cyber security business plan examples

Cybersecurity Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Cybersecurity Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Cybersecurity business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Cybersecurity businesses.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Cybersecurity business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

The Cyber Guardian business is a startup cybersecurity company located in Burlingame, California. The company was founded by Lynn Frederick, who has a fifteen-year history working in the cybersecurity industry, in increasingly responsible roles. This expertise positions him to start and effectively grow a successful cybersecurity company. Lynn believes his coding and managerial experience, coupled with a deep knowledge of cybersecurity practices will provide everything needed for long-term growth and profitability.

Cyber Guardian is a cutting-edge cybersecurity startup dedicated to providing robust cybersecurity solutions to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Founded by cybersecurity expert Lynn Frederick, Cyber Guardian leverages advanced technologies and deep industry experience to protect clients’ digital assets.

Product Offering

The following are the services that Cyber Guardian will provide:

• Vulnerability Assessment
• Managed Security Services
• Incident Response
• Cybersecurity Training & Awareness

Customer Focus

The primary customers of Cyber Guardian are SMEs across various sectors such as finance, healthcare, and retail, which are increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats but often lack the resources to maintain a full-fledged internal cybersecurity team.

Management Team

Cyber Guardian is owned and operated by Lynn Frederick, who graduated from UC Berkely with a bachelor’s degree in Software Security. Since his graduation, Lynn has been working at a large cybersecurity company in increasingly responsible roles. Lynn’s knowledge, skill, and customer service orientation prompted several customers to encourage him to launch his own company, stating they trust him above all others, and would follow him to the new firm. As he considered starting his own company, Lynn began securing contracts from these clients, ensuring they will follow him to Cyber Guardian when the company fully launches.

Lynn Frederick has recruited Gloria Perlman, who also attended UC Berkeley, to be the Administrative Manager in the new company. In this role, Gloria will oversee and direct staff members in the execution of the company vision, as well as run the back office operation and bookkeeping.

Success Factors

Cyber Guardian will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly-qualified team of IT professionals
• Services that leverage cutting-edge technology and techniques for maintaining security
• Cyber Guardian offers the best pricing in town, with a comparatively cost effective pricing structure.

Financial Highlights

Cyber Guardian is seeking $175,000 in debt financing to launch its cybersecurity operation. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the office space and purchasing technology and setting up the necessary infrastructure. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the print ads and marketing costs. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Office space build-out: $10,000
• Technology and infrastructure: $50,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $100,000
• Marketing costs: $5,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph outlines the financial projections for Cyber Guardian.

Company Overview

Who is cyber guardian.

Cyber Guardian is a newly established, full-service cybersecurity company in Burlingame, California. Cyber Guardian will be the most reliable, cost-effective, and efficient cybersecurity choice in the city and the surrounding communities. Cyber Guardian will provide a tailored menu of cybersecurity solutions designed to protect SMEs from the growing threats of cyberattacks, ensuring business continuity and regulatory compliance.

  Lynn Frederick will serve as manager and mentor to each of his team members, all of whom are highly qualified in their own right, and experienced in the most important aspects of cybersecurity. Cyber Guardian offers peace of mind for all its clients and ensures all issues are taken care of expeditiously while delivering the best customer service.

Cyber Guardian History

Cyber Guardian is owned and operated by Lynn Frederick. As a former cybersecurity manager for several years, he developed a unique capability to design and implement cybersecurity solutions that clearly reflect his skills and abilities. The company is built on the foundation of its founder’s extensive industry expertise and a deep understanding of the cybersecurity challenges faced by SMEs. Furthermore, Lynn Frederick has gained the trust and commitment of several clients in advance of opening his business and has begun to sign contracts with each to provide tailored cybersecurity solutions once the company launches.

Since incorporation, Cyber Guardian has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Cyber Guardian, LLC to transact business in the state of California.
• Has a contract in place for a 10,000 square foot office at one of the midtown buildings
• Reached out to numerous contacts to include Cyber Guardian in upcoming advertising and marketing programs.
• Began recruiting a staff of experienced IT professionals to work at Cyber Guardian

Cyber Guardian Services

Cyber Guardian offers end-to-end security services, from risk assessments and monitoring to incident response and recovery, alongside continuous updates and training to cope with evolving threats.

The following will be the services Cyber Guardian will provide:

• Performance reports and analytics: weekly reports to clients
• Superior day to day client management

Industry Analysis

The cybersecurity market is growing due to increasing internet penetration, a surge in cybercrime, and stringent regulatory requirements. The demand for cybersecurity solutions is expected to rise, especially among SMEs, which are typically less well-protected.

The cybersecurity industry is expected to reach $78.3 billion this year, and continue to grow at an annual rate of 7.7% over the next five years.

Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important, as companies, governments, and individuals are more and more reliant on IT systems, which are vulnerable to malicious actions. This digital transformation has made security a priority for organizations of every size.

The cybersecurity software industry is growing due to increasing threats of hacking and malware. Rising sales, limited costs and a reliance on skilled labor have contributed to strong profits. Developers invest heavily in research and development to stay ahead of the game. Purchases costs vary depending on the developer, but are diminishing as cloud computing limits the need for hardware.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Cyber Guardian will target companies that currently utilize cybersecurity and those that have a need for cybersecurity in Burlingame, California and, in the greater San Francisco region. The company will target small-to-medium sized businesses who have not yet acquired cybersecurity, as well as larger corporations without an effective cybersecurity solution.

Customer Segmentation

Cyber Guardian will primarily target the following customer profiles in the Bay Area:

• Finance SMEs: High-value transactions and regulatory compliance needs.
• Healthcare SMEs: Require protection of sensitive patient data.
• Retail SMEs: Need to secure consumer data and e-commerce platforms.

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Cyber Guardian will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

IT Partners

Established in 2000, IT Partners is an IT managed services company that provides managed IT services throughout North America. IT Partners is equipped to offer a comprehensive range of IT solutions for businesses of all sizes. Solutions include cloud computing solutions, cybersecurity defense, network design and implementation, critical incident response, and 24/7 help desk support. The company uses a proactive approach to focus on prevention and designs customized strategies tailored to each client’s specific requirements and goals. IT Partners has over 250 IT professionals on its team and has served over 1,900 businesses. The company provides solutions for various industries, including accounting, architecture, engineering, construction, education, finance, healthcare, hospitality, insurance, legal, manufacturing, retail, recruiting/staffing, real estate, and non-profits.

Service Offerings Include:

• Managed IT Services
• Internal IT Support
• Virtual CIO
• Network Management
• Cybersecurity Protection
• Backup Monitoring/Remediation
• Device Management
• Patch Management
• Cloud Solutions
• Delmiaworks Support (IQMS)
• Amazon Web Services (AWS Cloud services, AWS Cloud migration, AWS managed cloud, AWS application modernization, AWS serverless architecture)

Bay Area Technology Solutions

Established in 1996, Bay Area Technology Solutions (BATS) is an IT services company that specializes in IT support and cybersecurity solutions for Bay Area businesses. BATS employs a team of highly credentialed technology professionals with expertise in a wide range of services, from remote help desk to on-site support, storage, server consolidation, virtualization, wireless, business continuity, archiving, POS systems, cybersecurity, and data center builds.

• Cybersecurity Services
• Application Support & Development
• Voice over IP (VoIP) Services

Miklos Technologies

Established in 1997, Miklos Technologies (Miklos IT) is a managed IT services company that serves businesses throughout the United States. Miklos IT supports numerous industries, including healthcare, logistics, finance, professional services, manufacturing, real estate, retail, ecommerce, construction, engineering, architecture, legal, private equity, education, non-profit, science, hospitality, and entertainment companies. Miklos IT provides four key service areas: technology consulting, IT, software, and marketing. The company offers business and technology consulting in various areas such as business transformation, growth & strategy planning, IT regulation compliances, mergers & acquisitions, technology risk assessments, operations, marketing brand strategy, sales, and recruiting & staffing.

• Managed IT Services & Security
• Software Development
• Ecommerce & Custom Websites
• Digital Marketing
• IT Consulting
• Support & Advance Custom Software
• Cybersecurity
• Systems Integration
• Cloud Computing & Migrations

Competitive Advantage

Cyber Guardian will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly-qualified team of experienced IT professionals
• Comprehensive menu of personalized, SME-focused solutions
• Cyber Guardian offers flexible pricing models designed to cater to the specific needs of smaller businesses.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Cyber Guardian will offer a unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Highly-qualified team of skilled employees who are able to provide a comprehensive cybersecurity program that brings peace of mind to their clients
• Experience with keeping abreast of evolving threats and security issues
• Flexible pricing models

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Cyber Guardian is as follows:

Word of Mouth/Referrals

The founder of Cyber Guardian has built an extensive list of contacts over the years by providing exceptional service and highly skilled and effective cybersecurity services. Many of these contacts and clients will follow the founder to the new company and help spread the word of Cyber Guardian.

Professional Associations and Networking

Industry associations and local networking will become a top priority for the team at Cyber Guardian. The management team will seek active leadership roles, which will expand its credibility within the industry.

Social Media Marketing

Cyber Guardian will focus primarily on marketing its services and on maximizing relationship opportunities via social media efforts.

Website/SEO Marketing

Cyber Guardian’s website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that Cyber Guardian provides. Further, the company will engage in SEO marketing tactics so that anytime someone searches online for “cybersecurity company” or “cybersecurity company near me,” Cyber Guardian will be listed at the top of the search results.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Cyber Guardian. Operation Functions:

• Lynn Frederick will be the owner and President of the company. He will manage client relations. Lynn Frederick has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Gloria Perlman will be the Administrative Manager, and will oversee and direct staff members in the execution of the company vision, as well as run the back office operation and bookkeeping.

Milestones:

Cyber Guardian will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.

• 5/1/202X – Finalize contract to lease office space
• 5/15/202X – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for Cyber Guardian
• 6/1/202X – Finalize contracts for Cyber Guardian clients
• 6/15/202X – Begin networking at industry events
• 6/22/202X – Begin moving into Cyber Guardian office
• 7/1/202X – Cyber Guardian opens its doors for business

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Cyber Guardian are the fees charged for deployed solutions. Strong growth and a recurring revenue model, with client bases growing to generate a consistent revenue stream, also support profitability.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required to staff Cyber Guardian. The expenses will be the payroll cost, rent, utilities, technology and software costs.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Number of clients Per Month: 20
• Average revenue per Month: $200,000
• Office Lease per Year: $100,000

Financial Projections

Income statement.

Balance Sheet

Cash Flow Statement

Cybersecurity Business Plan FAQs

What is a cybersecurity business plan.

A cybersecurity business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your cybersecurity business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections. You can easily complete your Cybersecurity business plan using our Cybersecurity Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Cybersecurity Businesses?

There are a number of different kinds of cybersecurity businesses, some examples include: Remote security center services, Cloud security services, Vulnerability scan & management, and Endpoint security services.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Cybersecurity Business Plan?

Cybersecurity businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Cybersecurity Business?

Starting a cybersecurity business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster. 1. Develop A Cybersecurity Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed cybersecurity business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast. 2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your cybersecurity business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your cybersecurity business is in compliance with local laws. 3. Register Your Cybersecurity Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your cybersecurity business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your cybersecurity business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 7. Acquire Necessary Cybersecurity Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your cybersecurity business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your cybersecurity business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.

Cyber Security Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their cyber security companies.

If you’re unfamiliar with creating a cyber security business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process. For most entrepreneurs it is, but for you, it won’t be since we’re here to help. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a cyber security business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Cyber Security Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your cyber security business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Cyber Security Company

If you’re looking to start a cyber security business or grow your existing cyber security company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your cyber security business to improve your chances of success. Your cyber security business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for cyber security Businesses

With regard to funding, the main sources of funding for a cyber security business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for cyber security companies.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for a cyber security business.

If you want to start a cyber security business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your cyber security business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of cyber security business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a cyber security business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of cyber security businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the cyber security industry.
• Discuss the type of cyber security business you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of cyber security business you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of cyber security businesses:

• Remote security center services : This type of cyber security is focused on providing comprehensive security for networks and devices remotely from a main control center.
• Cloud security services . As more businesses turn to storage in cloud platforms, this type of service protects the data of clients from being utilized by others in that platform.
• Vulnerability scan & management: This service screens client devices and network systems remotely on a monthly maintenance basis.
• Endpoint security services: This service is dedicated to the mobile and end user devices in corporate offices; protection for computers is not included.

In addition to explaining the type of cyber security business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of security breaches determined, the amount of revenue earned, or reaching X number of clients served, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the cyber security industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the cyber security industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your cyber security business plan:

• How big is the cyber security industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your cyber security business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your cyber security business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: government contractors, for-profit corporations, securities businesses, private security services, and individuals.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of cyber security business you operate. Clearly, government contractors would respond to different marketing promotions than individuals, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other cyber security businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. Software companies, home or office hardware, and remote alarm services  may be examples of indirect competitors. You will want to mention any direct competition, as well.

For each direct competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What type of cyber security business are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regard to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And, don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide discounts for major government contractors?
• Will you offer scan protection and management that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

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Marketing plan.

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a cyber security business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of cyber security company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide in-person and remote cyber security services for major corporations or will you offer compliance solutions for select clients?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the products and/or services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your cyber security company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your cyber security business located in a professional business district, a quiet corporate area, a standalone building or a remote, unnamed location? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your cyber security marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in trade magazines
• Reach out to websites
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your cyber security business, including answering calls, planning and providing scan management, responding to emergency situations, billing clients and assisting with computer equipment, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to book your Xth client, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your cyber security business to a new city.

Management Team

To demonstrate your cyber security business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing cyber security businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a cyber security business or successfully running a data management business.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you increase customer retention by 20% quarterly, offer reduced pricing for hardware maintenance contracts, or offer discounted packaged pricing for multiple services? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your cyber security business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a cyber security business:

• Cost of computer and software equipment
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, furnishings and travel expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include the cyber security credentials of the CEO and COO or a list of client contracts.

Writing a business plan for your cyber security business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the cyber security industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful cyber security business.

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How to Write a Cyber Security Business Plan [Sample Template]

Are you about starting a cyber security company? If YES, here is a complete sample cyber security business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE . Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a cyber security business. We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample cyber security business marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for cyber security businesses. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

Why Start a Cyber Security Business?

The internet is one innovation that has changed the world; and yet as helpful as the internet has been, it has also caused a lot of problems, as cyber crimes are being committed daily by either individuals or groups of people. The cyber crimes being committed range from financial, personal to national security issues and so many more.

They attack individuals, businesses and even the government by tapping calls, monitoring emails or hacking websites to extract sensitive information, which is why more efforts are being put in place to secure data from those seeking to use them for purposes that are against what the owner intends.

Starting a cyber security business is therefore a lucrative business to go into because individuals, businesses and the government need their data protected. However, to start this kind of business, you will need to have technical skills that will be needed to secure data or stop an ongoing attack for your client.

Due to the technical nature of this business and the need to understand what you will be getting into from the business aspect, it would be wise to consult a business consultant in the area where you intend starting the business. This is to enable the business consultant go through your business concept and advise you on whether to proceed with the business or not. If your business concept is a great one, the business consultant would offer you tips and suggestions on the way forward.

Another important aspect that you would need to take care of before starting your business is writing a comprehensive business plan . A business plan is a document that shows holistically where your business is headed and if you will likely succeed with the business you intend to start.

Writing a business plan is however not an easy task especially the financial aspect, but it is important for your business. You can either hire the services of a business plan writer or go online to get a free business plan template to use as an aid in writing a business plan for your business. Below however is a sample cyber security business plan template for you.

A Sample Cyber Security Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

According to Ponemon Institute, within the year 2015, the costs associated with cyber crime was 19% higher than it was in 2014. Globally, a hack in 2014 cost companies on the average $7.7 million. This has led 20% of companies globally to create cyber crimes budget between $1 million and $4.9 million depending on the scale of the company and ensure its strict implementation.

This has also led to huge investments in cyber security firms, as the first half of 2015 saw investors pumping nearly $1.2 billion into start-ups in this industry. According to forecasts, the investments were likely to reach $77 billion as at the end of 2015. The industry has also been pegged to reach $170 billion by the year 2022.

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), globally, 58 percent of companies have an overall security strategy; 49 percent conduct periodic threat assessments, 48 percent monitor and analyze security intelligence actively. However, according to KPMG, 50 percent of CEOs globally with more than $500 million in revenue are usually not prepared as they should for a cyber attack.

However worrisome the threat of an attack externally is, companies now also have to worry about internal attacks from employees. According to a survey by SANS 2015, 74 percent of Chief Information Security Officers, CISOs are more worried about internal than external cyber attacks. According to a survey conducted by PwC, 34 percent of cyber attacks in 2015 were from current employees and 28 percent from former employees.

The damage caused by cyber crime is estimated to hit $6 trillion by the year 2022. This has led to a forecast that there will be an estimated increase in spending by companies for cyber security between the periods of 2017 and 2022 to $1 trillion. According to Gartner, as at 2016, more than $80 billion was spent on products and services related to cyber security. This is however expected to exceed $1 trillion globally within a five year period.

The cyber security industry is one that is fast paced as there is zero percent unemployment rate in this industry. The industry in fact has unfilled positions that are expected to reach 1.5 million by the year 2019. This shows that there is severe shortage of talent especially as more cyber crimes are being committed almost every other day as breaches continue to rise, with security incidents in 2015 at a 38 percent increase than as at 2014.

