GNA: ADDRESSING THE COMPELLING, DIRE THREAT OF CYBER INTRUSIONS
GNA Vice President Ken Ferguson and his Team are implementing an initiative to guide, support, and collaborate with organizations and governments into effective avoidance, management, and mitigation practices related to cyber threats. Ken has brought together a uniquely strong, broad, and deep resource base of more than forty experienced transformation and cyber consultants to assess the relevant client approaches and models and to determine where change is required. The conclusion and consensus are that the situation is not under control, threats are increasing, and permanent vigilance is necessary. Labels such as “The Newest Technological Mayhem” and “The Perfect Weapon” are not exaggerations. Information intrusions, damage to equipment and systems, safety, economics, and corporate reputations can be direct outcomes. Recent intrusions at organizations have demonstrated (1) success of external intrusions and (2) the current ease of infiltration and that any employee can be a key to prevention or a path to intrusion.
The outcome and approach that will be undertaken by small teams of these senior consultants involve an aggressive approach with an operational goal of one hundred percent of the client workforces being educated, trained, appreciating, motivated, involved, owning, committed to, and accountable for actions and attentions that combat cyber threats. This end state is achieved through cyber security becoming a formal culture item that becomes part of how an organization defines itself and motivates its daily behaviors and decisions. Dr. Ferguson has been developing and organizing the concept of small teams collaborating with clients to achieve this transformation and organization imperative. The need is now and urgent. The permanence and impacts of cyber threat dictate a cyber culture be part of organizations. Once recognized and supported, the challenge is to accomplish this transition effectively.
The GNA resource base of these consultants cover an wide range of industrial and government involvements with years of experience using lessons learned from past affiliations with firms of all sizes. Credentials involve cyber security specialists as well as organizational transformation skills and relevant experience including communications, training, organizational development, policies/procedures/work processes, and overall change management. End state success will be achieved through a phased approach which results in, for example, organization structure, work force skill sets, resource allocations, operational structure and details, technology leveraging, information sharing, performance incentives ,and success metrics all with a long term, permanent cyber attention. Most important, emphasis will include a continued and permanent monitoring of the cyber threat landscape. Attentions to cyber security will need to be shared and communicated to supply chains as well.
Part of the defining characteristic of the threat of cyber intrusions is the pervasiveness. FMEA has identified many of the high visibility potential targets. Taking the terminology “Internet of Things” (IoT) provides an even larger cut of potential cyber threat sectors including energy, health care, financial, water treatment, automotive, control systems, ”SMART” cities, “SMART” buildings, manufacturing, transportation, retail, control systems, communications. Related safety, continuity, and resiliency are at risk. GNA will be proud to be involved in collaborating. Dr. Ken and his team members are ready to communicate regarding moving forward in these areas. He can be reached at 803-295-8661 or via email at [email protected].
GNA Vice President Ken Ferguson and his Team are implementing an initiative to guide, support, and collaborate with organizations and governments into effective avoidance, management, and mitigation practices related to cyber threats. Ken has brought together a uniquely strong, broad, and deep resource base of more than forty experienced transformation and cyber consultants to assess the relevant client approaches and models and to determine where change is required. The conclusion and consensus are that the situation is not under control, threats are increasing, and permanent vigilance is necessary. Labels such as “The Newest Technological Mayhem” and “The Perfect Weapon” are not exaggerations. Information intrusions, damage to equipment and systems, safety, economics, and corporate reputations can be direct outcomes. Recent intrusions at organizations have demonstrated (1) success of external intrusions and (2) the current ease of infiltration and that any employee can be a key to prevention or a path to intrusion.
The outcome and approach that will be undertaken by small teams of these senior consultants involve an aggressive approach with an operational goal of one hundred percent of the client workforces being educated, trained, appreciating, motivated, involved, owning, committed to, and accountable for actions and attentions that combat cyber threats. This end state is achieved through cyber security becoming a formal culture item that becomes part of how an organization defines itself and motivates its daily behaviors and decisions. Dr. Ferguson has been developing and organizing the concept of small teams collaborating with clients to achieve this transformation and organization imperative. The need is now and urgent. The permanence and impacts of cyber threat dictate a cyber culture be part of organizations. Once recognized and supported, the challenge is to accomplish this transition effectively.
The GNA resource base of these consultants cover an wide range of industrial and government involvements with years of experience using lessons learned from past affiliations with firms of all sizes. Credentials involve cyber security specialists as well as organizational transformation skills and relevant experience including communications, training, organizational development, policies/procedures/work processes, and overall change management. End state success will be achieved through a phased approach which results in, for example, organization structure, work force skill sets, resource allocations, operational structure and details, technology leveraging, information sharing, performance incentives ,and success metrics all with a long term, permanent cyber attention. Most important, emphasis will include a continued and permanent monitoring of the cyber threat landscape. Attentions to cyber security will need to be shared and communicated to supply chains as well.
Part of the defining characteristic of the threat of cyber intrusions is the pervasiveness. FMEA has identified many of the high visibility potential targets. Taking the terminology “Internet of Things” (IoT) provides an even larger cut of potential cyber threat sectors including energy, health care, financial, water treatment, automotive, control systems, ”SMART” cities, “SMART” buildings, manufacturing, transportation, retail, control systems, communications. Related safety, continuity, and resiliency are at risk. GNA will be proud to be involved in collaborating. Dr. Ken and his team members are ready to communicate regarding moving forward in these areas. He can be reached at 803-295-8661 or via email at [email protected].