SHARE
Posted June 9, 2019
Where does your cybersecurity program fit into your enterprise strategy?
Organizations that view cybersecurity only as a siloed function within IT are missing out on a key opportunity to differentiate themselves from the competition. In today’s digital landscape, everyone in your organization needs to view cybersecurity from a new, more nuanced angle – including (and especially) the C-suite. Rather than approach it as a merely reactive or defensive role, consider how a robust cybersecurity program can support innovation within your organization and propel growth.
If you made a top ten list of growth enablers for your organization, would cybersecurity make the list? Digitization has revolutionized the way many companies do business – and there is a critical link between innovative digital growth strategies and robust cybersecurity programs. You don’t want a revenue-generating initiative to stall because you aren’t confident in your program or are uncomfortable managing associated risks. The market will only become more competitive; don’t let potential key differentiators die on the vine.
As digital continues to dominate we’re going to see two types of organizations emerge: A) those that can defend themselves, and B) those that can both defend themselves as well as demonstrate the value of this defense to consumers. Company A and Company B may be equally secure, but Company B is going to pull ahead in the marketplace if they understand how to leverage their cybersecurity program as a unique selling point.
How is your competition handling cybersecurity? Could you use your cybersecurity program to displace them? Focus on digital and your customer. Can you use your program to improve the client experience? Reduce costs or compliance risks? Scale your product? Protect your brand? Don’t be afraid to pursue new opportunities and move on them before your competition can.
This tactic isn’t limited to startups and smaller, more agile companies. Even established organizations can identify gaps within the market and create innovative strategies to address them. A strong cybersecurity program allows more room for experimentation, product testing, and faster responses to changing markets because it is continuously managed and adjusted. It also lets organizations of all sizes adopt new technologies and processes at the right times, which can result in new financial wins.
A weak program, on the other hand, doesn’t properly protect an organization and it also impedes the adoption of cutting-edge solutions.
If your organization commits to cybersecurity from the start, you will be in a better position to drive the change necessary for reanalyzing and improving the value you deliver to your customers. Building cybersecurity into the beginning stages of development makes it an essential element rather than something you must haphazardly tack on when something goes wrong.
Remember: a cybersecurity program isn’t just about securing your assets. It is an asset.
Most C-suite executives and board members understand how cybersecurity protects the organization from threats. They know they don’t want the brand in the headlines for the wrong reason (such as a breach). They probably understand how a weak program puts them at risk of financial, legal, and reputational consequences. They might spend a lot of time thinking about cybersecurity from these perspectives, but is there a more efficient use of this brainpower?
Cybersecurity fuels business growth. And it is the responsibility of everyone in your organization.
The C-suite and board members likely rely on a CISO or a CIO to handle the technical aspects of the program and look to these experts for advice. While this makes sense, it’s important to remember that accountability for cybersecurity is spread throughout the organization. When you are confident that technical components are being managed, it’s time to think about cybersecurity in the context of revenue and operations.
When you release new products or services, you’re held accountable for their security. You can calculate the cost of a cybersecurity incident. You will know what you spent on incident response teams, legal investigations or lawsuits, fines, or external communication plans. But that’s just the beginning. How much revenue will you lose when customers don’t want to do business with you because they no longer trust you with their data? Can you put a dollar amount on this loss of trust and reputation?
You understand the concept of supply and demand. Thanks to the increasing number of high profile data breaches, customers have a new demand: better security. Can you supply that to them? If so, they may well reward you by opening up their wallets.
Something else to consider: what is the value of your intellectual property? Imagine that your confidential and strategic assets were compromised. Would you lose your position in the marketplace?
A cybersecurity program does not just help you “stop a hack.” It keeps your revenue stream intact.
As a business, you need to do everything possible to protect your information. This begins with the overall culture within your organization. First, ask yourself this: who is your company and what do you do for people? And then ask yourself this: what role do your data assets play in that?
Cybersecurity is complex and is not limited to risk management or mitigation. The nature of security is changing. Security professionals can’t just be thinking about threats – they must now consider the business mission. What does the organization, and the departments within it, want to achieve? Everything must stem from that central question.
Organizations need to stop approaching information security with the mindset of “what is the technical solution?” Instead, they should begin to think in terms of, “I need to solve this specific business problem. How should I do that?”
When you move beyond a purely technical approach, your cybersecurity program transforms from an operational plan into a revenue-generating competitive advantage.
Offerings
Industries
Compliance
Copyright © 2023 GreyCastle Security. All Rights Reserved
800-403-8350Copyright © 2022 GreyCastle Security. All Rights Reserved
Ho Chin is Chief Financial Officer at GreyCastle Security. In this role, Ho leads Finance, HR, IT and Professional Development. As part of the executive leadership team, Ho works to establish the company’s overall strategy and ensure proper execution of the supporting initiatives pertaining to the above areas of responsibility.
Prior to joining GreyCastle Security, Ho led finance and administrative functions at multiple private equity and venture-backed portfolio companies across multiple industries. Ho holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University in Centre County, Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dan Kalil is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board Chairman at GreyCastle Security. In this role, Dan provides vision, leadership and strategies that drive GreyCastle Security’s position as an industry leader. With an emphasis on customer success, Dan’s profitable growth model leverages a customer-centric business approach that balances employee wellbeing and social responsibility.