It has been estimated that by 2022, more than 4 billion people will be susceptible to attacks over the internet. The united states Government between the periods of 2006 and 2016 has spent over 0 billion. It also budgeted a whopping $14 billion in 2016 for cyber security.

According to Intel, the number of devices that will be connected might reach 200 billion in 2023; this is from the 15 billion connected devices in 2015. However, Microsoft and Cisco has countered the report claiming that only 50 billion devices will have been connected by 2022. Regardless of the estimated number, the report points to the same fact that more people will be online and will be vulnerable to cyber attacks.

2. Executive Summary

Kaboosh Tech is a standard and leading cyber security firm that is based in Mountain View – California here in the United States of America. We are in business to design cyber security solutions for our various clients – domestic and corporate. Asides from our core services, we also offer consultancy, training and technical support to our numerous clients.

Our location here in Mountain View – California is a very strategic one as we are in one of the most engaging tech communities in the whole United States of America, which therefore means that we are close to all the relevant tech companies, and other assorted stakeholders.

Our vision is to ensure that we are amongst the top five cyber security firms within three years of starting our business. We also intend to be known for our innovativeness in the cyber security world. We also intend to ensure that we are engaged in fair practices, which means that for the kind of business we would run, we intend to hold ourselves to a high standard so that our clients’ confidence in us won’t be misplaced.

In view of this, we are prepared to go the extra mile in ensuring that we build a solid business structure. We are prepared to source for and recruit only the best employees that will help grow and sustain our cyber security business.

Our management team is comprised of individuals with the best skills and experience. All those in the management team know what it means to ensure that a business such as ours is able to attain all its intended goals and objectives. Our management team believe in our values and philosophies and are fully committed to ensuring that we are a force to reckon with.

Due to the fact that we are in a very competitive industry, where being proactive is one of the factors that allows a business exist for long, we are always on the know about the trends in the industry and even intend to create a few trends as well within our one year of operation.

Finally, our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kab Oshe is one of the top cyber security men in the industry and has worked in several stints. He is known for not only for being innovative but for his business acumen as well. We are confident that with him at the helm we will be able to achieve all our set goals and objectives.

3. Our Products and Services

At Kaboosh Tech we intend to offer our customers forward thinking cyber security services that will enable them to remain ahead in whatever industry they are in.

However, because we are established to not only offer services but also generate revenue as well, we intend to increase our sources of income by offering additional services such as consultancy service and training. We intend to make as much profit as is legally permissible under the laws of the United States of America.

Below therefore are some of the services we intend to offer our various customers;

• Cryptography
• Programming
• System Hardening
• Consultancy and Advisory Services
• Technical Support

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to ensure that we are amongst the top five cyber security firms within three years of starting our business. We also intend to be known for our innovativeness in the cyber security world.
• In order for us to achieve our vision, we intend to build the best business structure that will see us employing only the best here at Kaboosh Tech.; our intention is to not only meet but exceed the expectations of our customers.

Our Business Structure

Due to the fact that we intend to build a standard cyber security firm here in Mountain View – California, we have put in place, plans and processes that would ensure that we get it right from the beginning as we intend to go the extra mile in picking the best employees to come and work with us at our firm.

Our management team is comprised of the best hands who have not only had several experiences in the industry that would be of huge benefit to our business but also has been attuned to our corporate goals and objectives and are willing to work to ensure that we are able to attain these goals and objectives.

Due to the fact that we would not be running a conventional cyber security firm especially in regards to the different services that we would be offering, we would be hiring more employees than necessary to handle the various roles and objectives that will crop up.

Below therefore is the business structure which we intend to build for our cyber security firm.

Chief Executive Officer

Administrative Manager

Human Resources Manager

Chief Information Security Officer

Security Administrator

Customer Service Executive

Marketing and Sales Team

Security Guard

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

• Creates the right policies and strategies that will lead the direction of the firm
• Assembles the right management personnel and delegates certain responsibilities to them for the benefit of the firm
• Meets and negotiates with high level clients on behalf of the firm
• Ensure that the administrative functions are performed smoothly
• Ensures that other management staff are aligned with company policies at all times
• In charge of the day-to-day affair of the firm
• Prepares financial information, statements and reports on behalf of the firm
• Carries out internal audit and financial forecast
• Prepares tax documents and ensures that it is submitted to the right authorities
• Sources for, interviews and recruits competent and experienced employees to work for the firm
• Creates human resource policies and ensures that they are strictly adhered to
• Ensures that employees undergo training as at when due and that periodic performance appraisals are also conducted
• Responsible for establishing the vision of the organization and creates strategy to ensure that the organization’s information and technologies are protected
• In charge of developing strategies and policies that will handle security related incidents
• Allocates security resources efficiently and for the overall benefit of the organization
• Responsible for creating system defense against unauthorized access or modifications from external threats
• Configure the right security tools such as anti-virus software, firewalls and patch management systems on behalf of the firm
• Performs on behalf of the firm, vulnerability and networking scanning assessments
• Responds correctly to customers inquiries and orders
• Remains aware and informed of company policies as well as industry trends in order to give customers accurate information
• Keeps an updated customer database for the firm
• Responsible for conducting market survey that would determine new target markets for the firm
• Meets with and negotiates with clients on behalf of the firm
• Conducts direct marketing and sales with a view to generating revenue and attaining the corporate sales goals of the firm
• Ensures that the premises remains clean at all times
• Ensures that cleaning stock are always in supply and that depleted stock are replenished
• Carry out any other duty as might be assigned by the management
• Patrols the premises and ensures that it is free from any form of trespassers
• Watches the surveillance camera in order to forestall any suspicious activity or person
• Carries out any other duty as might be determined by the management
• Runs official errands on behalf of the firm
• Ensures that traffic rules and regulations are obeyed and a logbook kept on behalf of the firm
• Carries out preventive maintenance on the vehicle on behalf of the firm

6. SWOT Analysis

Our intention to build a standard and world class cyber security firm here at Mountain View – California has led us to seek the services of a reputable business consultant who understands the market thoroughly to take a look at our business concept and determine if we are likely to survive in the industry we intend going into.

Using four major attributes to analyze our business – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats – the business consultant was able to bring our some facts that we are going to use in determining how well placed we are to start this business.

Therefore the results of the SWOT analysis conducted on behalf of Kaboosh Tech are;

Our strength lies in the fact that we are offering various services to all our customers, which has made us get a huge share of the market and to effectively compete against our competitors. Our employees are not only creative but very capable in ensuring that we are not only able to meet the demands of our customers but that we are able to surpass them as well.

Our employees are amongst the best paid in the industry of cyber security and especially amongst start-ups, this has led to our brand becoming well known in the short while that we have started. Our chief executive officer has a vast experience in this industry and has worked in various capacities in other cyber security firms and will therefore bring the right experience to bear for our firm, thereby allowing us to attain our goals and objectives.

The cyber security business is a crowded one and so it will not be so easy for us to break into this market, even as strategic as our location is. Also, because we are basically a new business, we do not have the staff strength and financial resources that will enable us effectively compete against our competitors.

• Opportunities

The cyber security market is one that has plenty of opportunities both at making a name or at making money and we fully intend to explore both. We will conduct a market research that will enlighten us more on the opportunities available to us and how we can use that to our advantage.

There are several threats that we are likely to face when starting or running the business and the first is the fact that we are going to face competitors with similar services coming to our location to start up their business. Another threat we are likely to face is with changing trends, but we will ensure that we do all we can to always be proactive so that we can easily adapt to trends.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

The healthcare sector was not spared in 2015 as it was struck by major breaches that saw 80 million records being compromised. This didn’t just start in 2015, because since 2009, close to one-third of Americans have been victims of breaches in several healthcare companies. This act has led many healthcare companies to invest more in cyber security so as to protect the data of their customers.

There are majorly two types of threats that companies face, and there are inside and outside threats. Inside threats are usually carried out by a company’s current or former employee. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), more than 34 percent of the cyber attacks that occurred in 2015 were from current employees who were still working with the firm while about 28 percent were from former employees.

Outside cyber attacks however are often carried out by hackers, activists, government agencies and organized crime outfits amongst other kinds of people and they are usually carried out within minutes while using several methods such as RAM scraping, phishing, spyware or credential theft.

8. Our Target Market

Almost everyone who has connected devices is susceptible to cyber attacks, which would be basically everyone in the United States of America. However, in order to have an accurate data as regarding those who we would be focusing on, we intend to conduct a market research that will allow us know who our true target market are and who might be our target market in the near future.

The market research we intend to conduct however will allow us identify what is expected from us by the target market and what we should expect from them as well. In view of this, we are therefore in the cyber security market to offer our services to the following groups of people and businesses;

• Healthcare companies
• Financial institutions
• Government agencies
• Tech Companies
• Celebrities
• Small businesses
• Educational institutions
• Political organizations

Our competitive advantage

Our intention of starting Kaboosh Tech is to ensure that we offer our clients cyber security services that will allow them remain proactive ahead of their attackers. We intend to be amongst the top five preferred brands by our target market and among the top three cyber security firms in the United States of America. However, in order for us to achieve this feat, we have come up with several competitive strategies that will allow us to favorably compete against our competitors.

We understand the cyber security market and most of our products are preventive in nature, which causes more companies to prefer our security designs that will allow them remain proactive in business.

We have a vast number of experienced people on board who understand the cyber security market and who know how to bring our start-up from scratch to become a major force to be reckoned with in the industry and amongst consumers. We are constantly ensuring that our employees remain stimulated enough in order to not only meet but exceed the expectations of our clients; both corporate and domestic.

We have ensured that not only is our facility strategically located here in Mountain View – California but also that we create an environment that is not only conducive but one that mentally stimulates and brings out the creative juices for the sustainability and growth of our business.

Our employees are also well paid better than what similar start-ups here in Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Silicon Valley are paying their employees. Also, we are in tune with trends and ensure that all our employees go through training and attend seminars every now and then so as to enhance their skills, thereby boosting productivity for our company.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Kaboosh Tech is a cyber security firm that has been established with the sole intention of generating revenue and maximizing profit in the cyber security industry here in Mountain View – California. We intend to ensure that we make as much profits as we can not only in the United States of America but all over the world as well.

Kabbosh Tech will therefore generate income by offering the following services;

10. Sales Forecast

Cyber crimes have led to a lot of companies and individuals investing more in cyber security in order to protect their data and sensitive information.

Our location in Mountain View – California is very strategic as we are in one of the tech communities and so have a lot of opportunity to generate the necessary revenue that will not only sustain our business but have us making enough profits in our first six months of operation.

We however carried out a critical examination of the cyber crime market cum software and tech industry in order to determine our chances in the market and what our sales forecast is likely to be. In conducting our sales forecast, we made use of information and assumptions from similar start-ups not only here in Mountain View but also in other tech communities here in California.

Therefore, the sales projections for Kaboosh Tech based on the data and information gathered are as follows;

• First Fiscal Year-: $500.000
• Second Fiscal Year-: $950,000
• Third Fiscal Year-: $2,000,000

N.B : Our projected sale is very moderate compared to what we are actually going to make but we chose to be on the safe side. The assumptions used in this instance were that there won’t be any competitor within the time period and that we would not change locations too. Should however any of the assumptions change, the sales projected figures would either increase or decrease.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Marketing is a very important aspect for any business either new or existing as this is where revenue for the business is not only generated in order to sustain and grow the business, but awareness for both existing and new customers for the business is created as well. The importance of marketing has seen businesses keeping a separate budget and creating marketing policies and strategies that will allow it to stand out in the market place.

In view of this, we are conducting a thorough marketing strategy that will enable us know who our target market is, what it is they want from us, and what we should expect from them. The marketing research is also essential because it would allow us know what strategies would be effective in the short and long run and how much we would need to set aside as a marketing budget that will allow us compete favorably against our competitors.

In this regard, we have engaged the services of a reputable marketing consulting firm here in Mountain View who have dealt with firms such as ours and created marketing strategies that were effective for them. Our choice of using a marketing consulting firm rose from the fact that as this is an intensely competitive industry, we would need all the help we can get to position our business to a standard that will allow us to achieve all our goals and objectives.

We also intend to empower our marketing and sales team to ensure that marketing strategies created for the firm are in line with our core values, goals and philosophies and will seek to promote our brands at all times. Our marketing team has the right therefore to modify or remove ineffective strategies that might harm the firm in the long run.

Therefore, the following are the marketing strategies that we will adopt at Kaboosh Tech;

• Formally introduce our cyber security firm by sending introductory letter to healthcare companies, financial institutions, government agencies, tech companies and other stakeholders in the cyber security market
• Throw an elaborate party to launch our cyber security firm in such a way as to generate awareness about our firm
• Place adverts in local and national newspapers and tech magazines as well as on radio and television stations about our cyber security firm
• Engage in direct marketing and sales by negotiating with clients
• Install billboards in strategic locations all around Mountain View and around California as well
• Use our social media platforms and other tech platforms to vigorously market our cyber security firm

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Due to the intense competition in this industry, cyber security firms that do not engage in the right publicity are bound not to survive long in the business. While publicity and advertising is very important for any business, knowing the right strategies to use due to the nature of the business will ensure that corporate goals and objectives are easily adhered to.

In regards to this, we have engaged the services of a reputable publicity consulting firm here in Mountain View – California with the right knowledge and expertise to help us draft strategies that will not only promote the brand of our company, positively communicate our brand and allow us stand out but one that will allow us to compete favorably against our competitors.

Therefore, some of the publicity and advertising strategies that we would use to promote Kaboosh Tech are;

• Attend seminars and relevant tech and software conferences in order to network and increase awareness about our brand
• Develop trial versions of our cyber security products for users and have them buy the original as soon as they are satisfied with the services from our products
• Use social media platforms such as Facebook, Linkedin, Google Plus and Twitter to vigorously promote our brand
• Create an interactive website and promote contests from our brand or from other brands
• Participate in and sponsor relevant community programs here in Mountain View – California
• Distribute handbills and fliers in strategic locations here in Mountain View

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Determining the right price for our products and services here at Kaboosh Tech will depend on a whole lot of factors such as how strong our products are, what category of products and services our customers will be demanding, how unique the products are, what our competitors are offering and what our overhead and running expenses would be.

Because of how competitive the market is, we intend to offer discounted price on some of our products as well as other incentives for the first two months of operation in order to increase the awareness for our product and attract more customers to purchase from us. Even though we would be offering a discounted price, our analysis has shown that while we might be having a low gross margin, we would not be running at a loss.

• Payment Options

Due to the high value we have for our customers and how sweet we want their experience at our company to be, we at Kaboosh Tech have come up with different payment options that will suit all our various customers and whatever preferences they might have.

Therefore, the payment options that we intend to make available to our various clients are;

• Cash payment
• Payment via check
• Payment via online payment portal
• Payment via Point of Sale (POS) Machine
• Payment via bank draft
• Payment via credit card
• Payment via crypto-currency

The above payment options were deliberately chosen to be able to cater to the diverse needs of our clients and they suit our business too. We intend to assure our customers that these platforms will work smoothly without hitches of any sort.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

The cyber security business is not such a hard business to start but if however you intend setting up a business that is standard then you would need to spend a bit more in ensuring that the most important aspects are well covered. Mostly the bulk of the capital would be used in procuring equipment, leasing a facility, buying a van and paying the salaries of employees for a defined period of time.

Therefore the key areas where we intend to spend our start-up capital on are;

• Total fee for registering Kaboosh Tech in the United States of America – $750
• Obtaining of the necessary licenses, permits, accounting and customer software as well as other legal expenses – $2,250
• Insurance policy (general liability, workers’ compensation and property insurance) – $2,000
• Leasing of a facility for use for at least five years and carrying out renovations – $100,000
• Cost of hiring a business consultant – $2,000
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees and payment of utility bills) – $150,000
• Other start-up expenses which includes (virus detection software, bug tracking, anti-viruses, software subscription and cable broadband) – $15,000
• Marketing promotion expenses (general marketing expenses and promotion activities towards the grand opening ceremony of Kaboosh Tech – $5,000
• Administrative expenses (stationery, phone, computers, printers, furniture, business cards, office supplies, and stamps)  – $30,000
• Cost of purchasing an official fairly used van – $20,000
• Cost of launching a website – $1,000
• Cost of throwing a grand opening party – $5,000
• Miscellaneous – $8,000

From the above analysis, it is apparent that we need an estimate of $341,000 if we intend to start and run a standard and successful business here in Mountain View – California. It should be noted that the bulk of the capital will go into leasing a facility for a period of five years, paying the salaries of employees as well as utility bills for a period of three months, purchasing a van for official errands as well as getting the necessary equipment to start our cyber security business here in Mountain View – California.

Generating Funding/Startup Capital for Kaboosh Tech Business

Kaboosh Tech is fully owned and run by Mr. Kab Oshe. Due to the fact that we do not intend to seek for an external investor to be part of our business, we will therefore source for funding from other sources. The following are the different areas where we intend to source our start-up capital from;

• Generate part capital from personal savings and sale of stocks
• Source for part capital from online crowdfunding sites
• Apply for loan from commercial bank

N.B : We got the sum of $100,000 from our personal savings and sale of stocks. We registered in a crowdfunding site and were able to generate the sum of $100,000 for our cyber security business. We have been able to secure the sum of $141,000 from our commercial bank after signing several documents. The loan is to be repaid in 7 years at the rate of 3% per annum.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

Ensuring that our business not only exists but is sustained for as long as we want to remain in business is a priority to us and we have therefore concentrated on the factors that we know will enable us sustain and expand our cyber security business here in Mountain View – California. The factors that we intend to concentrate on are ensuring that we build the right business structure, engage in effective publicity and advertising strategies, as well as ensure that we retain a high percentage of our clients.

