Btissam Laaouina is a highly motivated Cyber security manager. She graduated from Turin’s polytechnic( Italy), where she studied telecommunications engineering and digital transformation. Btissam holds a variety of remarkable certifications, including CCISO, CISSP, CISM, ITIL V4, and MORE… She is a prominent figure in the cybersecurity industry, noted for her passion and broad understanding of the field. Her other interests include nature, mountains, horseback riding, and beekeeping. She was picked in 2024 as one of the amazing women who are making an impact in computing security. Not only that?! Btissam speaks Arabic, French, English, Italian, German, and Spanish.
Every company has to be extremely careful of the security of their data and infrastructure since the frequency and complexity of cyber attacks demand. Cybersecurity is no longer a topic of exclusive concern for security departments nowadays. It’s not only about protecting the network; it’s also about being extremely careful in preserving every element of your IT supply chain—including hardware, software, and other vital parts.
The Need for Visibility
When it comes to security, visibility is paramount. To facilitate Procurement, Compliance, and rapid vulnerability detection for SecOps, software components are documented in the Software Bill of Materials (SBOM). A similar tool for Procurement and Compliance is the Hardware Bill of Materials (HBOM), which documents physical components and highlights potential security threats.
Still, why limit oneself to just hardware and software? Additional security may be possible if this strategy was extended to include the whole supply chain. The overall ecosystem’s security could be enhanced with the use of a SCBOM (Supply Chain Bill of Materials), which would give a comprehensive overview and aid in reducing risks and vulnerabilities related to external suppliers and third-party components.
Keep it Simple and Straightforward
How security solutions are made and managed is largely determined by how simple they are. Keeping things simple helps keep systems from making mistakes or being set up incorrectly, which can put them at risk. Solutions that are clear and easy to understand are more effective and less likely to cause mistakes. Automating security procedures is one way to keep a high level of protection without putting too much stress on IT staff. Systems can be better protected from human error and improper configuration when things are kept simple. There will be fewer errors and more success with solutions that are simple and straightforward. One approach to maintaining a high degree of protection without overburdening IT personnel is to automate security procedures.
Being Informed
Being vigilant is crucial because humans are often considered the security plan’s weakest link. Above all else, workers need to be informed about potential dangers and updated on any new ones on a regular basis. Practical exercises, such as phishing simulations, greatly assist staff members in understanding how to react to attacks. Companies can maximize the impact of these initiatives and demonstrate their worth to senior executives by establishing concrete objectives for awareness campaigns and monitoring their progress. So Envision a doctor or nurse who has never done surgery before and has only studied in theory. It is impossible to be completely prepared for a real-world scenario with just theoretical knowledge of the concepts and procedures, no matter how thoroughly one has studied them. Similarly, while knowing the theory behind cybersecurity is important, putting that knowledge into practice in the real world is often more challenging. It is critical to turn our theoretical understanding of cybersecurity into practical strategies to deal with real security threats as we work to improve our cybersecurity practices.
Integrating the tenets of Visibility, simplicity, and awareness is the key to developing a robust and versatile cybersecurity strategy. Tools such as SBOM, HBOM, and SCBOM provide a comprehensive view of the supply chain by safeguarding software and hardware. Simplified security systems reduce risks and make business operations easier. Conversely, a strong security culture and ongoing training improve the company’s ability to deal with threats.