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by Maliha Charania

In the world of cybersecurity and risk management, success isn’t a short sprint to the finish line. It's a marathon—a grueling Olympic event where the course is unpredictable, the competition is fierce, and the rules keep changing. Unlike a single victory lap, winning in this arena requires ongoing stamina, agility, and an ever-evolving strategy. 

Cyber risk management is the ultimate Olympic challenge, demanding the resilience of a long-distance runner, the precision of a gymnast, and the teamwork of a relay race. This guide offers a strategy to build a cybersecurity program as robust and enduring as an Olympic athlete, ready to compete at the highest level and stand on the podium. 

Assembling Your Olympic Team: The Right Coaches and Athletes for Victory 

In the Olympics, champions are made from the perfect combination of skilled coaches and dedicated athletes. The same principle applies to cybersecurity—success depends on the strength of your team: 

• Leadership: Just as an Olympic team needs an experienced coach to guide them, a cybersecurity program requires a dedicated CISO to lead the charge. Whether full-time or as a Virtual CISO (vCISO), this leader must bring industry knowledge and strategic vision. But leadership isn’t confined to the CISO—every team member must contribute their expertise, much like each athlete in a relay race relies on their teammates to win. 
• Talent Acquisition and Retention: Olympic teams spend years identifying and training top athletes, and cybersecurity teams must do the same. Proactively recruit and develop talent to stay competitive, navigating budget constraints carefully.  
• External Expertise: Sometimes, bringing in external specialists is like inviting Olympic-level athletes to train with your team. These third-party experts can inject new energy and strategies, helping your cybersecurity program reach the finish line. Meditology Services and CORL Technologies provide specialized services to enhance your program’s performance, from staff augmentation to compliance support. 
• Engaging Stakeholders: In the Olympics, the crowd’s energy can drive athletes to perform at their best. Similarly, engaging the entire organization, not just the IT and compliance teams, is essential for cybersecurity success. Every employee has a role in securing the organization, much like every fan’s cheer contributes to an athlete’s momentum. 

Equipping Your Olympic Team: Tools of the Trade 

Olympic athletes rely on state-of-the-art equipment to perform at their best. In cybersecurity, outdated tools like spreadsheets and manual processes won’t cut it anymore. 

• Automation and Advanced Tools: The cybersecurity landscape has expanded like an Olympic event schedule, making it critical to choose the right tools to boost your program. Automation is essential to scale and enhance performance, much like an athlete relying on advanced training equipment to stay ahead of the competition. However, the tools must be backed by a strategic plan and skilled professionals to be truly effective. 

Training and Conditioning: Stay in Peak Cyber Shape 

Just as Olympic athletes train tirelessly to master their sport, cybersecurity teams must focus on continuous improvement and practice. 

• Master the Basics: Olympians are renowned for their dedication to the fundamentals, and cybersecurity teams must adopt the same mindset. Strategic planning, adherence to security frameworks, and maintaining strong “cyber hygiene” are the foundations of a winning program. Key areas of focus include access controls, audit logging, and third-party risk management—akin to an athlete’s training in core techniques. 
• Regular Drills: Olympic athletes practice relentlessly to perfect their performance, and cybersecurity teams must do the same. Regular penetration tests, risk assessments, and incident response drills build the muscle memory needed to respond swiftly and effectively, much like an athlete relying on instinct during competition. 

Executing the Right Strategy: The Playbook for Olympic Success 

Cybersecurity requires a well-coordinated strategy, much like an Olympic team executing a game plan to win gold. 

• Strategic Planning: Just as Olympic athletes plan their training years in advance, cybersecurity programs need a multi-year strategic plan informed by risk assessments and external threats. Align with industry standards like NIST and HITRUST to ensure comprehensive coverage, much like an Olympic team preparing for every possible challenge. 
• Adaptability: In the Olympics, conditions can change in an instant, requiring athletes to adapt on the fly. Similarly, a cybersecurity strategy must be flexible to respond to evolving threats. Emerging risks like cloud security require teams to adjust their game plan, just as an athlete might adjust their technique in response to changing competition. 
• Playbooks: Olympic athletes rely on well-rehearsed routines to succeed, and cybersecurity teams should do the same. Tailor your incident response playbooks to specific scenarios, ensuring your team is ready to respond to threats as precisely as an athlete executing a routine. 

Knowing the Competition: Study Your Opponents Like an Olympian 

In the Olympics, knowing your competition is key to victory. In cybersecurity, understanding your adversaries is just as crucial. High-performing programs must analyze their opponents, much like Olympic athletes study their competition. 

Avoiding Penalties: Stay Within the Rules 

Just as Olympic athletes must avoid penalties that can cost them the competition, cybersecurity programs need to stay compliant to avoid setbacks. 

• Compliance Management: Olympic athletes know the rules of their sport inside and out, and cybersecurity teams must be just as familiar with regulations like HIPAA. Avoid costly fines and penalties by ensuring compliance, much like an athlete staying within the boundaries to avoid disqualification. 

Continuous Improvement: Measure, Learn, and Adapt 

Olympic athletes use data to refine their performance, and cybersecurity teams should do the same. 

• Security Risk Assessments: Conduct comprehensive assessments regularly, much like an athlete reviewing their performance to identify areas for improvement. Align with industry standards to measure your program’s maturity over time. 
• Penetration Testing: Just as Olympic athletes simulate competition scenarios in training, cybersecurity teams should regularly test their defenses against real-world threats. Penetration testing is your way of preparing for the big event without facing actual adversaries. 
• Security Certifications: Achieving certifications like HITRUST and SOC 2 Type II is like earning an Olympic medal—it validates your program’s effectiveness and reassures stakeholders of your capabilities. 
• Enterprise Risk Reporting: Effective measurement and management of cybersecurity teams and programs must include the correlation of risk reporting data across a wide variety of sources. This is like monitoring multiple aspects of an athlete's performance—developing Key Risk Indicators (KRIs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and other critical metrics helps maintain peak performance. Meditology has developed a state-of-the-art technology and enterprise cyber risk management reporting solution tailored specifically for healthcare. 

Elevate Your Cyber Game to Olympic Heights 

Just as Olympic athletes rely on top-notch coaching to reach the pinnacle of their sport, high-performing cybersecurity teams need expert guidance to excel in the challenging world of cyber risk management. Meditology Services is your coach, ready to help you build a cybersecurity program that competes at an Olympic level. 

Whether you’re refining your strategy, enhancing your team’s skills, or ensuring compliance, Meditology offers the experience and tools to help you succeed. Contact us today to learn how we can help you elevate your cybersecurity game, transforming your team into Olympic-caliber champions ready to face the toughest challenges. 

About the Author 

Maliha Charania, MSIS, MSCS, HITRUST | Director, Risk Advisory Services 

Maliha leads Risk Advisory Services, drawing on over 14 years of expertise in IT security and risk management. Her leadership includes designing, spearheading, and successfully implementing global initiatives within the healthcare, financial, and academic sectors. Widely acknowledged as a Subject Matter Expert in IT security and compliance, Maliha has provided pivotal support to numerous healthcare providers, business associates, and payers worldwide. 

Her profound technical knowledge spans various stringent standards and regulations, encompassing HIPAA, GDPR, ISO, NIST, and HITRUST. Her contributions ensure thorough cybersecurity evaluations and seamless integration. Maliha’s distinguished reputation stems from her adept blend of consulting prowess and hands-on international experience, firmly establishing her as a leader in the realms of Risk Management and Cybersecurity.