Finally, we understand that without our customers, our business is going to fail, and so we pay a high amount of attention to our customers. We understand how important they are to our business and we will ensure that all employees adopt an excellent customer culture.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Conducting feasibility studies: Completed
• Generating capital from family members: Completed
• Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing/Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and around the community: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Opening party/launching party planning: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with vendors – wholesale suppliers/merchants: In Progress
• Purchase of trucks: Completed

More on Security

Creating a comprehensive cyber security plan template for small businesses: A step-by-step guide for protecting your business from cyber attacks

A cyber attack is disastrous for businesses. This is even more true for small businesses without the proper security strategies in place. 

Luckily, you can protect your business from unwanted threats with a cyber security plan template for small business success. 

Keep reading to learn about the importance of strong cyber security practices and find out how you can create your own plan. 

What is a cyber security plan template for small business?

A cyber security plan template for small business outlines everything you need to protect your business from cyber security threats. 

Our research indicates that any effective cyber security plan includes both preventative and reactionary measures for cyber-attacks and breaches.

What is the purpose of the cyber security plan template for small business?

There are many reasons behind a cyber security plan template for small businesses. As per our expertise, preparing against security threats is crucial to reduce risk as your company grows. 

In general, a cyber security plan takes three factors into account.

• Technologies: Downloading protection software for your devices.
• Processes: Educating your team and enforcing security policies.
• Access controls: Segmenting your business information, and giving access to only those who need it.

Focusing on these three factors, a cyber security template clarifies the different kinds of security risks you need in order to protect your company.

Why you need a cyber security plan

Every day, your team relies on business data to keep operations moving. This includes:

• Customer information.
• Financial data.
• Sales history.

If you lose this data to a cyber security breach, you risk losing your business.  

Unfortunately, no business is immune to cyber security threats! Our findings show that even organizations at the forefront of their industry have fallen victim to this.

But it’s a lesser known fact that small and medium businesses are the prime targets for cyber attacks.

“43% of cyber attacks target small businesses.” – Cybint , 2022.

A cyber security strategy is your first line of defense against these attacks. A complete security plan prevents cyber attacks, and provides quick solutions when required. 

Based on our firsthand experience, the more secure your organization, the more trust customers have in your product or service. And more trust leads to more sales .

For example, companies with log-in websites often implement two-factor authentication for their users. This adds an additional level of security, as it requires more than just a password for access to your system. 

Without proper security procedures, both your physical computers and online accounts are at risk of security breaches. And through our practical knowledge, if you don’t take advantage of antivirus resources, for example, entire operating systems can crash on you.

Usually, companies that thrive in cybersecurity have systems in place that prevent and solve security issues. And drawing from our experience, you can achieve both with an incident response plan.

Planning for the worst saves you time and stress. More importantly, it clarifies exactly what actions you need to take in the event of an emergency. 

The more concise your plan, the better your business will be at handling cybersecurity responsibilities.

Local network security devices like firewalls are key in filtering the connection between your private network and the public Internet.

Encryption of sensitive files on your computer, or within applications, is another key factor to consider. Any file or program that contains customer data is important to protect. 

Let’s take a look at the cyber threats that can affect your business below.

Common cyber threats for small businesses

Of course, one of the requirements for creating a cyber security plan template for small business protection is to understand your business’ risk. 

To identify your possible vulnerabilities, you need to know what threats are out there. Our research indicates that these are the most common cyber security threats for small businesses. 

Malware attacks

Malware is the biggest cyber threat for small businesses today. 

The term itself is broad and refers to all categories of malicious software meant to harm devices or networks. 

Three common types of malware attacks include:

• Ransomware. 

Let’s dive deeper into each one.

In short, a virus is a piece of computer code meant to harm your technological equipment. Computer viruses affect your devices in many ways, including:

• Corrupting or deleting files.
• Damaging computer programs.
• Slowing down device performance. 
• Causing excessive pop-up windows.

In your cyber security plan template for small business, there are several benefits to highlighting the signs when a device has become infected with a virus.

What’s more is that there are several ways that your devices can catch a virus, such as:

• File sharing.
• Downloading harmful software.
• Infected emails. 

Viruses used to be the only cyber threat that businesses worried about, but cyber security has evolved and now includes other attack strategies.

Ransomware attacks

Ransomware is malware where hackers access your data and hold it for ransom by encrypting it. You then pay them to decrypt your data and regain access. 

So, if your business experiences a ransomware attack, your products or services provided will likely come to a screeching halt.

A surprising statistic:

“Ransomware is the third most popular type of malware used in data breaches.” – Verizon , 2020.

Our findings show that this will do more than just affect your numbers. Depending on the information that the hacker gathers, a ransomware attack can be tragic for your small business. It could cost you everything to pay off the hacker. 

Unfortunately, even if you comply with the hacker, there’s a chance that they won’t keep up their end of the deal. They may ask for additional payments, or cut communications once they have what they want.

Spyware is a type of malware that collects information from your device without your knowledge. Based on our observations, it’s difficult to detect, and many people never know that they’ve been subject to a spyware attack!

With spyware, cyber criminals can not only oversee your business operations. Data privacy and data security become a pipe dream as well.

Since it’s invisible, once spyware has been downloaded to a device, there is little you can do to restore your network security.

One of the most common ways spyware hackers install spyware is through phishing emails. 

Phishing scams

Unlike the other attacks on this list, phishing isn’t software. Phishing is a technique used to gather sensitive information through deception. 

The act of convincing someone to disclose information to a hacker is called social engineering. 

The most common case of phishing involves sending emails with links that lead to a website infected with malware. These scams can affect consumers and businesses alike.

A common social engineering strategy is to trick recipients to reply to emails with personal information by pretending to be a credible source, such as a colleague. 

Our findings show that cyber criminals often claim to have management roles in the businesses they target. A similar strategy involves impersonating a company that has a strong reputation.

As per our expertise, it’s important to include strategies to prevent phishing attacks in your cyber security plan template, most of which surrounds employee education (more on this later).  

The state of your cybersecurity hinges on making a plan. Let’s jump into how to create a cyber security plan for small business.

How to create your business cyber security plan

Creating a security plan requires you to look at your current business processes to figure out your vulnerabilities. 

From there, you can put together a plan to eliminate those vulnerabilities and reduce your risk. 

You might think as a relatively unknown “small biz” that you’re safe against cyberattacks. In reality, it’s small business cybersecurity that cybercriminals target most. This is because a small organization tends to have much weaker cyber security than a larger enterprise.

It’s a good idea to use a cyber security plan template for small business through this process. Through our practical knowledge, templates for your business’ cybersecurity plan are useful tools as they eliminate internal confusion over protocols and best practices.

To guide you, here are 5 key steps to creating your plan. 

1. Identify your biggest threats

Of course, drawing from our experience, protecting your company from cyber threats requires more than just filling out a planner. 

Creating a cyber security plan is similar to setting your sales goals . For example, both involve taking every aspect of your business into account.

You can’t create a line of defense if you don’t know what you need defending from. 

This is why the first step in creating a cyber security plan for small business is to understand your business risk.

The most common threats for small businesses include:

• Ransomware.
• Weak passwords. 

Our research indicates that identifying your risks helps you find ways to prevent these risks from happening. This includes solutions, such as:

• Antivirus software.
• Newer devices with updated security features (i.e., fingerprint scanning).
• Password parameters. 

If you have an IT team, this is a job for them. If not, consult an IT professional to identify your exposure and create a plan.

2. Prioritize your assets

Cyber security asset assessment involves identifying your IT assets and potential security risks. Your assets include traditional devices as well as digital assets. 

Here are some examples of common business assets to consider:

• PCs and mobile devices.
• Networks and servers.
• Cloud-based data.

In reality, any part of your IT infrastructure is at risk of cyber security threats, so be sure to create a comprehensive list.

From there, decide which assets are the most important. That way you can determine the most vulnerable ones to begin creating your security plan. 

3. Set your goals

The goal of your security plan is to protect your small business. However, several smaller goals play into this larger objective.

In a perfect world, creating a plan to prevent cyber attacks, and including a network security device like a firewall, would be enough. However, solely relying on prevention is unrealistic. 

As much as you try to prevent cyber security attacks, there’s always a risk of cyber attackers getting through your defense. So, as per our expertise, your goals should also include optimal readiness to respond to threats. 

If you’ve already made the plans to handle unauthorized users in your system, then you’ll greatly reduce the amount of damage they can do.

Of course, malware detection is the first step once your cybersecurity is breached. So planning the ways to detect threats is as important as planning how to deal with them.

Better yet, our research indicates that you should have a goal for your recovery time to minimize your exposure and damage to your assets. 

4. Document your plan

Once you’ve determined your current cyber security risks and created a business plan to improve your response readiness, it’s time to document your plan. 

Based on our firsthand experience, documenting is easy if you use a cyber security plan template for small business, as you just have to fill in the sections in the template.

There are several reasons why documenting cybersecurity plans is important. 

For starters, you don’t want anything to slip through cracks when it comes to a cyber security plan for small business. It only takes one small slip-up for a hacker to access your information. 

Thoroughly documenting your plan minimizes the risk of overlooking an aspect of your business, and removes the possibility for any intrusion into it.

Sometimes, you’ll have conversations with your customers that are difficult . But nothing’s harder than explaining that your cyber security has been compromised. A well-documented plan softens the blow and reduces a breach’s impact.

What’s more, employee training plays a huge part in your cyber security strategy. So, document your plan in a way that’s easy to understand. 

5. Do a test run

Once you have the proper cyber security infrastructure in place that your employees are trained on, test your plan.

Don’t forget to test your employees’ ability to recognize threats by sending test phishing emails. You can also simulate a ransomware attack through encryption of your own files.

It’s important to note that cyber security is always evolving. Once you confirm that your new plan works, set up a schedule to conduct regular tests to ensure up to date strategies.

Now that you know how to create your plan, let’s explore what to include in your template. 

What to include in your cyber security plan template for small business

Making a cyber security strategy is no small task. There are two points to remember about your plan:

• It’s a document your team regularly references.
• The security of your business depends on it.

Organizations that acknowledge these points always have the most robust security strategy, making them the most cyber secure. To address these two factors, you want to ensure that you include as much detail in your plan as possible. 

Using a cyber security plan template for small business simplifies the process and ensures that your plan captures every aspect of your business. 

Since this plan will be included in the core employee resources of your organization, a template ensures that you’ve covered all your bases in a way that’s still easy to follow.

Here’s what to include in your template. 

Your objectives

To kick things off, your cyber security plan for small business protection should open with your goals. 

Your goals guide your plan, so clearly stating them at the start gives context to your proposed strategies. 

As a result, the reader sees the bigger picture and better understands the importance of cyber security strategies.

Common threats

To fully understand your cyber security strategies, you need to outline your business’ security threats.

Make sure that your plan describes each threat to your business. This means associating each common threat with an asset. 

For example, one common threat to small business security is password hacking, and one of the assets at risk is your company’s data. Knowing this, you can strengthen your employee passwords to prevent data breach.

Identifying threats specific to your business is a crucial step in protecting your staff and your customers from cyber attacks.

Security policies

Cyber security policies serve as the framework of your plan. 

Policies outline how you expect your team to protect your business assets. Some basic security practices include:

• Limiting who accesses information. 
• Restricting internet browsing on your network. 
• Implementing a plan of action for suspicious emails. 

There are also companies that offer products or services, like antivirus software to ward off security threats.

Your security policies are mainly preventative, so you should consider how to react to security breaches. 

Breach response plan

Prevention is the best tool to protect your business, but it shouldn’t be your only tool. If your business does become the victim of a cyber attack, you should have a plan of how you’ll react.

When unauthorized users infiltrate your business systems, panic sets in. It becomes difficult to think clearly and act accordingly. 

Without an established breach response plan, you’ll lack the tools  to quickly restore your business.

A breach response process allows you to identify an attack and shut it down as soon as possible. This reduces damage to your business data and ensures that you’re back up and running in no time. 

Your breach response plan should include clear steps and a timeline of how long you have to shut down an attack before your business is at risk. 

Employee education plan

You can have the tightest cyber security policies in place, but if your employees don’t know them, your business is still exposed. 

So, it’s important to implement a system that educates your employees. A cyber security plan for small business isn’t complete without employee training.

To be successful, your employees need to be up to speed on your business’ cyber risks and security policies. Design a cyber security training program to walk your employees through these.

A complete employee education plan results in your employees:

• Creating strong passwords.
• Recognizing phishing emails.
• Resisting other social engineering techniques. 
• Knowing what to do if they accidentally disclose information.

Highlight your training plan in your cyber security plan template for small business. 

For best results, conduct a cyber security training at least once a year and test employees’ knowledge monthly. 

Wrap up: Cyber security plan template for small business success

The truth is that if you don’t have a solid cyber security plan for small business, you risk losing your business completely. 

With this in mind, it’s important to prioritize cyber security policies and implement them into your business process. The applications of this plan will guarantee longevity for your business.

The key content of a complete plan includes:

• Clear goals. 
• Potential threats.
• Security policies.
• A breach response plan.
• Employee training. 

The health of your cyber security depends on these five factors for a number of reasons. Establishing each of these now means that you can quickly shut down unauthorized user or activities within your business down the road. 

The quality of your product or service means nothing if your cyber system is unsecure.

With the support of a template, your cybersecurity plan is clear, concise, and comprehensive. It allows you to draft and organize all the content that your plan requires.

Free cyber security plan template for small businesses

Protect your business from cyber attacks by drafting a robust cyber security plan.

If you don’t see the download form, download template here .

Brush up on other technology trends for your small business in this blog !

Cyber security plan template for small business FAQs

How do i implement a cyber security plan for small business.

To implement a cyber security plan for your small business, the most important step is educating your employees. Once your plan has been created, the hard part is done. 

Make your cyber security plan customary and accessible so that your employees know about your business’ strategies in the event of a cyber threat. 

If you’re unfortunate enough to experience a cyber threat, remind your staff of your plan– then follow each step closely.

How do I choose the right cyber security products for my small business?

To choose the right cyber security products for your small business, first identify all your company’s potential cyber threats. Once those are established, there are many security products to choose from.

There is not a one-size-fits all solution to cyber security. You can choose which products suit your needs, but it’s important to note that you can never be too secure.

Many cyber security companies offer free trials, so consider experimenting with different products to find the perfect fit for your business.

Where can I find a cyber security plan template for small business?

For a comprehensive cyber security plan template for small businesses plus more, simply:

• Follow this link .
• Fill out your business’ basic information.
• Click download.

Keep your data more secure with a free trial of Method:CRM.

Image credit: cottonbro via Pexels .

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Shana Cesaire

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Cybersecurity Business Plan Sample

This cybersecurity business plan sample is focused on the growing information technology (IT) security sector in Boston, Massachusetts .  We hope this sample provides you with a brief foundation for starting your own cybersecurity company.  Our cybersecurity business plan writers crafted this sample for your review.

Executive Summary

“ProSecure Squad Corporation” operating as “ProSecure Squad” (The Company) was first incorporated in September of 2016 in Massachusetts, Canada and subsequently incorporated in the State of Massachusetts on June 10 th 2020. Over the past years ProSecure Squad has developed and patented revolutionary Cyber- security products.  

With digital transformation of industries being hastened by factors such as E-Commerce, Internet of Things (IoT), Connected Machines, Self-Driving vehicles, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Coivd-19, there has been an enormous increase in the amount of electronic data.

Despite strong cyber-security defenses implemented, cyber-criminals have been getting past these defenses at an increasingly alarming rate and the cost for an organization to retain end-to-end cybersecurity professionals has become astronomical.  This has made the Cybersecurity Market one of the fastest growing industries.  

With patented products, an accomplished team of cybersecurity experts, and a clear strategy for product and service deployment, ProSecure Squad is ready to lead the next wave of cybersecurity.  The company is focused on making its world class data security solutions accessible and inclusive; therefore, targeting wide-scale adoption from medium to large businesses, and government organizations across the globe.

What makes the company’s offering so unique is our focus on simplifying data resiliency; making it easy to protect your data from being spied on, stolen or held for ransom even if a hacker or malware gets past the current cyber-defenses. 

With years of research and development, ProSecure Squad has refined our products and has garnered the interests of large corporations in the security and other Industries. With our offering being tailored to meet the current data security demands, ProSecure Squad is well positioned to become leaders in data security. 

ProSecure Squad Corporation is seeking a 15 Million USD capital investment in return for a 15% equity and voting stake in the company.  These funds will be allocated to taking the company’s products and services to market through direct sales, marketing, customer onboarding and customer support.  With this investment the company will execute on established opportunities, further develop its capabilities, and forge a notable position in one of the fastest growing industry.

Business Overview

“ProSecure Squad International Holdings” a US based company is the parent company of two organizations including ProSecure Squad Corporation (USA) and ProTech (India).  

These locations and corporate structure have been strategically chosen to tap into the strengths of the local markets in efforts to develop, deploy and maintain state of the art cyber-security products and achieve rapid market share growth.  