Prior to becoming CEO, Dan served as the company’s Chief Strategy Officer, during which he supported multiple acquisitions and helped the organization achieve substantial sales growth. In addition to serving as CEO at GreyCastle Security, Dan continues to hold the position of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Assured information Security (AIS) in Rome, New York, a company he co-founded in 2001.
Over the course of the last 22 years, Dan has been committed to advancing the state of cybersecurity and has played an instrumental role in the identification and development of critical, next-generation cyber capabilities. He has held positions in almost every facet of cybersecurity, beginning as a computer forensic examiner and progressing through the management and executive leadership ranks. In addition to co-founding AIS, Dan has facilitated multiple cybersecurity startups, raised investment capital and has served in various lead and support roles toward the acquisition of five companies in the last eight years.
Dan has a bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity and a master’s degree in Cybersecurity from Utica College in Utica, New York.
Michael Stamas is an entrepreneur, board member, Vice President and a founder of GreyCastle Security. With more than two decades of experience in the technology sector, Mike pairs his management and business development skills with a deep understanding of cybersecurity. Mike brings a unique brand of risk-based advising to GreyCastle clients and prospects.
Mike holds certifications in numerous security and technology related areas, including the Department of Homeland Security and other security technologies like Symantec, Cisco and Microsoft.
Mike plays an active role in his community and serves as a board member and Vice President of InfraGard Albany as well as an advisory board position with the Capital Region YMCA.
Mike has been recognized for his numerous achievements through various honors including the Albany Business Review’s prestigious 40 Under 40 award.
Dan Maynard serves as GreyCastle Security’s Chief Operating Officer, where he currently leads Sales, Marketing and Legal.
Dan has enjoyed a 30+ year career in the Information Technology and Telecommunications industry, during which time he has held various leadership positions for organizations such as Rochester Tel/RCI, Citizens Communications (Frontier), PAETEC Communications, IntegraOptics, tw telecom/Level3 and Centurylink.
In addition to various voice and data technology platforms, he possesses a strong background in leadership development, sales and marketing leadership, transformational leadership and strategic planning. Dan has a thirst for knowledge and as a committed lifelong learner, he encourages and supports professional development initiatives for his teams and continues his involvement with Vistage International.
Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, where he was selected as a member of their Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.
When not at work, Dan enjoys traveling, golfing, attending Utica Comets hockey games and relaxing in the Adirondacks on beautiful Canada Lake with family and friends.
Dan Didier is the Vice President of Solutions and board member at GreyCastle Security.
Dan has been a cybersecurity practitioner for more than 20 years and uses his knowledge and experience to develop cybersecurity solutions that ensure readiness and preparedness.
Dan received his bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications from SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, New York, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a master’s degree in Information Assurance from Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont.
Our Computer Incident Response Teams (CIRTs) have responded to hundreds of breaches, intrusions, malware infections, thefts, employee investigations, fraud cases and other incidents. Our highly-certified experts have extensive experience in command, coordination and correction of incidents in nearly every industry throughout North America, from local businesses to Fortune 500 international conglomerates.
800-403-8350Francesca LoPorto-Brandow is Director of Culture at GreyCastle Security. In this role, Francesca leads all social responsibility efforts and partnerships and develops effective strategies that promote organizational-wide behaviors and attitudes consistent with a culture of safety, inclusion, teamwork, motivation and high-performance.
Prior to this role, Francesca was Director of People & Culture at GreyCastle and with her leadership, the company’s culture has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as a Nationally recognized Best Workplace, Albany Business Review Best Places to Work and Albany Times Union Top Workplaces.
Before joining GreyCastle Security, Francesca worked as an OD consultant and focused on strategic culture change at The Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group, Inc. for more than six years. There, she facilitated client education sessions, coached leaders and teams, developed and executed consulting interventions and served as strategy project leader on various client engagements. Her work has taken her into Fortune 100 companies and across borders including Panama, Singapore and beyond.
Francesca is a Lean Six Sigma–certified Green Belt, a proud YWCA-GCR board member and in 2013, she coordinated and emceed the inaugural TEDx Troy—a livestream of TEDCity 2.0. Since 2012, she has coordinated and emceed the Troy 100 Forum, a biannual forum for government, religious and community leaders to discuss issues vital to the future of Troy, New York.
Bilingual in English and Italian, Francesca holds a bachelor’s degree in Management and Technology from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lally School of Management & Technology. She was awarded Cybersecurity Recruiter of the year North America in 2017 by the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards.
Jamie Aiello is Senior Vice President of Services and Product Management at GreyCastle Security. In this position, Jamie is responsible for leading a high performing and well-balanced team that is ultimately responsible for the identification, selection, execution and successful performance of our company’s diverse portfolio of cybersecurity offerings.
Prior to joining GreyCastle Security, Jamie has held leadership positions with Annese and Associates, ConvergeOne and BlueSky IT Partners with a focus on delivering cost effective information technology solutions for companies across multiple verticals.
Jamie holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, a master’s degree in Business Administration from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina and a master’s degree in Computer Information Systems from University of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.
