HUMAN-DRIVEN CYBERSECURITY: Frameworks and Response Tactics

Cybersecurity, often painted in hues of complexity and technical jargon, can appear overwhelming especially to those outside the infosec domain.

- PEER TEHLEEL MANZOOR

While terms like zero-day exploits, APTs, SIEM, or SOAR may be part of everyday vocabulary for cybersecurity professionals, for non-technical stakeholders they may sound like a foreign language. This communication gap poses a serious challenge: how can security leaders communicate the importance of cybersecurity in a relatable, impactful way?

This article demystifies cybersecurity by exploring its human and relatable dimensions, drawing parallels between the physical and the digital world, and guiding the reader through the cybersecurity lifecycle from risk assessment to recovery. By using common analogies, real-life context, and industry frameworks, we aim to show how organizations can translate strategy into security action, and leadership into resilience.

CYBERSECURITY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE COMPLEX

At its core, cybersecurity is about managing risks something every human does intuitively on a daily basis. We assess the risk of locking our homes before stepping out, avoid sketchy neighborhoods at night, wear seatbelts while driving, and look both ways before crossing the street. These everyday risk-based decisions have striking analogies in cybersecurity.

For example, just like you wouldn't leave your door wide open, a company shouldn't expose sensitive data without robust access controls. Understanding these parallels allows even non-security professionals to grasp the "why" behind cyber practices.

Let's begin by breaking down the lifecycle of cybersecurity through the lens of physical world analogies.

THE DIAMOND MERCHANT ANALOGY: A LAYPERSON'S GUIDE TO CYBERSECURITY

Imagine you are a diamond merchant. Your showroom has exquisite pieces worth millions. Naturally, you wouldn't rely on just a single lock to protect your assets. Instead, you would use a multi-layered strategy:

1. PHYSICAL GUARDS AT ENTRY POINTS

2. SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS MONITORING ALL AREAS