Mission Statement

To create the most effective and accessible data security products.

Vision Statement

To quench the world’s thirst for data security.

Growth Formula

ProSecure Squad will lead our family of companies into rapid market share growth with the following junctures:

Accomplished Executive Team

• Levi Atif, Founder and Chief Executive Officer.  A proven executive leader with experience in law enforcement, cybersecurity and senior management.
• Adib Waqar, Chief Administrative Officer.  Southeast Asia’s foremost security, management, and talent development expert.
• Ali Reza, Head of Sales.  Sales guru, with proven track record in both enterprise and startup sale hypergrowth.
• Omar Raja, Director of Security.  Cyber Security Leader with years of experience in cyber-security, strategy, incident response, and engineering
• Dr. David Khan, Advisor.  Professor of Information Engineering at MIT, leading expert in large-scale computation, cybersecurity and cloud computing.  

Expert Security, Technical and Sales Team

• Our experts are some of the best in the industry and have been handpicked from organizations such as Deloitte, E&Y, Israel Defense Forces, Samsung, Oracle, GE, EDS, Kearney, to develop state of the art security products.

Teaming Partnerships

• Our Teaming Partnerships are strategic alliances with large and medium sized businesses possessing complementary, yet distinct, skills and resources with goals of our partners selling ProSecure Squad products along with their services and products to their customers.
• These partnerships increase the rate of customer acquisition while reducing the cost of the same. 

Coveted Portfolio of Cybersecurity Products

• Over the last few years, ProSecure Squad has been quietly engineering and patenting revolutionary cybersecurity solutions, designed to give ProSecure Squad a formidable lead over key players, cybercriminals and malware.  
• Our core products are focused on making it easy for our customers to protect their data, even if a hacker or malware penetrates their cyber defenses, thus ensuring the hacker cannot see, steal or hold their data for ransom.
• The cyber-security threat landscape is changing rapidly and ProSecure Squad will constantly innovate to meet the demands of the ever evolving threats.

Market Demand

• It has been said that timing is the biggest commonality between revolutionary companies. 
• With the past unimpressive trends in data security innovation and implementation and the current increase in hacking, there has been a pent-up demand for data security products. 
• The current increase in cyber-attacks is predicted to cost the world 6 Trillion dollars in 2021. 
• There has been a 9,851% increase in cyber-attacks on health care sectors.
• Industries are starting to enforce data level security (Automotive Industry as an example through UNECE WP29 has mandated data level security for vehicles manufacturers and their suppliers)
• ProSecure Squad is well poised to capitalize on this growing market opportunity by providing its state-of-the-art products and services to a welcoming marketplace of medium to large businesses and government agencies.  

Market Accessibility

• We define “Market accessibility” as “Ease at which our customers can consume our products to protect their data”. Technical, Procedural, Financial and Political factors are included when considering Ease.
• Market Accessibility and innovation are extremely important for ProSecure Squad to meet our goals of rapid market share growth. 
• Our products have been designed and will continue to improve our Market Accessibility. 

Goals and Objectives

• Secure a 10 Million USD capital investment, and ensure Hero, Noble, Shield are ready for deployment.
• Capture at least 500,000 active users by June 2022.
• Ensure our products are fully compatible with the UNECE WP29 Automotive Cybersecurity Regulation
• Increase brand recognition by leading our sector, increasing our presence on Linkedin, and executing a strong search engine optimization strategy.
• Ensure that progressing our company culture is of equal importance to business growth.
• Onboard at least 30 active or retired law enforcement professionals, servicemen and servicewomen by December 31, 2022.
• Receive Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Certification.
• Receive ISO/IEC 27701 (ISO 27701) Certification, a privacy extension to ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002, designed to help us protect and control the personal information we handle.
• Receive Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Certification.

Executive Team

Levi Atif, 

Founder & CEO

A lifelong entrepreneur and hands-on CEO with strategic foresight, leadership and determination. As a leader and self-sufficient innovator, Levi is comfortable with any role, from the executive boardroom to the development lab, having managed teams of various sizes and functions. 

Levi’s innate ability to adapt, improve, build and motivate high-performance teams has served as a growth catalyst to provide outstanding products.  Having served and excelled in various capacities in North American law enforcement and recognized with multiple awards.  This along with a background in computer systems and research, gives him a keen understanding of the current issues in the Cybersecurity space. 

Levi has published multiple research papers and has developed innovative software that has increased efficiencies and security of systems, processes, which has led to multiple technology patents issued and pending in his name. Excellence is not an accident, but a by-product of meticulous planning and execution – True to this Levi is determined to achieve vertical market share growth for ProSecure Squad by creating excellence in People, Process and Product.

In an effort to give back to the community, Levi has been involved with multiple non-profit organizations such as the Ceres, Cradles to Crayons and has also been actively sponsoring education for children in underprivileged communities.

Adib Waqar, 

Managing Director, ProTech

Adib is uniquely positioned to drive operations and talent as one of Southeast Asia’s foremost human rights, security, management, and talent development experts. His public sector strategy to transform the potential of human capital has been sought after and recognized internationally for Meritorious Service, leadership, and excellence, by national governments of multiple countries.  Adib holds a BSC and an MA degree in Mathematics, Sociology, Criminology and Management. He also holds certification in Human Rights and Management from Durham University.

Adib was handpicked to advise the Prime Minister of Mauritius during a chaotic term in the country’s Corrections System. Subsequently he was then appointed as the Commissioner of Mauritius by a Parliamentary motion, where he oversaw the transformation of the Prison system from its state of turmoil into being recognized as its best government agency. For this achievement, he was bestowed with the Public Excellency Award in leadership. 

For over 49 years Adib has been involved with many success stories regarding leadership, management and reformation. He served with distinction as the Deputy Inspector General of Prisons in India and has been awarded the “President of India Correctional Service Medal for Meritorious Services”, “Golden Jubilee Medal of Independence of India”, and “Silver Jubilee Medal of Independence of India”.  Adib’s lean management style has been adorned by his superiors, colleagues and team members. 

Head of Sales

Worked in Senior Management Capacity for fortune 500 companies and several successful startups, leading sales and marketing team, Ali holds an MBA from Michigan Technological University.  

Over 30 years of experience selling complex IT, and supply chain software solutions, and products and services.  Recognized for consistently achieving and exceeding sales and Revenue goals.  

Extensive experience in building sales teams, and sales partnership programs that have beat or exceeded revenue goals for the company in both Startup and Growth phase.

Hypergrowth sales experience in enterprise and startup companies such as Xeeva Inc, Revolution Oil, Netlink IT, AT Kearney, GE, EDS Procurement consulting solutions, Market.com and Revolution Oil. 

Omar Raja, 

Director Security

Omar is a seasoned Cyber Security Leader with 15 years of experience with distinct focus in areas like Cyber Security Strategy, Cyber Forensics and Incident Response, Security Engineering and Implementations, and Cloud Security.

Omar brings in GD consulting and advisory experience in managing, executing and delivering complex and dynamic technology projects in the Cyber Security Space. Most recently, he managed and executed critical engagements like performing security reviews of GD data platforms for one of the leading global BFSI partners; defining and Implementing the connectivity baseline security for one of the leading global Automotive partners, and providing a strategic roadmap around consolidation of the HSM’s [Hardware Security Module] for one of the leading global BFSI firms. 

As a GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner, Omar has over 1000+ hours of digital forensic hands-on experience including data imaging, forensic analysis, carving and harvesting. He also designed and deployed the next generation in intrusion prevention, with a revolutionary approach that completely re-thinks the cycle on how to detect and protect from adversaries. He also possesses strong business development, project and program management skills, leadership and interpersonal skills. He has worked with partners across a range of industries, including BFSI, Technology, Telecom and Manufacturing.

Dr. David Khan, 

Dr. David Khan is a Professor of Information Engineering at MIT and a leading expert in large-scale computation, cybersecurity and cloud computing. He has been named one of the Top-50 Most Influential Persons in Computer Networks in the world.

Dr. Khan has published over 300 papers and 4 books. He served as Director of the MIT AutoID Laboratory from 2006-2010, where the “Internet of Things” was invented. He also served as Co-Director of the seven global AutoID laboratories, which developed the Electronic Product Code Information Systems (EPCIS)—a key software component used by industry and government to drive almost every supply-chain. He was a member of the EPC Global Architectural Review Committee for global standards. 

In cyber-physical security, Dr. Khan was PI for impact analysis of large-scale cyberattacks and in collaboration with Lincoln Laboratories, where he designed a Cyber Range for the United States Department of Defense (DOD), which enabled his team to conduct experiments and model the cyber environment in a highly portable fashion. 

In machine learning, he is working to address financial fraud for a $70 billion state enterprise. This Accenture-funded project designed a situational awareness framework to exploit different perspectives of the same financial data, and assigns risk scores to entities (payment documents) to improve false positive ratios, and to help identify fraudulent activity in huge and unlabelled financial data sets. 

Dr. Khan consults for companies across the world including Accenture, Altria, Kajima, Simizu, SAP, Shell, Exxon, Aramco, Total, IBM, Microsoft. Along with Dr. Tan, he teaches online courses in Digital Transformation, Data Science, Computational Thinking, and Blockchain.

Core Products

Shield’s Patented technology is an easy to integrate, lightweight software that can be used by application developers to protect data as it is being moved from one device to another, or while it is being stored at endpoints such as Mobiles, Machines, IoT devices, etc.  

As the volume of data that is being moved around and stored in the endpoints increases, it becomes critical to protect this data. While infrastructure security technologies like TSL, VPN, firewall, and others protect today’s data pipelines, the data itself remains vulnerable and unprotected. 

Hackers have been extremely successful in spying and stealing such data and even use it to take over IoT devices and machines with disastrous consequences. Currently there is no easy and quick way for application developers to secure the application data in transit or when it is stored in the Levices. 

Going to market rapidly is critical for the success of a company. Lack of rapidly deployable data protection products has led to the developers, either not implementing these security precautions or choosing to implement basic level security, often with little or no internal and third party security testing. 

Hackers and malwares are exploiting these weaknesses which has resulted in an increase in hacking. As an example there has been a 9,851% increase in attempted attacks on health care endpoints.

Just to give a few examples of who can use Shield; (a) Companies with Mobile Application (b) IoT Manufactures (c) Air/Sea & Land Vehicle Manufactures (d) Machine Manufactures (e) Space Manufactures (f) Medical Machine Manufacturers (g) Robotics Manufacturers (h) Sensors Manufacturers (i) Entertainment Industry (ensuring videos or audios cannot be used without the application) etc.

Product Pricing

Ou r products are sold in a Security as a Service (SaaS) model, where our products will be licensed for use by our customers. 

ProSecure Squad plans to onboards companies in the targeted verticals which has mobile application and sensitive data.  Through these mobile applications, ProSecure Squad is planning to support 500,000 active monthly users.  

If these 500,000 users encrypts data only 5 times daily using their mobile applications, ProSecure Squad is expecting 2,500,000 encryption each day for a daily revenue of $2,500 and a yearly revenue of $ 912,500.

Targeted Verticals

• Mobile Application Developers
• BFSI Mobile Application 
• Betting Mobile Application 
• Dating Mobile Application 
• Defense Mobile Application 
• Health Care Mobile Application 
• Government Mobile Application 
• Social Media Mobile Application 
• Telecommunication Application
• Automobile Mobile Application 
• Retail and e-commerce Mobile Application
• Entertainment Application
• Education Application
• Machine Manufactures
• IoT Manufactures

Hero’s Patented technology protects data and keep it safe from both internal and external threats. Despite strong security measures, major corporations, and governments have been increasingly susceptible to having their data stolen or held for ransom.  ProSecure Squad protects data in storage by distributing it and hiding it so a hacker cannot see it, seal it or lock it.

Hero does not use access based system to protect data unlike most modern storage system, instead our patented product uses “doublelocks”  (ie. Uses a user keys and users themselves) and “ledger-less distribution” which breaks the data into tiny pieces, encrypts and distributes it amongst hidden nodes.  Only if the “doublelock” is unlocked can the data pieces can even be located. 

With an increasing number of breaches in the cloud, despite strong infrastructure security technologies like TSL, VPN, firewall, and others which protect today’s data pipelines, the data itself remains vulnerable and unprotected. 

Hackers have been extremely successful in spying, stealing and holding for ransom the data stored in the cloud with disastrous consequences.  Having the data “doublelocked” and “ledger-less distributed” means that no one except the data owner can locate the file let alone try to decrypt it.  This reduces the chances of advanced attacks and insider attacks on the customers data.

Even encrypted data stored in the cloud have been compromised multiple times in the recent past and they have also been held for ransom.  The problem lies in the fact that even encrypted data can be decrypted with appropriate access, this weakness has been exploited by attackers successfully as evidenced in the recent breaches.

Just to give a few examples of who can use Hero; (a) Companies that store sensitive data and want to protect it (Trade secrets, customer information, secret formulas, financial information etc.) (b) Companies that want to back up sensitive data and have ransomware protection (c) Cloud data storage companies such as Dropbox.

• Banking, Financial, Securities and Insurance Industry (BFSI)
• Health Care
• Governments
• Information Technology

Our products are sold in a Security as a Service (SaaS) model, where our products will be licensed for use by our customers. The licensing cost for Shield is as below:

Over 80% of security breaches are credentials-related, Noble’s authentication is infused with advanced security features, such as multifactor (biometric, puzzle, location, Levice) multipoint, cross platform authentication to validate a user or data.  The hassle free Biometrics is privatized, protected and kept in compliance, so you do not have to worry about it. Noble is more than just an user authentication module, our innovative use of this technology extends biometrics to data protection as well.  Noble technology can readily integrate into your desktop or mobile device to provide unparalleled, hassle free user and data validation.  The Noble is fast, reliable and can keep your bio-metrics protected, private and in compliance.

ProSecure Squad Hero, Shield and Noble will be targeted to the following verticals:

• Information Technology (IT)
• Manufacturing
• Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI)
• Government & Defense 

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• Your Name *
• Email Address *
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Peripheral Products

Modernize and protect your business by exchanging and storing files through the most secure cloud platform for file transfer and storage.  Your privacy is paramount, no one except the data owner will ever be able to access the data.

Managed Security Services

Providing state of the art enterprise level cyber-security services for your business, by assessing, managing, mitigating and responding to a multitude of cyber threats, so you can focus on your business.

Recurring Revenue +New Customer Acquisition

We plan to provide our core products to the following verticals:

• Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs)
• Healthcare 
• Energy & Utilities

Operational Model

ProSecure Squad’s operations will consist of a Hybrid Business Model where a portion of team members work remotely from home, and others meet at designated offices.  This will be determined by two overriding factors: whether a team member resides near one of our offices, and whether their position is optimized for remote or in-person work.  In situations that there is flexibility around this matter we will provide staff with the option to choose whether to work from home or in the office.

At the present time, ProSecure Squad is located in Massachusetts , Michigan and India.  ProSecure Squad has a physical location in India and operates remotely in Michigan and Massachusetts.  ProSecure Squad is looking for a space in Massachusetts and have embarked in negotiations.  The following will determine the location for ProSecure Squad’s headquarters:

• Strong support by local government 
• Lower cost of resources
• Robust Manufacturing, Health and Government Sector presence

Process Quality and Auditing

Security and quality are built into our DNA, ProSecure Squad is an ISO270001 certified company and working towards other certifications (ISO 27701, NIST, HIPPA, CMMC etc). On a regular basis, we audit ourselves and along with external parties to ensure security and quality.  

Deloitte has been tasked with ensuring manning and operating a 24X7 Security Operations Center for ProSecure Squad. 

Our External Audit is conducted by:

ProSecure Squad has the greatest businesses on the planet protecting us, and helping us grow.  This can be shown by our external auditing process:

• Deloitte: 24/7 security monitoring, annual external audit
• KPMG: annual external audit
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO): process and security audits

Our internal auditing process consists of the following:

• Internal Auditing Team that is reviewed quarterly by management
• Cyber Governance Team that is reviewed every 6 months by management
• Process and Security Audits conducted weekly and quarterly

Process Quality

ProSecure Squad has developed and matured a robust software research, development, QA Testing and Security Testing which includes both internal and external testing partners.  The process has been audited by Deloitte and during our ISO audit.  Please find the process below:

Customer Journey Process

ProSecure Squad’s customer journey process is as below:

• LEAD STAGE: A lead is a potential buyer. 
• PROSPECT & QUALIFYING STAGE: 
• Prospect – A lead that is qualified or determined to be ready, willing, and able to buy. 
• Qualified Prospect (QP) – A prospect who has been approved by ProSecure Squad for the sales agent. 
• DISCOVERY MEETING: Strategic approach to the QP. 
• DEMO/SOLUTIONING: Educating the customers on how we can enable their technology and security needs. 
• PROPOSAL: Written documents where ProSecure Squad offers product and our service pricing to the potential customer. The proposal should demonstrate how we can serve the needs of the potential customer by showing the key benefits and value that ProSecure Squad can provide. 
• NEGOTIATION: This is the strategic discussion between the buyer and the seller that will ideally lead to a deal being closed. 
• CLOSE: This is the final agreement on both sides to complete the signing of the deal, and move forward on delivering the products, or services purchased. 

Market Overview

The global cybersecurity market was worth $173B USD in 2020, growing to $270B USD by 2026. By 2026, 77% of cybersecurity spending will be for externally managed security services.  While money spent on in-house or internal cybersecurity functions is expected to grow 7.2% each year to 2026, global spending on external cybersecurity products and services is projected to increase by 8.4% annually over the same period.

