- Cybersecurity spending provides a positive Security Return on Investment (SROI) by preventing far more costly incidents.
- Documentation proves due care and due diligence. The difference between being compliant or being found negligent.
- Insurance will cover data breach costs if you can prove compliance at the time of the breach. And will deny coverage if you can't.
- Well-implemented security reduces IT support costs, downtime, virus outbreaks, spam waste and improves overall productivity.
- ComplianceForge products save organizations thousands of hours compared to writing documentation from scratch.
Why Security Return On Investment Matters
The benefits of Information Security for Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) are many:
Reduced IT Support Costs
Fewer security incidents mean fewer emergency IT support calls, less firefighting and more time for strategic projects and improvements.
Fewer Virus & Malware Outbreaks
Proper endpoint protection, patching and awareness training dramatically reduce malware incidents and the costly remediation that follows.
Less wasted time from opening spam e-mail;
Proper spam filtering and protection, which also reduces instances of phishing incidents.
Less Downtime From Data Loss
Backup procedures, disaster recovery plans and business continuity documentation reduce the duration and impact of data loss events.
Proven Due Care & Due Diligence
Documentation is the evidence that separates compliant organizations from negligent ones. It provides the legal foundation for your defense.
Compliant vs Negligent
In legal proceedings, documentation can be the difference between a defensible position and a finding of negligence. With massive financial implications.
When Insurance Will Cover Data Breach Costs
Insurance will cover data breach costs if you are able to prove you were compliant at the time of the breach.
When Insurance Will Not Cover Data Breach Costs
Insurance will not cover data breach costs if you were non-compliant at the time of the breach.
Improved Productivity
Good security policies reduce distractions. Blocking inappropriate sites, limiting personal use, and keeping networks and systems performing efficiently.
Reduced Distractions From Common Issues
Good Information Security policies reduces distractions from common issues:
- Block inappropriate web sites;
- Reduce or limit personal use (wasted time);
- Operations are more efficient with better performing network & computers;
- You can hold employees liable for what they do and fail to do on your network at with company assets;
- Better accountability of assets & resources; and
- Better educated & trained employees.
Productivity Gains
Beyond risk reduction, well-implemented security practices create a more efficient, accountable and productive work environment.
Good cybersecurity policies reduce distractions from common issues by establishing clear boundaries and expectations. Organizations with mature security programs report better asset accountability, more efficient network performance and employees who are better educated about their responsibilities.
When employees understand the rules, and the organization has the documentation to enforce them, you can hold people accountable for their actions on the network and with company assets. This accountability drives better behavior and reduces the casual misuse that wastes time and creates risk.