.
In a world where cybercriminals relentlessly bombard companies of all sizes with increasingly advanced attacks, investing in cybersecurity is no longer an option for executives who want to embody the infinite mindset Sinek describes. It’s a requirement for anyone who wants to remain on the field and continue playing the game of business.
Why Neglecting Cybersecurity Will Leave You Sidelined
When computers were a new concept, certain curmudgeons in the corporate world clung to the old and familiar ways of doing business. They insisted they’d do just fine continuing to use paper. However, can you think of a single person who completely rejects computers and still runs a successful business in our current digital age?
Today’s organizations that refuse to craft and maintain a proactive and comprehensive approach to cybersecurity are the same as those computer-resistant companies of the not-so-distant past: Destined to die out, unable to keep up with the rest of the players in the game.
Here are just a few reasons why businesses that fail to prioritize IT security will find themselves sidelined:
1. Cybercriminals aren’t slowing down and won’t stop coming up with new ways to get around your defenses. Even before COVID-19 swept the globe and gave malicious actors new fodder for fraud and novel vulnerabilities to exploit, data breaches were already common. The pandemic and the transition to working from home for many people with office jobs has exacerbated the problem by spurring an outbreak of cybercrime as hackers seek to take advantage of the crisis and exploit weak points in remote work infrastructure. The vast majority (90 percent) of IT leaders report a surge in cyberattacks as a result of the pandemic, according to a study released by Tanium.
Even as the pandemic dies down, it’s highly unlikely that hackers will stop trying to find ways to infiltrate corporate networks and get their hands on private data utilizing methods like phishing and the deployment of ransomware. Anyone who wants to stay in the game will have to put serious effort into staying ahead of those malicious players.
2. You can’t maintain a strong team without a secure remote work strategy. In a previous blog entry, we discussed the normalization of working from home and how secure remote work arrangements are no longer a luxury but a necessity for companies that want to attract and retain top talent. In one Gallup poll, nearly two-thirds of U.S. employees who’d been performing their professional duties from home during the pandemic expressed a preference for continued remote work. If your company doesn’t have the infrastructure in place to allow staff members to do their jobs securely from anywhere, the standout performers will likely look for work elsewhere.
3. Consumers want to work with companies that can keep their data safe. Customer experience (CX) is increasingly the No. 1 make-or-break factor in the business world, and you can’t deliver an exceptional experience without a high level of security. The vast majority of American consumers (87 percent) say they’ll turn to another company if they feel you aren’t properly safeguarding their data, according to a survey conducted by PwC.
Ultimately, if you’re playing the long game rather than focusing on short-term gains, it’s obvious that devoting resources to a forward-thinking cybersecurity strategy is more than worth the effort.
Staying in the Game: How to Establish and Maintain a Future-Focused Approach to Cybersecurity
Because the IT security landscape changes non-stop, maintaining optimal levels of data protection necessitates constant vigilance, including awareness of both emerging threats and new solutions designed to combat novel hacking tactics. To successfully fend off the smartest cybercriminals, you’ll want to assemble a team of high-level IT security experts. They can help you stay on top of ever-evolving threats, evaluate and implement the latest solutions, respond effectively to any incidents, and overall keep your cybersecurity strategy current and comprehensive.
Unfortunately, IT security expertise is in short supply: Although the ongoing talent shortage in the field decreased during the pandemic, there’s still a global cybersecurity workforce gap of about 3.1 million, according to (ISC)². That’s why the best option for many businesses is to work with a managed service provider like Stratosphere Networks. With our managed cybersecurity services, your organization can leverage the skills of our experienced security analysts. We can minimize your data breach risk with the following solutions:
- Recurring security risk assessments
- Security Operations Center as a Service (SOCaaS)
- Network and endpoint managed detection and response (MDR)
- Secure remote work infrastructure via a zero-trust framework with secure access service edge (SASE)
If you adopt an infinite mindset and avoid a myopic approach to operations, it’s easy to see that cybersecurity is a must. Leaders who invest in next-gen data protection will not only help their companies stay in the game as long as possible but also stand out as valuable players. As Sinek writes, “Ultimately, those who adopt an infinite mindset are the ones who lead the rest of us into the future.”
If you’d like assistance creating a forward-thinking cybersecurity game plan for your organization, our security experts would be happy to help. Feel free to give us a call at 877-599-3999 or email sales@stratospherenetworks.com.