Cyber security and defense against online threats undertake greater significance in today’s digital changing landscape. It has become vital amid organization due to rapidly increasing frauds, cybercrimes, risk, threats, and vulnerabilities. Disruptive and emerging technologies in banking, retail, information technology, defense, and manufacturing sectors have offered new capabilities, facilitated automation, and offered ease of working in the recent past. However, these technologies have also emerged as a potent factor in the development of the global threat landscape of exploits, vulnerabilities, and malware. The emerging threat landscape is observed with an increased number of cybercrime activities in the global digital era.

Market Trends

Expanding Cyber-Attack Surface (Remote Work, IoT, Supply Chain)

According to cybersecurity ventures, t he world will store 200 zettabytes of data by 2025 . This includes data stored on private and public IT infrastructures, on utility infrastructures, on private and public cloud data centers, on personal computing devices. 

The digital transformation was rapidly pushed by Covid-19 and the need to move individuals working in offices to working remotely from their homes. That led to essentially millions of connected offices. It is estimated that nearly half the U.S. labor force is working from home , and that it is greater in many other countries due to lockdowns.  Home offices are not as protected as the fortified office sites that have more secure firewalls, routers, and access management run by Its security teams. Remote work has created new opportunities for hackers to exploit vulnerable employee devices and networks. Dorit Dor, vice president of products, Check Point Software elaborated on how the digital transformation. “Businesses globally surprised themselves with the speed of their digital initiatives in 2020: it’s estimated that digital transformation was advanced by up to seven years. But at the same time, threat actors and cyber criminals also changed their tactics so that they could take advantage of these changes, and the pandemic’s disruption, with surges in attacks across all sectors.” 

The 2021 Director of National Intelligence (DNI) report estimates that IoT will reach 64 billion objects all monitored in real time.  “Looking forward, a hyperconnected world could support up to 1 million devices per square kilometer with next generation cell phone systems (5G), compared with the 60,000 Levices currently possible with current cell networks, with even faster networks on the horizon.” Office of the Director of National Intelligence – Global Trends (dni.gov)

The Internet of Things (IoT) is related to supply chain vulnerabilities. IoT’s exponential connectivity is an ever-expanding mesh of networks and devices. Supply chain cyber-attacks can be perpetrated from nation state adversaries, espionage operators, criminals, or hacktivists. Their goals are to breach contractors, systems, companies, and suppliers via the weakest links in the chain. This is often done through taking advantage of poor security practices of suppliers, embedding compromised (or counterfeit) hardware and software, or from insider threats within networks. Please see my FORBES article: Cybersecurity Threats: The Daunting Challenge of Securing the Internet Of Things Cybersecurity Threats: The Daunting Challenge Of Securing The Internet Of Things (forbes.com)

Protecting such an enormous attack surface is no easy task, especially when there are so many varying types and security standards on the Levices.”  One way to address the expanding attack surface is to use an automation tool chest that can now utilize horizon scanning technologies, analytics, audits, incident alert tools, diagnostics, and even self-repairing software. Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies can also provide for more efficient decision making by prioritizing and acting on threats, especially across larger networks with many users and variables.

Ransomware as a Cyber Weapon of Choice

Ransomware has been around for almost two decades and has grown in popularity because it can more easily bring financial rewards to hackers. It is estimated that there are now 124 separate families of ransomware and hackers have become very adept at hiding malicious code. Success for hackers does not always depend on using the newest and most sophisticated malware. It is relatively easy for a hacker to do. In most cases, they rely on the most opportune target of vulnerability, especially with the ease of online attacks.

Last year, ransomware made up nearly a quarter of the incident-response engagements for IBM Security’s X-Force threat intelligence group. Fifty-nine percent of the ransomware incidents involved cybercriminals exfiltrating, before encrypting, the data — so-called “double-extortion” attacks. Ransomware, Phishing Will Remain Primary Risks in 2021 (darkreading.com)

The reason is that ransomware became a weapon of choice for hackers in the COVID-19 induced digital landscape. The transformation of so many companies operating in a mostly digital mode had created more targets for extortion. According to a research study by Deep Instinct, ransomware increased by 435% in 2020 as compared with 2019. And the average ransomware payout has grown to nearly $234,000 per event , according to cybersecurity firm Coveware.  Malware increased by 358% in 2020 – Help Net Security

The trend in 2021 is that criminal hacker groups are becoming more sophisticated in their phishing exploits with use of machine learning and more coordinated sharing on the dark web and dark web forums. Hackers are also able to get paid via cryptocurrencies that can be difficult to trace making ransomware more a priority in their exploit tool chests. With the advent of cryptocurrencies in ransomware, it became a profit motive for a lot of the criminal enterprises. They replaced brick and mortar crime with digital crime.

The estimated cost of ransomware was $20 billion in 2020, a rise from $11.5 billion in 2019 and $8 billion in 2018. That trend will continue to grow.  22 Popular Types of Cyber Attacks in 2021 – CyberExperts.com  The likely impact for the near-term future is that there will be more ransomware attacks against institutions and corporations who are less cyber secure and cannot afford to have operations impeded such as health care, state & local governments, and educational institutions.  Preventing ransomware requires cybersecurity awareness and preparation based on anti-malware programs, secure passwords, updating patches and having secure routers, VPNs, and Wi-Fi. Most important of all, do not fall for the Phish and be sure to back up sensitive data.

Threats Against Critical Infrastructure; ICS, OT/IT Cyber-Threat Convergence

The 2020 World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report listed cyberattacks on critical infrastructure (CI) as a top concern. WEF noted that “attacks on critical infrastructure have become the new normal across sectors such as energy, healthcare, and transportation.” The Global Risks Report 2020 | World Economic Forum (weforum.org) Dragos Inc. “Year in Review 2020” report of industrial control systems (ICS) and operational technology (OT) cyberthreats, vulnerabilities, assessments and incident response insights determined that threats have increased threefold in the past year. Dragos: ICS security threats grew threefold in 2020 on February 24, 2021 at 12:00 am SearchSecurity (itsecurity.org)

The threats are growing along with the attack surfaces associated with CI. The types of cyber threats include phishing scams, bots, ransomware, and malware and exploiting software holes. The global threat actors are many including terrorists, criminals, hackers, organized crime, malicious individuals, and, in some cases, adversarial nation states. Hackers often seek out unsecured ports and systems on industrial systems connected to the internet. IT/OT/ICS supply chains in CI can be particularly vulnerable as they cross pollinate and offer attackers many points of entry and older Legacy OT systems were not designed to protect against cyber-attacks.

In the U.S., most of the critical infrastructure, including defense, oil and gas, electric power grids, health care, utilities, communications, transportation, education, banking, and finance, is owned by the private sector (about 85 percent) and regulated by the public sector. The energy sector stands out as being particularly vulnerable. This ecosystem of insecurity includes power plants, utilities, nuclear plants, and The Grid. A reason for why the sector has become more vulnerable is that hackers have gained a deeper knowledge of control systems and how they can be attacked and can employ weaponized malware against power stations and other energy related CI assets.

The recent Solar Winds Cyber-attack can also be viewed as a wake-up call for the interactive nature of OT/IT infrastructures. According to Grant Geyer, chief product officer of Claroty the advanced capabilities and backdoors in use by the attack “should put any organization that includes nation-state actors as part of their threat mode on alert, including critical infrastructure, industrial control systems (ICS) and SCADA operators.” SolarWinds: Why OT should worry (controlglobal.com)

Protecting critical Industrial Control Systems (ICS), Operational Technology (OT), and IT systems from cybersecurity threats is a difficult endeavor. They all have unique operational frameworks, access points, and a variety of legacy systems and emerging technologies. The explosion of connected devices comprising the Internet of Things and The Internet of Industrial Things is challenging. The trends of integration of hardware and software combined with growing networked sensors are redefining the surface attack opportunities for hackers across all digital infrastructures.

To help ameliorate threats, critical infrastructure operators should apply a comprehensive risk framework to implement or to address vulnerabilities to OT/IT convergence including “security by design”, defense in depth, and zero trust to counter cyber threats. It is especially important for the public and private sectors to coordinate and apply and enforce industry security protocols, especially related to Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA). The Internet was not built for security at its inception; it was built for connectivity. Following industry and government protocols derived from lessons learned is essential for protecting vital infrastructure.

Other mitigation efforts can be done by employing new technologies that monitor, alert, and analyze activities in the network. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning tools can help provide visibility and predictive analytics.  It is also good to have diversification and multiple sourcing for suppliers in the event of a breach. Preparation and redundancy are advantageous in crisis scenarios. But like most issues in cybersecurity, it comes down to people, vigilant processes, and technologies coupled with risk factors constantly being reviewed.

Competitive Advantages

Technical Advantages: Our products are revolutionary, making it near impossible for an attacker to even stand a chance.  What truly sets us apart is our proprietary technology which protects our customers’ data.  We understand the importance of continuing to be pioneers in the cyber-resiliency space.  

These technical advantages offer a strategic advantage not only because of the patents, but also because of the diversity of clients we can onboard.  

• Advanced Transit Protection – By breaking the data into tiny pieces and “doublelocking” it with receiver information, we can ensure that no one expect the receiver can see the data. The encryption, changes every time there by evading advanced attacks.  
• Endpoint Data Protection – The data which has been protected by Shield cannot be viewed or used by any application other than the actual application that put the data there. Thereby increasing security of the data.
• Multi-Platform – The above protections can be done in mobile, desktop, cloud, machines, IoT Levices etc., thereby giving ProSecure Squad an unique advantage over our competition. 
• Low Code – Integrating our products only needs a minimum level of coding, in fact ProSecure Squad is planning to embark on a journey to automate the process of integration of our products into applications.  This will further enhance our capability and improve the speed at which we can deploy. 
• Ledger less Distributed Data Protection – By distributing the broken pieces of data across hidden storage without a ledger, we can ensure no one except the data owner can access the data.
• Double Lock Protection – We lock the data with the owners keys and the owners information to ensure the distributed data cannot be pulled out without the data owner. 

Business Advantages

• Teaming Partnership – Our Teaming Partnerships are strategic alliances with large and medium sized businesses possessing complementary, yet distinct, skills and resources with goals of our partners selling ProSecure Squad products along with their services and products to their customers.  This partnership increases the rate of customer acquisition while reducing the cost of the same.
• Accessibility – Our products will become more and more easy to use and also affordable. 

Sales & Marketing Plan

ProSecure Squad is planning to sell to customers using both Direct sales and Teaming Partners. Teaming partners will be used as power resellers while direct sales will primarily be done through our sales team and it will be supported by commission only contractors.  ProSecure Squad will also work with social media marketing agencies to market directly to customers.

Targeted Verticals 

• Information Technology,
• Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI),
• Healthcare,
• Media and Entertainment,
• Manufacturing, 
• Health care, 
• Government & Defense.

Key Channels 

Direct Sales  

• Outbound emailing
• Sponsored Linkedin Messaging
• Outbound Calling 

Teaming Agreements 

• Deloitte, KPMG, Wesco, EY
• Will utilize this model with future clients, where they can upsell our products 

Social Media Marketing

• Linkedin Content and Engagement
• Facebook Marketing to build awareness
• Targeted pay per click advertising 

Financial Plan

Pro Forma Income Statement

Pro Forma Cash Flow Statement

Pro Forma Balance Sheet

Have Questions? Looking To Get Started?

How can we help you.

Get in touch with us or visit our office

Cyber Security Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

Cyber Security Business Plan Template

If you want to start a cyber security business or expand your current cyber security business, you need a business plan.

The following Cyber Security business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a winning Cyber Security business plan. In addition to this template, a solid plan will also include market research to help you better understand market trends, your competitive advantage and your target customers. It will also help you craft your marketing plan and strong financial projections.

You can download our business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Cyber Security Business Plan Example

Below are links to each of the key sections of your Cyber Security business plan: I. Executive Summary II. Company Overview III. Industry Analysis IV. Customer Analysis V. Competitive Analysis VI. Marketing Plan VII. Operations Plan VIII. Management Team IX. Financial Plan

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Cyber Security Business Plan Home I. Executive Summary II. Company Overview III. Industry Analysis IV. Customer Analysis V. Competitive Analysis VI. Marketing Plan VII. Operations Plan VIII. Management Team IX. Financial Plan

• Security operations and management

This comprehensive guide to cybersecurity planning explains what cybersecurity is, why it's important to organizations, its business benefits and the challenges that cybersecurity teams face. You'll also find an overview of cybersecurity tools, plus information on cyberattacks to be prepared for, cybersecurity best practices, developing a solid cybersecurity plan and more. Throughout the guide, there are hyperlinks to related TechTarget articles that cover the topics more deeply and offer insight and expert advice on cybersecurity efforts.

• How to develop a cybersecurity strategy: Step-by-step guide

A cybersecurity strategy isn't meant to be perfect, but it must be proactive, effective, actively supported and evolving. Here are the four steps required to get there.

• Karen Scarfone, Scarfone Cybersecurity

A cybersecurity strategy is a high-level plan for how your organization will secure its assets during the next three to five years. Obviously, because technology and cyber threats can both change unpredictably, you'll almost certainly have to update your strategy sooner than three years from now. A cybersecurity strategy isn't meant to be perfect; it's a strongly educated guess as to what you should do. Your strategy should evolve as your organization and the world around you evolve.

The intended outcome of developing and implementing a cybersecurity strategy is that your assets are better secured. This generally involves a shift from a reactive to a proactive security approach, where you're more focused on preventing cyber attacks and incidents than reacting to them after the fact. But solid cybersecurity strategies will also better prepare organizations to respond to those incidents that do occur. By preventing minor incidents from becoming major ones, organizations can preserve their reputations and reduce harm to employees, customers, stockholders, partners and other interested parties.

How do you build a cybersecurity strategy for your business?

Building a cybersecurity strategy for your business takes effort, but it could mean the difference between surpassing your competitors and going out of business. Here are the basic steps to follow in developing an effective security strategy.

Step 1. Understand your cyber threat landscape

Before you can understand your cyber threat landscape, you need to examine the types of cyber attacks that your organization faces today. Which types of cyber threats currently affect your organization the most often and most severely: ransomware , other forms of malware, phishing, insider threats or something else? Have your competitors had major incidents recently, and if so, what types of threats caused them?

This article is part of

The ultimate guide to cybersecurity planning for businesses

• Which also includes:
• Top 8 in-demand cybersecurity jobs for 2024 and beyond
• Top 7 enterprise cybersecurity challenges in 2024

Next, get yourself up to speed with predicted cyber threat trends that could affect your organization. For example, many security researchers feel that ransomware is going to become an even bigger threat as ransomware gangs flourish and expand their attacks. There's also increasing concern about supply chain vulnerabilities caused by, for example, purchasing compromised components and either using them within your organization or building them into products you sell to customers. Understanding what cybersecurity threats you'll face in the future and the likely severity of each of them is key to building an effective cybersecurity strategy.

Step 2. Assess your cybersecurity maturity

Once you know what you're up against, you need to do an honest assessment of your organization's cybersecurity maturity. Select a cybersecurity framework, like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Use it first to assess how mature your organization is in dozens of different categories and subcategories, from policies and governance to security technologies and incident recovery capabilities. This assessment should include all of your technologies, from traditional IT to operational technology, IoT and cyber-physical systems.

Next, use the same cybersecurity framework to determine where your organization should be in the next three to five years in terms of maturity for each of those categories and subcategories. For example, if distributed denial-of-service attacks will be a major threat, you may want your network security capabilities to be particularly mature. If ransomware will be your biggest security issue, ensuring that your backup and recovery capabilities are highly mature may be key. If the remote work policies that were driven by COVID-19 have or will become permanent at your company, temporary tools deployed during the pandemic need to be hardened. The maturity levels you're targeting are your new strategic objectives.

Step 3. Determine how to improve your cybersecurity program

Now that you've established a baseline and determined where you want to be going forward, you need to figure out the cybersecurity tools and cybersecurity capabilities that will help you reach your destination. In this step, you determine how to improve your cybersecurity program so that you achieve the strategic objectives you've defined. Every improvement will consume resources -- money, staff time, etc. You'll need to think about different options for achieving the objectives and the pros and cons of each option. It may be that you decide to outsource some or all of your security tasks .

Cybersecurity career advice

Looking to further your career in cybersecurity? These four articles provide timely information on how to build the technical and personal skills you'll need to be successful.

Cybersecurity career path: 5-step guide to success

10 cybersecurity certifications to boost your career

10 must-have cybersecurity skills for career success

Top 10 cybersecurity interview questions and answers

When you've selected a set of options, you'll want to present them to upper management at your organization for their review, feedback and -- hopefully -- support. Changing the cybersecurity program may affect how business is done, and executives need to understand that and accept it as being necessary in order to sufficiently safeguard the enterprise from cyber threats. Upper management may also be aware of other plans for the coming years that your efforts could take advantage of.

Step 4. Document your cybersecurity strategy

Once you have management approval, you need to ensure your cybersecurity strategy is documented thoroughly. This includes writing or updating risk assessments , as well as cybersecurity plans, policies, guidelines, procedures and anything else you need to define what's required or recommended in order to achieve the strategic objectives. Making it clear what each person's responsibilities are is key.

Be sure that, as you're writing and updating these documents, you're getting active participation and feedback from the people who will be doing the associated work. You also need to take the time to explain to them why these changes are being made and how important the changes are so that, hopefully, people will be more accepting and supportive of them.

And don't forget that your cybersecurity strategy also necessitates updating your cybersecurity awareness and training efforts. Everyone in the organization has a role to play in mitigating security issues and improving your enterprise cybersecurity program. As your risk profile changes, so must your cybersecurity culture.

Monitor and reassess security threats and strategy

Developing and implementing a cybersecurity strategy is an ongoing process and will present many challenges. It's critically important that you monitor and reassess your organization's cybersecurity maturity periodically to measure the progress you're making -- or not making -- toward your objectives. The sooner you identify an area that's falling behind, the sooner you can address it and catch up. Measuring progress should include internal and external security audits plus tests and exercises that simulate what would happen under different circumstances, like a major ransomware incident.

Finally, be prepared to rethink your cybersecurity strategy if a major new threat arises. Agility in security is increasingly important. Don't be afraid to update your strategy as cyber threats and security technologies change and as your organization acquires new types of assets that need safeguarding.

5 essential programming languages for cybersecurity pros

Top 12 online cybersecurity courses

What is the future of cybersecurity?

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Related Resources

• Obtaining Best-in-Class Network Security with Cloud Ease of Use –Palo Alto Networks

Dig Deeper on Security operations and management

NIST Releases CSF 2.0, Caters to Audience Beyond Critical Infrastructure

Cybersecurity governance: A path to cyber maturity

HHS Unveils Healthcare Cybersecurity Strategy

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Cyber Security Plan Template

What is a Cyber Security Plan?

A cyber security plan is a structured approach to protecting an organization's data, systems, and networks from malicious cyber threats. It outlines the processes, procedures, and technologies in place to protect the organization's digital assets from unauthorized access, theft, and malicious damage. It also outlines the steps to take in the event of a security breach.

What's included in this Cyber Security Plan template?

• 3 focus areas
• 6 objectives

Each focus area has its own objectives, projects, and KPIs to ensure that the strategy is comprehensive and effective.

Who is the Cyber Security Plan template for?

The Cyber Security Plan template is designed to help IT security teams in organizations of all sizes and industries create a cyber security plan company-wide. It provides a comprehensive structure to define objectives, set measurable targets (KPIs), and implement related projects to achieve those objectives.

1. Define clear examples of your focus areas

A focus area is a broad topic that you want to address in your security plan. Examples of focus areas include increasing cyber security, reducing data loss, and strengthening authentication.

2. Think about the objectives that could fall under that focus area

Objectives are the goals that you want to achieve within each focus area. They should be well-defined and measurable to ensure that the security plan is effective and trackable. Examples of some objectives for the focus area of Increase Cyber Security could be: Develop organizational cyber security plan, and Implement security protocols.

3. Set measurable targets (KPIs) to tackle the objective

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are the metrics that you will use to measure progress towards objectives. They should be relevant, measurable, and achievable in order to ensure successful completion of objectives. An example of a KPI for the focus area of Increase Cyber Security could be: Increase security assessment score from 65/100 to 90/100.

4. Implement related projects to achieve the KPIs

Projects (actions) are the steps that need to be taken to achieve objectives. Each project should have a defined timeline and a designated person responsible for its completion. An example of a project related to Increase Cyber Security could be: Conduct security assessment.

5. Utilize Cascade Strategy Execution Platform to see faster results from your strategy

Cascade is a strategy execution platform that helps organizations stay on track with their strategic plans. It helps teams visualize goals, track progress, and identify areas of improvement to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

Cyber Security Business Plan Example

A comprehensive guide to writing a cyber security business plan.

Learn how to create a cybersecurity business plan that will help you succeed! This comprehensive guide provides you with an example and tips for success.

Formulating an effective cybersecurity business plan ensures your company’s success. Learn how to create a comprehensive business plan that is tailored to the needs of your business and takes into account potential risks, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations.

Explain Your Unique Value Proposition.

Every successful business must define a unique value proposition that distinguishes it from its competitors. Explain how your cyber security services differ – what solutions do you offer, and why should potential customers choose your company over another? Be sure to include the benefits of any particular methods or processes you use and any relevant experience or certifications held by subject-matter experts.

Identify Your Target Market.

Identifying your target market is essential for any business, and cyber security isn’t different. Ensure you understand your potential customers, their needs, and how best to reach them. Consider factors such as geographic location, company size, industry sector, available budget, and requirements based on regulatory or compliance issues. With this information, you can create an effective marketing strategy to capture leads.

Outline your Products and Services.

Your products and services should be carefully tailored to meet your prospective customer’s needs. This will depend on the specific area of cyber security that you plan to focus on. Be sure to create a list of services to make it easier for the customer to understand what you offer and make their decision-making process more manageable. Also, explain your unique value proposition—why customers should choose you over your competitors.

Establish a Development Timeline.

Once you’ve determined what products and services you will offer, it’s time to create a timeline for when your business will be generating income. Set realistic goals for developing each plan component, such as estimates for market research, customer interaction, product development, etc. Do some research into industry timelines and make sure that your timeline is ambitious yet achievable. Also, remember to include a contingency plan if any unexpected bumps arise during the timeline process.

Set Critical Metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Once you have mapped out your timeline,  setting measurable objectives is essential to ensure your cyber security business plan succeeds. Establishing critical metrics and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) will help track your progress and give you invaluable insight into where your business stands at any given time. Of course, identifying the ideal metrics for success will depend on what products or services you offer and your industry and target market.

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Cyber Security Business Plan Sample

Published Aug.02, 2018

Updated Apr.22, 2024

By: Noor Muhammad

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Table of Content

Do you want to start cyber security business?

Do you want to start a cyber security business? Well, in the modern world of internet and technology, cybercrimes such as stealing personal, financial or national data are committed by people on every scale by the use of computers and internet.

Starting a cyber security business  will prove extremely beneficial for you as all business owners know the importance of protecting their sensitive data from expert hackers. In case, you don’t know how to start this business, we are providing you a detailed sample business plan for the cyber security business startup named ‘Fiduciary Tech’.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

Fiduciary Tech will be owned by Jack Gosling who is a Masters in Information Security and has revolutionary cyber security business ideas . The business is meant to secure the data of its clients from cybercrimes and unnecessary threats.

2.2 Management

Jack has obtained the services of experienced and skilled software and computer engineers.

2.3 Customers

Our customers will be the business owners, government agencies, and institutes. We’ll secure our customer’s data by blocking its access to unauthorized users.

2.4 Business Target

Our target is to balance the initial cost of the startup with earned profits by the end of the first year and to achieve the net profit margin of $10k per month by the end of the first year.

Company Summary

Jack has a Masters degree in Information Security from Harvard University and is expert in the domain of cyber-security. He has been working in Symantec as a Cryptographer for ten years, but now he has decided to start a cyber-security business .

3.2 Why the Business is being started

Jack has always been passionate about learning more about securing data from hackers, by starting a cyber-security business. He has a team of excellent security analysts and vulnerability assessors. He wants to use his and his team’s IT skills to avail the cyber security business opportunities .

3.3 How the Business will be started

Jack will rent a large office near the Chinatown, Boston. Latest computers, servers, laptops, intrusion detection and prevention systems, anti-malware and other tech things will be purchased for the startup besides the usual inventory. The company will undertake various measures to make sure that employees and networks are secured from unnecessary threats.

The startup summary is as follows:

The detailed start-up requirements are given below:

Services for customers

If you are starting a computer security business , you must focus on the services, you will provide to your customers. This sample business plan of Fiduciary Tech will guide you how to   start your own cyber security business .

Our services will include:

• Dark Web Monitoring Agent: This system will detect the compromised credentials associated with your personnel and notify to block his access before they breach your data.
• Next Generation Endpoint Protection: This system will detect zero-day threats and restore the database in case of attack and recover it from error.
• Firewall & Managed Firewall: This system will monitor your networks, connected with multiple sources and block sophisticated malicious attacks by using Intrusion Detection and Prevention System.
• Cyber Security & Network Assessment: This system will protect the client by internal threats by strictly controlling the addition of unauthorized users. This system will ensure that unauthorized users can’t access the internet data and can’t make any changes to lockdown servers and computers.

Marketing Analysis of cyber security business

The most deciding and important feature of a cyber security business plan is the accurate marketing analysis. A perfect cyber security company business plan  is the one in which you have mentioned your target customers and devised your policies according to them. Correct marketing analysis of IT security consulting business plan will help you by clearly defining whether the market has the potential of your startup or not.

For the initial startup, you must formulate a small business cyber security plan template , but if you want to expand your business at a bigger scale, you must seek the services by experts to devise you an IT security business plan  according to your finances and location.

5.1 Market Trends

The demand for cybersecurity is increasing day by day. According to a report by IBISWorld, the business is growing at a considerable rate of 5.2% annually. There are about 16,000 cybersecurity centers working in the United States.

This business is responsible for the employment of more than 70,000 persons in the U.S. and is generating a revenue of $13 billion per year. This statics clearly demonstrate that the demand of cyber-security business is about to reach the optimal peak in the near future

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

Our business has a worldwide scope, however, we will only target the companies and institutes of Boston at the initial stage. The following groups will prove our major customer’s category.

5.2.1 Corporate Sector & Business Owners: This target group will comprise of all the hotels, restaurants, real estate owners, manufacturers and distributors, branding agencies and most significantly software development firms. The business owners have now acknowledged that the breaches of their data can have drastic consequences and can even lead to the cessation of their business. So, they will acquire our deft execution services and can concentrate on growing their business without the tension of losing sensitive information.

5.2.2 Institutions & Organizations: Our second target group comprises of institutions and organizations located worldwide including schools, colleges, and universities, government and public-sector organizations, religious and sports organizations, political parties, etc. These organizations will also need our services for securing their network and server to block the access of unauthorized users to the personal data of the members of those institutes.

5.2.3 Celebrities & Individuals: Our third target group consists of actors, media persons, sportsmen, bloggers and other people who can need our services if some unauthorized user tries to access their accounts.

The detailed market analysis of our potential customers is given in the following table:

5.3 Business Target

• To achieve the net profit margin of $10k/month by the first year, $15k by the second year, and $25k by the third year
• To balance the initial cost of the startup with earned profits by the end of the first year

5.4 Product Pricing

Great service.

Great service. Good turnaround time and quality work. Thanks!

Product pricing is one of the most important factors in deciding the strategy for any business . The cyber-security services are in great demand due to the advancements in technology to prevent the trade of personal data. However, we have almost the same rates as most of the cyber-security businesses in our vicinity.

If you are going to start cyber security business , and want to expose your business to a wider audience, there is a way which we call improving sales. For gaining lead upon your competitors, you have to make an exceptional cyber security business model .

The sample sales strategy of Fiduciary Tech is given for your help.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

Our biggest competitive edge is that each member of our team is insured and licensed, besides being skilled and expert, and can resolve any issue regarding cyber-security instantly. We are offering a wide range of services to our customers. Moreover, we are located in an area which is the center of small and large businesses and institutes who need their data to be safe and protected.

6.2 Sales Strategy

A startup cannot thrive without proper publicity and advertisements; we will adopt various means to advertise our service.

• We will hold seminars and workshops to aware business owners about the cybersecurity threats
• We will advertise our business in relevant business magazines, newspapers, TV stations, and social media.
• We will offer a 10% discount on our services for the first three months of our launch.
• We will offer our services with a money back guarantee in case of any fault.

6.3 Sales Monthly

6.4 Sales Yearly

6.5 Sales Forecast

Personnel plan

After knowing the basics of how to start a cyber security business , the most important step is to hire hard-working, skilled and honest professionals to assist you in running your business. Here is the sample personnel plan of Fiduciary Tech.

7.1 Company Staff

Jack will be the manager himself, however, he’ll hire the following staff:

• 1 Accountant to maintain financial and other records
• 5 Security Engineers and Architects for developing security software
• 3 Technicians to operate the servers and other machines
• 4 Cryptographers & Cryptanalysts for encrypting algorithms
• 4 Virus Technicians & Vulnerability Officers for analyzing new viruses
• 2 Managing Assistants to manage the company’s official website
• 5 Penetration Testers/Ethical Hackers
• 4 Customer Representatives to interact with customers and record their orders

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial Plan

If you are going to start your own cyber security business , then make sure you will pay special attention to your financial plan. Your financial plan should include the details about how will you manage your incomes and expenses, and how will you recover investments group business plan from the profit etc. So, you should focus on your financial plan if you want to expand your business at a large scale.

For if you don’t know how to write an effective financial plan , you can take help from this sample business plan on how to start your own cyber security business . However, it is always better to hire experts for devising you a financial plan, for if you want accurate figures of your business in your financial plan.

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 Brake-even Analysis

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.3.1 Profit Monthly

8.3.2 Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

8.6 Business Ratios

Download Cyber Security Business Plan Sample in pdf

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Cybersecurity Business Plan (CBP)

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Cybersecurity Business Plan (CBP) Template 

Product walkthrough video.

This short product walkthrough video is designed to give a brief overview about what the CBP is to help answer common questions we receive.

What Is The Cybersecurity Business Plan (CBP)?

The  Cybersecurity Business Plan (CBP)  is a business plan template that is specifically tailored for a cybersecurity department, which is designed to support an organization's broader technology and business strategies. The CBP is entirely focused at the CISO-level, since it is a department-level planning document. 

Our products are one-time purchases with no software to install - you are buying Microsoft Office-based documentation templates that you can edit for your specific needs. If you can use Microsoft Office or OpenOffice, you can use this product! The CBP contains a template and guidance to develop organization-specific mission, vision, strategy, objectives, etc. in an editable Microsoft Word format. The following content is what you will have in the CBP with examples that you can easily modify for your specific needs:

• Organizational description
• SWOT analysis
• Definition of success
• Value proposition
• Department-level "elevator pitch"
• Prioritized objectives
• Concept of Operations (CONOPS)
• Mid-term planning
• Long-term planning
• Marketing plan
• Financial plan
• Capability Maturity Model (CMM) target definitions

The CBP can serve as a foundational element in your organization's cybersecurity program. It can stand alone or be paired with other specialized products we offer. 

What Problems Does The CBP Solve?  

• Lack of In House Security Experience - Writing security documentation is a skill that many good cybersecurity professionals simple are not proficient at and avoid the task at all cost. On top of that, writing a cybersecurity-specific business plan is a skill that not many CISOs have experience with, so it is an often outsourced or neglected activity.
• Budget Justification  - Having a coherent plan is a valuable tool for a CISO to defend budgets, since it enables the CISO to paint a long-term picture for the cybersecurity department and why the investment makes good business sense.
• CISO Career Protection - Having a documented business plan is valuable from a CISO's perspective more than just in defending staffing and budget requests. In cases where a viable business plan is rejected from a funding perspective by senior management, a CISO at least has evidence of appropriate due care on their part. In the event of a breach/incident where the CISO is "on the hook" for the blame, a CISO can demonstrate how the CIO/CEO/CXO that rejected the CISO's recommended practices and funding request(s) that could have prevented the incident now own that risk. It is a way to pass risk up the chain of command.

Our customers choose the  Cybersecurity Business Plan (CBP)  because they:

• Have a need for a timely and cost-effective solution to document their cybersecurity strategy and roadmap.  
• Need to be able to edit the document to their specific needs.
• Have documentation that is directly linked to best practices, laws and regulations
• Need an affordable solution

How Does the CBP Solve These Problems?  

• Clear Documentation - The CBP provides comprehensive cybersecurity business planning documentation to prove that your security strategy and roadmap exists. This equates to a time saving of considerable staff time and tens of thousands of dollars in either lost productivity or consultant expenses!
• Time Savings - The CBP can provide your organization with a semi-customized solution that requires minimal resources to fine tune for your organization's specific needs. 

Being a Microsoft Word document , you have the ability to add/remove/edit content, as needed. We've provided an "80-90% solution" from the perspective of formatting and content, where you merely polish off the specifics that only you would know about your organization and its culture. While we did the heavy lifting in the research and development of this cybersecurity planning document, we estimate that a mid-sized organization should be able to finalize the CBP in about 5-10 hours . That final customization focuses on "owning" the document where you wordsmith the example statements that we provide so that the content of the document is specific to your organization and relates to specifically what you do. 

Ideally, your organization's CISO is the individual who will edit/finalize the CBP. Fortunately, the CBP is written in a format that it can be "ghost written" for the CISO by their subordinates (we understand the time constraints many CISOs experience and planning functions are often delegated). In these instances, the CBP can easily be edited and finalized based on the CISO's existing guidance to subordinates.  It is important to understand that goals are not the same thing as a strategy!  It is often the case where there are a lot of good ideas and "shopping lists" for products/initiatives, but there is a lack of a formalized strategy to accomplish a set of goals. This is where the CBP is a valuable resource, since it creates a formal cybersecurity strategy and roadmap!

Product Example - CBP - Cybersecurity Business Plan Template

The CBP is a fully-editable Microsoft Word document that you can customize for your specific cybersecurity business planning needs. You can see the table of contents below to see everything the CBP covers. Due to the concise nature of the document, we are limited to what content we can share publicly for examples.

View Product Example

Cost Savings Estimate - Cybersecurity Business Plan (CBP) Template

The CBP is affordable when compared to alternatives. The cost is equivalent to about five (5) hours of a cybersecurity professional's time, which is a fraction of the time it would take to create a similar document on its own. When you look at the costs associated with either (1) hiring an external consultant to write cybersecurity documentation for you or (2) tasking your internal staff to write it, the cost comparisons paint a clear picture that buying from ComplianceForge is the logical option. Compared to hiring a consultant, you can save months of wait time and tens of thousands of dollars. Whereas, compared to writing your own documentation, you can potentially save over a hundred hours of staff time and the associated cost of lost productivity. Purchasing the CBP from ComplianceForge offers these fundamental advantages when compared to the other options for obtaining quality cybersecurity documentation:

• For your internal staff to generate comparable documentation, it would take them an estimated 120 internal staff work hours , which equates to a cost of approximately $9,000 in staff-related expenses. This is about 1-2 months of development time where your staff would be diverted from other work.
• If you hire a consultant to generate this documentation, it would take them an estimated 80 consultant work hours , which equates to a cost of approximately $24,000 . This is about 2-4 weeks of development time for a contractor to provide you with the deliverable.
• The CBP is approximately  8% of the cost for a consultant or 22% of the cost of your internal staff to generate equivalent documentation.
• We process most orders the same business day so you can potentially start working with the CBP the same day you place your order.

The process of writing cybersecurity documentation can take an internal team many months and it involves pulling your most senior and experienced cybersecurity experts away from operational duties to assist in the process, which is generally not the most efficient use of their time. In addition to the immense cost of hiring a cybersecurity consultant at $300/hr+ to write this documentation for you, the time to schedule a consultant, provide guidance and get the deliverable product can take months. Even when you bring in a consultant, this also requires involvement from your internal team for quality control and answering questions, so the impact is not limited to just the consultant's time being consumed. 

Template For Creating A Cybersecurity Strategy & Roadmap

ComplianceForge provides businesses with exactly what they need to for cybersecurity planning at a very affordable cost. Similar cybersecurity business planning documentation can be found in Fortune 500 company that have dedicated cybersecurity staff. The architect for the CBP is a former military officer and MBA who has years of experience building cybersecurity business plans and has extensively written on the subject. 

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98% of small businesses were victims of at least one cyber attack in 2023. Help your company prepare for the worst with this free small business cyber security plan template

Let’s bust one of the most common small businesses (SMBs) myths: “Cybercriminals aren’t interested in SMBs; they have bigger fish to fry.” Wrong — and that assumption can cost you big time.

Cyber attacks on small companies might not get the press coverage that big businesses’ data breaches receive. However, no business is too small for hackers. More than 75% of cyber security incidents the cybersecurity company Sophos responded to in 2023 involved small businesses.

A small business cyber security plan will help you proactively protect your organization, supply chain, and customers from security threats. You don’t know where to start from? We’ve got you covered with a small business cyber security plan template that rocks. Read it, follow it, implement it — doing so could be the difference between your organization suffering a minor incident versus an all-out cyber security disaster.

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The Ultimate Small Business Cyber Security Plan Template

A small business cyber security plan outlines the key strategies, cyber security best practices, policies, and procedures to follow to:

• Proactively protect SMBs from internal and external threats (e.g., data breaches, malware infection, ransomware), and
• Swiftly react in case of a meltdown.

Starting out with a blank slate can be daunting. After all, there is so much information to include, as it should touch on many areas of your business relating to the physical and digital security of your data, network, and overarching IT infrastructure.  

The good news is that we’ve got a small business cyber security plan template ready to go. All you’ll have to do is fill in the five template sections following our suggestions, customize it to your needs, and you’ll be good to go.

Section #1. Small Business Cyber Security Plan Objectives

Kick off your small business cyber security plan template with well-defined, achievable goals. It’ll be your compass for the next steps. Start with the basics, focus on the most high-risk areas, and keep it short and sweet.

Here are a few examples of objectives:

• Protect the integrity and authenticity of your networks and data . Shield your organization’s network(s) and customers’ data at rest (i.e., stored in a database) and in transit (i.e., exchanged between a server and a client) against leaks, compromise, and malware infection.
• Comply with industry regulations . The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the latest Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) requirements effective by Q2 2025 are just two examples.
• Ensure uninterrupted operations in case of incidents . Respond quickly to attacks to minimize downtime, data, and productivity loss.

Section #2. Common Threats

Address each security threat that could impact your business. Associate common vulnerabilities to your business’s assets (e.g., devices, network infrastructure, software, customers’ information, and databases). Here are some typical risks.

• Malware infections . With 6.06 billion attacks recorded by SonicWall in 2023, malware downloads can infect software, systems, and personal devices used for work.
• Man-in-the-middle (MITM) & adversary-in-the-middle (AitM) attacks . Transmitting sensitive data (e.g., credentials, account details, or credit card numbers) through unencrypted connection s (i.e., websites without secure socket layer/transport layer security [SSL/TLS] certificates ) leaves them exposed to manipulation and eavesdropping. It also leaves your larger systems at risk of exposure to unauthorized access and manipulation by the attacker.
• Phishing . According to Zscaler, phishing attacks grew by 58% yearly in 2023. If this wasn’t enough, Verizon’s latest Data Breach Investigation Report (DBIR) reported that it takes users less than 60 seconds to fall for a phishing email. Yup, all it takes is one click on a malicious link to a phony website, and you can kiss goodbye to your credentials. 

Section #3. Cybersecurity Policies and Controls

How will you protect your company’s assets from your outlined threats? Answer this question in this section. To give you an idea, we’ve taken the flaws mentioned in point two and listed the security policies, practices, and procedures that could do the trick:

• Use only reliable antivirus/anti-malware software . Install and run it on all devices to stop malicious programs from getting into your local systems and network(s). Automatically scan your website for threats and vulnerabilities using a website security checker tool like SiteLock or CodeGuard . Sacrificing the cost of one lunch out per month is a small investment compared to the $4.45 million average global cost of a data breach IBM reported in 2023.
• Implement website communications encryption . Protect your data, organization, and customers from MITM, AitM, session hijacking , ransomware , malware attacks, and data breaches with encryption . Purchase an SSL/TLS digital certificate issued by a trusted certificate authority (CA). Resellers like SectigoStore.com are ideal for small businesses. We offer a vast selection of certificates from some of the industry’s leading CAs at heavily discounted prices. 
• Create and implement IT security policies . A data protection policy (DPP), an acceptable usage policy (AUP ), an access control policy (ACP), and an remote access policy (RAP) are just a few of the essentials you should include in your small business cyber security plan template. They’ll help you ensure that the rules you’ve implemented will be followed by the whole organization. They’ll detail employees’ roles and responsibilities, ensuring that everyone feels responsible for the organization’s cybersecurity.
• Sign and encrypt your emails and attachments . Ensure all emails sent to your employees and customers are digitally signed with an email signing certificate . It’ll protect them against phishing by confirming that you’re the sender and informing them if it has been modified. This type of certificate also enables end-to-end data protection by encrypting the contents of the messages before they leave your mailbox.

Section #4. Incident Response Plan

Money can’t buy you everything. You can have all the protections in the world; however, cyber security incidents can still happen all the time. This small business cyber security plan template category will prepare you for the worst. Its purpose is to prevent bad things from happening and minimize the damages when they do, keep you compliant with industry regulations (more on that momentarily), and get your business back on its feet as fast as possible.

Your incident response plan should include:

• Key contacts and asset lists . “ If there is something weird and it don’t look good. Who you gonna call? ” Nope, the Ghostbusters aren’t going to help you fight evil. You must create a list of key people to alert in case of a security incident. You also must create a list of all your critical assets so you’re not scrambling for an accounting when things hit the proverbial fan.
• Descriptions of incidents’ severity levels . Classify potential security incidents into low, medium, high, and critical to address them correctly. 
• Response process . For each severity level, describe how the issue will be investigated, contained, and ultimately mitigated.
• Incident recovery process . Indicate how you’ll resume normal operations. Has your website been affected? CodeGuard Backup , for instance, will enable you to restore your website with a click.
• Lesson learned . Don’t let this happen again. Review the incident. Note what was done well and what wasn’t. It’ll give you valuable insights and suggestions .

Section #5. Employees Education

A small business cyber security plan is virtually worthless if your employees aren’t aware of it. Moreover, the IBM 2023 Costs of a Data Breach report proves that employee training could reduce the cost of a leak by more than $232,000 . This is a real lifesaver when you consider that human factors (e.g., clicking on dodgy links or posting information on social media) were the root cause of 68% of the breaches investigated by Verizon in 2023.

Create a robust employee cyber security training and awareness program that covers not only your small business cyber security plan but also:

• Email security . Teach your users how to spot a phishing or spam emails . Highlight the value of email signing certificate s and encryption .
• Password security . Explain how to generat e strong passwords and enforce your password security policy best practices . Highlight the importance of changing passwords frequently .
• Data security . Show the consequences of using a weak encryption algorithm . Demonstrate how a website lacking an SSL/TLS certificate risks your customers’ sensitive data at risk and affects your company’s reputation and earnings. Raise awareness about smart devices: even an innocent-looking fish tank smart thermometer can wreak havoc if it’s not secured properly.

That’s it. Your turn now. Use this simple but solid small business cyber security plan template as the starting point to draft your own small business cyber security plan. And when all hell breaks loose, “May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out .” Just like the Phial of Galadriel was for Frodo Baggings in The Lord of the Rings .

Why Do You Need a Small Business Cyber Security Plan?

More than 98% of organizations polled by SecurityScorecard work with a third party that suffered a breach in the previous two years. Small businesses are attractive and easy targets. They often lack robust security systems because of limited budgets and personnel. This makes them ideal entry points for supply chain attacks that’ll subsequently affect much bigger fish.

A small business cyber security plan could be the deciding factor between a minor issue and a full-blown cyber incident. Furthermore, it’ll:

• Protect brand reputation (and sales) . 60% of consumers would stop buying from a company victim of a data breach. This small business cyber security plan template will help prevent you from losing customers’ trust and safeguard your data.
• Reduce the risk of attacks .Cut down the chances of a successful attack. The measures outlined in your plan will enable you to detect and fix flaws before cybercriminals do.
• Minimize damage. 78% of small businesses confirmed that a major cyber incident could spell the end for them. A well-defined small business cyber security plan will help you respond quickly, drastically reducing the effects and consequences of attacks when they happen.
• Industry regulations compliance. Avoid hefty fines due to non-compliance with industry regulations. For instance, Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) version 4.0.1 has just been published. (Don’t worry, it’s just amending PCI DSS 4.0 and doesn’t add any new requirements.) If you handle credit card data, the small business cyber security plan and a PCI scanner like HackerGuardian will help you achieve and maintain compliance.   

Additional Small Business Cyber Security Planning Resources

Looking for more info or examples of small business cyber security plan templates? Check out what we’ve found for you.

• The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Cyberplanner . This tool will let you generate and save a customized small business cyber security template in no time.
• Small Business Cybersecurity Workbook. This resource from the Connecticut Small Business Development Center and CBIA is a step-by-step resource that dives into the nitty-gritty of things to cover when creating your small business cyber security plan template (e.g., identity management, data segregation, etc.).
• The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) tutorial . Explore the key elements of a typical small business cyber security plan template. This multimedia tutorial from the U.S. Small Business Association’s (SBA) program includes key links and even a quiz to test your knowledge. 
• The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 . Built specifically for small businesses, it’s a precious resource that’ll help you fill in our small business cyber security plan template in a breeze.
• The UK National Cyber Security Center Small Business Cyber Security Guide . Find even more suggestions and practical advice to improve your cyber security posture. It Includes a video collection and a personalized action plan .
• CISA Cyber Guidance for Small Businesses . It details an action plan by role covering the chief executive officer (CEO), the security program manager, and the information technology lead.

Final Thoughts About Small Business Cyber Security Plan Template

Cybercriminals often consider small businesses and startups as a supply chain’s weakest links. A strong small business cyber security plan will minimize the risk of attacks, ensure you’re as prepared as possible in the event of a breach, and help you mitigate potential damages.

Even if you can’t afford to employ a cyber security expert, having a small business cyber security plan is your best chance to keep your organization and customers secure. And, in the case when disaster strikes, survive and recover as quickly as possible.

Once you’ve generated it, share it with your employees and keep it up to date. You can have the best products or services, but if your systems are insecure, they’ll be worth nothing.

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• #Cyber Security Plan Template
• #SMB Cyber Security Plan

About the author

Nadia Bonini

Nadia is a technical writer with more than 15 years of experience in IT, software development projects, email and cybersecurity. She has worked for leaders in the IT industry and Fortune 500 companies. A Certified CSPO mail application security product owner and a former application security engineer, she also works as a professional translator. She is a big fan of Ubuntu, traveling and Japan.

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A Cybersecurity Plan for Small Business Owners

Learn which types of cybersecurity attacks small businesses should be worried about and how to develop a plan to stop cybercriminals in their tracks.

Table of Contents

If you thought cybersecurity was something only big businesses had to worry about, think again. Small companies are at risk of cyberattacks, too, and it would be a mistake for your organization not to defend against them. This seven-step cybersecurity plan can help protect your business from cyberthreats.

What is a cybersecurity plan?

A cybersecurity plan is a detailed blueprint of an organization’s steps to secure its systems and data and repel the threats posed by online criminals. Effective cybersecurity plans require thoughtful technology investments and detailed staff training. Investing in employee training is particularly crucial because, according to Verizon’s Data Breach Investigations Report , human error is at least partly responsible for 74 percent of data breaches.

While preventing attacks is the goal, a thorough cybersecurity plan will also inform your strategy for recovering from a data breach if one occurs. The goal is to mitigate damage and recover as quickly as possible so your company can get back to business as usual.

How do you create a cybersecurity plan?

To create an effective cybersecurity risk management plan, you must identify and address security threats that make your business vulnerable so you can apply the right technological and human patches.

Consider the following seven-step cybersecurity plan template. Customize it to your company’s needs to protect your organization from internal and external digital threats.

Step 1: Decide what’s important.

In your initial cybersecurity risk assessment , take these steps:

• Determine which data is essential. Start by identifying and categorizing your organization’s digital assets, including sensitive customer data, financial records and intellectual property. Assess the importance of each data type by determining how your business would be affected if that data were compromised or lost. [Read related article: What Is Intellectual Property Insurance? ]
• Identify critical systems and assets. Some hardware and software are more important than others. Identify and prioritize these assets, particularly the systems necessary for daily operations, as any breach or unauthorized access could severely disrupt your business continuity. [Read related article: Disaster Preparedness for Small Business ]
• Run an impact analysis. Successful cyberattacks can disrupt your business operations for prolonged periods. Evaluate the financial and reputational damage you’d experience from different cybersecurity incidents so you can focus on the areas that would affect your operations the most. 

Step 2: Identify and fix technical vulnerabilities.

It’s essential to understand your current technical vulnerabilities. You can’t craft solutions until you know where your problems are and why they arose. Take the following steps:

• Check for malware on your network. You may already have malware and ransomware on your network . Identify these intrusions and purge your system as soon as possible.
• Delete unused software. If you no longer use a specific software program, you’re likely not updating it with the latest security patches. Identify unused software and delete it to eliminate potential threats.
• List every device that connects to your network. Create and continually update a risk register of all devices with network connection permissions. Consider restricting network access to these listed devices; it’s much easier for a hacker to gain entry if any device can log in.
• Create a layered network. Generally, desktop and mobile device security is tighter than security levels on printers, security cameras and internet-connected devices. Consider segmenting your network to ensure critical systems are inaccessible from less-secure elements.
• Map your data flow. Understand and map how information travels throughout your business. Pinpoint where data is stored after it’s collected, who can access it and what they can do with it, especially if third parties can log in. Mapping your data flow will help you identify weaknesses in your data security processes.
• Conduct regular vulnerability scans. Invest in software that scans for less-secure spots in your corporate network. Pay attention to high-risk issues the software flags, and fix them immediately. Conduct these vulnerability scans at least once a month. You can purchase stand-alone software for this purpose, although many antivirus apps provide this functionality.
• Review and update system configurations. Data breaches and other cyber incidents are often successful because companies don’t securely configure hardware such as firewalls, routers and servers. If you no longer use an access point, consider removing it. Your IT team should also ensure users’ passwords are strong and unique to minimize the chances of a successful dictionary attack.
• Evaluate third-party security protocols. If you work with vendors or partners who have access to your systems or data, carefully evaluate their security measures to ensure that poor security on their end doesn’t make you more vulnerable to potential cyberattacks.
• Ensure you comply with all appropriate regulations. Your cybersecurity strategies must comply with data protection regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) . If not, you risk fines and financial and reputational damage.

Step 3: Establish your technical defenses.

To address emerging threats from cybercriminals, your technical defenses should include the following solutions and strategies:

• Decide and set account privileges. Staff members should be able to access only the programs, apps and data they need to perform their jobs. This approach, known as the “principle of least privilege,” is crucial in well-executed cybersecurity plans. For example, an admin doesn’t need the same access to programs and data as your chief financial officer does. So, if hackers break in via the admin’s credentials, they’ll gain restricted access, reducing the damage they can do.
• Utilize and update antivirus software. Employees may unwittingly help cybercriminals by downloading an attachment or clicking a rogue link in an email. Fortunately, top antivirus and internet security software can stop ransomware and malware from infiltrating your network in these instances. Ensure you use quality antivirus software with automatic updates, and set it to run regular scans.
• Install robust firewalls. Firewalls monitor traffic across your computer network and block traffic that fails predetermined security tests. More advanced firewalls learn traffic patterns over time and create additional security rules. For the greatest protection, consider installing hardware and software firewalls.
• Ensure data is encrypted. Encrypt all information transmitted on your network. If a hacker gets in, it would take billions of years to crack the Advanced Encryption Standard, the modern encryption algorithm. You should encrypt all of your data, whether at rest (the data you’re storing on your network and cloud systems) or in transit.
• Protect your data with backups. Choose a backup service with cloud encryption to protect your data, and schedule multiple daily backups. Having a backup means that when you regain control of your system after a breach, you can download the most recent database to your system. Test your backup systems frequently to ensure you can access the data you need when recovering from a cyber incident.
• Monitor software update cycles. Sign up for newsletters from your software vendors to stay current with updates and security patches. While many software programs update automatically, not all do, so check once a month to make sure each program is updated.
• Consider software swaps. If a software package you use has been retired and the vendor no longer provides security patches, swap it for a similar package that is currently supported. Many software programs, including operating systems, update automatically, but not all do. Patch management apps can automate this process for you. [Read related article: How to Install Windows Patches With PowerShell for Free ]
• Prioritize Wi-Fi network security. If possible, hide your business Wi-Fi network by switching off the beacon frame so others can’t discover it. Ensure your Wi-Fi network also uses the strongest possible encryption (preferably WPA-3), and change the default admin password often.
• Implement robust password management. Ideally, a central team should manage passwords using 256-bit encryption to allow and deny employees and contractors access to your network.
• Implement two-factor authentication (2FA). For additional security, 2FA requires users to receive a message on a second, recognized device to verify their identity — similar to how Google asks you to authenticate your account sign-in on a tablet or computer by sending a message to your mobile phone.
• Protect internet-connected devices. Don’t limit your protection efforts to computers. Cameras, printers and other internet-connected devices are favorite attack vectors for cybercriminals. They’re not actually trying to control those devices; they want to use them as gateways to access your wider network. 

Step 4: Establish your human defenses.

Let your employees know why stopping hackers is vital: All it takes is one big cyberattack to threaten the entire company’s existence — and their jobs. Train them to stay vigilant about suspicious activity, and explain what to do if something happens. Use the following guidance as a starting point:

• Be suspicious of every email and phone call. Train staff to be alert to phishing attempts and common business scams . For example, if someone claiming to be the CEO calls the accounts team demanding an invoice be paid immediately, require team members to perform safety checks to ensure that the CEO was actually making the demand and the invoice is genuine.
• Consider eliminating BYOD (“bring your own device”) policies. Many organizations don’t allow employees to connect their personal smartphones and tablets to the company’s network. These devices typically have much lower security levels than business devices. If staff members currently use their own laptops to connect to your network, consider purchasing secure business laptops so you can control their security levels. Also, consider adjusting your acceptable use policy to cover mobile device usage issues. 
• Don’t connect to public Wi-Fi without a VPN. Public Wi-Fi equipment that uses the WPA3 protocol is insecure. To ensure secure remote access , allow employees to connect to public Wi-Fi only if they use an encrypted virtual private network (VPN) platform. For even greater security, require remote employees to connect via 4G or 5G if available.
• Don’t overshare on social media. The more information a person shares on social media, the more likely a hacker is to guess their password. Phishing attacks become harder for staff to detect if cybercriminals reference information they gathered from social media.
• Ask for permission before you allow remote desktop access. Some cyberattackers pretend to be from a company’s IT services team and gain access to an employee’s computer through remote desktop access. Ask staff to check with your IT manager before allowing this type of access. 

Step 5: Monitor employee performance.

Effective cybersecurity plans require continuous monitoring to ensure employees respond positively to training and put their knowledge into practice. Consider implementing the following best practices:

• Run periodic training tests. Consider testing team members periodically to see whether they have retained the necessary knowledge to keep the business safe. Retrain those who need a refresher so they don’t fall further behind.
• Create a culture of cybersecurity communication. A key goal of your cybersecurity plan should be to establish a strong company culture where employees feel comfortable reporting potential threats to management. Cybersecurity leadership starts from the top, so consider rewarding employees who spot security threats.
• Offer continuous cybersecurity training. Cybersecurity attacks are constantly evolving, so consider offering additional training as new cyberthreats emerge. Update your training manuals and methods regularly to reflect emerging and ongoing threats.

Step 6: Create an incident response plan, and build a team.

No matter how much you plan, a well-executed cyberthreat may overwhelm your defenses and lead to a breach. Prepare your business for this possibility in the following ways:

• Develop a response plan. Establish how your company will respond to different cyberthreats, including data breaches, ransomware attacks and DDoS incidents. Include ways to identify and classify attacks, as well as the necessary recovery steps. Consider setting up a secure communication channel for team members to coordinate their activities.
• Build a response team. Recovering from an attack will require different team members from across your business to work together. Include members of your IT team, legal team (for compliance issues), public relations department (for external communications), internal HR department (for employee-related issues) and C-suite executives (to manage the process). Ensure that everyone’s responsibilities are clearly defined and that they can access the personnel and tools they need.
• Involve internal and external stakeholders. To help you manage a crisis situation such as a data breach, your response team also may need the services and support of external stakeholders, like investors, cybersecurity consultants, law enforcement contacts, forensic analysts, crisis management experts and insurance brokers . Depending on your cybersecurity budget , consider offering retainers to the most essential external stakeholders to ensure their immediate availability in case the worst happens.
• Prepare a communication plan. In the event of a breach, you’ll need to contact multiple parties. You’ll also have to manage and share information with customers and regulators and prepare press releases and scripts for your customer service team.

Step 7: Review security policies regularly.

Protecting your business from all threat actors and vectors requires continuous and comprehensive oversight. Consider the following security review best practices:

• Conduct emergency drills. To protect your business from a data breach , practice your incident response plan with internal teams and external stakeholders. Assess how well teams and individuals cooperate, look for opportunities for improvement, and identify where your plan needs additional thought. Conduct a drill twice yearly to keep your team sharp and assess your security posture.
• Schedule regular policy reviews. It’s prudent to run regular checkups on your security policies to ensure you’re still achieving the required protection levels. Consider running additional reviews if new cyberthreats emerge or you make significant changes, such as adopting new technologies or expanding your business operations.
• Update your threat intelligence. Task a team member with monitoring cybersecurity news and emerging threats. Staying informed about attack trends and changing data protection regulations will provide valuable insights for your periodic policy reviews.
• Continuously monitor and adapt your plan. Monitor the effectiveness of your technical and human firewalls. Assess the number of security incidents or near misses to look for indications that your business may be becoming more vulnerable. Use this information to update and adapt your security programs to ensure the highest level of protection.

What are the common types of cybersecurity attacks?

According to the Identity Theft Resource Center’s 2023 Business Impact Report , 73 percent of SMBs were targeted in a cybersecurity incident in the previous 12 months. However, according to Amazon Web Services , 35 percent of SMBs say security isn’t an area of strategic priority. This disconnect is concerning because all businesses should prioritize cybersecurity protection and understand emerging threats. 

Here’s a look at the most significant cybersecurity risks that threaten businesses today: 

• Phishing attacks: Phishing attacks fool people into revealing sensitive data such as account logins, credit card numbers and passwords. Most phishing attempts utilize email, phone calls and text messages. Common phishing attempts include spoof emails, purportedly from well-known retailers, asking you to log back in because “your account has been frozen” and text messages from courier companies asking you to make up an alleged underpayment on a delivery.
• Identity theft: Identity theft is the theft of personal or company financial details to set up loans, credit cards and trade accounts in someone’s name. The criminal gets the money or goods, while the victim is stuck with the bill.
• Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks: DDoS attacks overwhelm websites, email servers and internal computer networks by sending millions of near-simultaneous access requests. To regain control, victims may have to pay a ransom.
• Software vulnerability exploitation: Software vulnerability exploitation occurs when hackers access computer networks that haven’t applied software patches. It’s easier to gain entry when there are security holes. Unsupported software is another vulnerability point for this threat.
• Malware: Malware damages computer networks, servers and individual terminals in numerous ways. This threat may involve cryptocurrency mining, keystroke logging , and the creation of system “backdoors” that allow hackers to load more malware later.
• Cyber extortion: Cyber extortion involves hackers copying sensitive or commercially valuable data stored on your system and threatening to sell it to a competitor or widely distribute it if a ransom is not paid.
• Data diddling: Data diddling involves altering data as it’s input into a computer system to create a financial benefit. Payroll, credit records and inventory records are vulnerable to this type of attack. To make detection harder, some hackers change the altered numbers after stealing your money.
• Internet of Things (IoT) hacks: Cybercriminals use IoT hacks to access a corporate computer network via poorly protected security cameras, printers and other connected devices.
• Man-in-the-middle attacks: Man-in-the-middle attack victims are fooled into thinking they’re communicating with someone they know. For example, a hacker may pretend to be your property lawyer and send an email asking you to transfer your property deposit into a specific account. It can take weeks before consumers or lawyers realize there’s been a crime. This technique is also used in business email compromise fraud.
• Password attacks: Hackers use password attacks to access individuals’ or companies’ computer networks and online accounts. They may use brute-force attacks, where millions of passwords are tried simultaneously in the hope that one is correct. Or, they may troll social media and websites to gather information about unsuspecting victims and guess their passwords. 

What does your business have that cybercriminals want?

Cybercriminals are looking for specific information when they hack businesses, including the following:

• Sensitive commercial data: Cybercriminals know the market value of the data stored on a business’s computer system, and many gangs offer industrial espionage as a service. Instead of sending thieves to break into competitors’ physical premises, companies can pay hackers to break in electronically to get copies of rivals’ customer databases, research details, development projects and more.
• Customer databases: Information about your highest-spending customers can be sold on the black market or to competitors.
• Customer payment details: Unencrypted debit or credit card information is less valuable than it used to be because banks are getting better at spotting and stopping fraudulent payments. A compromised credit card may work for only an hour or two before it’s blocked, but that’s enough time to inflict serious damage.
• Your company’s identity: Many cybercriminals attempt to change company details held at government agencies to open accounts with suppliers and then order goods or take out loans from financial institutions.
• Money in the bank: Although successful checking-account breaches are rare, cyber gangs can still cause significant financial damage to businesses with ransomware and phishing attacks.

What is cybersecurity insurance?

Cybersecurity insurance is a type of business insurance that provides compensation for incident investigations, data recovery, computer system restoration, income loss, reputational damage, ransoms paid and notification costs. Cyber insurance providers are growing along with the threat of cybercrime. 

Extended cybersecurity insurance also includes coverage for legal bills incurred to defend yourself against claims related to a breach, as well as for settlements and damages. Insurers’ security policies generally do not cover lost profits, the loss of company value caused by intellectual property theft, or the replacement or upgrading of technology to boost cybersecurity.

The average cost of cyber insurance is about $1,740 per year, or $145 per month, with coverage ranging from $1 million to $5 million. 

Why is it important to safeguard your business against cyberattacks?

Business owners must defend against online threats to protect their company reputation, financial assets and client base. As a bonus, when your business is secure, companies and customers know they can trust you with their confidential data — an excellent selling point. 

With a robust cybersecurity policy in place, your business will reap these benefits:

• A cybersecurity plan protects your finances. Successful data breaches incur significant financial losses, including stolen funds, the costs of recovering from an attack, and regulatory fines. A cybersecurity plan protects your revenue and cash flow while minimizing potential losses.
• A cybersecurity plan helps you maintain customers’ trust. Consumers and business decision-makers are more likely to choose a firm that can keep their sensitive personal, financial and health data safe.
• A cybersecurity plan ensures business continuity. Cyberattacks can significantly disrupt your business operations. An excellent cybersecurity plan protects you from most attacks and provides a quick route to recovery if you experience a successful breach.
• A cybersecurity plan protects your valuable data. Your business houses sensitive data, such as customer payment information and employee personal details. It also has valuable intellectual property, including product designs and marketing strategies. By ensuring the highest cybersecurity levels, you can protect your valuable data and assets from internal and external bad actors.

A thorough cybersecurity plan is an investment in your business’s future. By following the guide above, you can protect your assets, maintain your customers’ trust and give your business a competitive advantage.

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9 cybersecurity tips to protect your business

An easy-to-implement plan for small business owners and employees to protect against cyberattacks.

Cyberattacks cost your business time and money, and if sensitive information about your customers gets out, it could also ruin your reputation.

Common types of cyberattacks

Before I show you what I do to secure my infrastructure, I want to quickly go over some of the most common attacks small businesses face.

RAT. A Remote Access Trojan allows attackers to access your computer's camera and microphone, and install other types of malware. 

Keylogger. This one records everything you type on your keyboard (terrifying enough for you?), and it's often used to steal passwords and credit card details.

Shoulder surfing. This is when attackers gather personal or private information by simply looking at your screen.

Malware attack. Malware is any kind of malicious software meant to harm or exploit a device, service, or network. It's an umbrella term, and it includes things like viruses, Trojans, worms, ransomware, and more.

Man-in-the-Middle attack. A MitM attack intercepts the communication between you and the server. For example, if you wanted to log in to your bank account, the attacker would receive your login information and then send it to the bank, the bank would then send the response to the attacker, and the attacker would send it back to you. This is very common when connecting to public Wi-Fi.

What each team member can do to secure small business infrastructure

1. don't leave your computer unattended.

This means that anyone wanting to take a peek at my computer, install malware, or simply steal it, would have plenty of time to do it. To prevent any of these things from happening, I just put my laptop inside a sleeve and take it with me. 

Since it's a small coffee shop, it's pretty easy to lose my spot, so I typically leave my backpack on top of my chair and my headphones on the table. Obviously, I don't keep anything of value inside the backpack (it's often empty) in case someone decides to take it.

I know that not leaving your belongings unattended might sound obvious, but I see it happening almost every time I go to the coffee shop. Even if it's just for a minute or two, that's enough time for someone to download malware or steal your laptop. Just take your stuff with you—it's not worth the risk.

2. Use a VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi

A few years ago, I used to travel a lot for work, which meant I had to connect to many unsecured Wi-Fi networks in airports and hotels. The issue with these types of networks is that hackers can position themselves between you and the connection point—Man-in-the-Middle attacks.

So instead of your data going directly to the hotspot, it goes to the hacker, who then sends it to the hotspot. This gives them access to anything you send over the internet, which could be emails, bank statements, credit card information, your website's login information, the list goes on. Basically, they can access your systems as if they were you.

Other common things hackers do with these types of unsecured connections are distributing malware and creating fake connecting points to connect to.

3. Use a privacy screen

One thing I saw a lot when traveling was people opening up their laptops in the airplane rows in front of me and working on what was obviously sensitive information. If I'd been interested in learning more about their jobs or stealing their information, I could have easily done it.

If I could see other people's screens, that meant they could see mine. So to prevent people from shoulder surfing me, I use a privacy screen. It's essentially a piece of plastic you put on your laptop screen that allows only someone directly in front of the computer to see what's going on. Anyone looking from the sides will see a completely black screen.

There are plenty of privacy screen brands you can get online, but the brands I've liked the most are SightPro and Akamai. I've tried super cheap ones as well, but they always ended up deteriorating fairly quickly. I guess it's true what they say: "Buy nice or buy twice."

4. Don't click on unknown links

Here's an example of an email I received pretending to be from Norton AntiVirus, but it was actually redirecting me to a different website:

Sure, it's not the best ripoff of Norton branding, but if I were doing a quick email cleanup, I might not notice. So, before clicking a link, no matter who it's from, I always hover over it to see where it actually goes. The real website is typically shown at the bottom-left corner of the browser screen, as you can see in the image above.

Simply copy all the strings on that list, and then go to your WordPress dashboard > Settings > Discussion > Disallowed Comments Keys > paste the strings > Save Changes.

5. Keep everything up-to-date

Apps seem to require updates all the time, which can seem annoying. But those updates contain important fixes to known vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to install malware, steal your data, or do any other type of harm to your system.

You can automate the process of keeping things up-to-date. Here's how to enable automatic updates on the two most popular operating systems:

How to enable automatic updates on macOS

Open the App Store > Click App Store on the top menu > Preferences > tick the Automatic Updates box.

How to enable automatic updates on Windows

Open the Microsoft Store > click the three dots on the upper-right corner > Settings > App updates > turn on Update apps automatically.

While you're at it, it's worth doing the same on your phone.

6. Use full-disk encryption

As a small business owner, I have lots of private information on my computer, including banking information, business plans, account numbers, taxes, client data, and more. Having someone access some of this information, especially my clients' data, could seriously damage my business and reputation—not to mention the harm it would do to the client.

If your business stores things like personal health information (PHI) from your clients, and this information gets revealed, you could face huge fines and even jail time for allowing the breach. The HIPAA and FINRA regulations are justifiably strict.

Without full-disk encryption, if someone steals your laptop, they can access the data on your drive, even if you have a password protecting your login: they can simply remove the drive and install it on another computer. With full-disk encryption, they won't be able to see anything that's inside the drive since it'll all be encrypted.

Both macOS and Windows come with free full-disk encryption, which should be enabled by default. However, if yours isn't enabled, you can follow these steps.

How to enable full-disk encryption on macOS

If you're using macOS, then FileVault is the program you want to activate. To do this, click the Apple logo on the top-left corner > System Preferences… > Security & Privacy.

Then, click the FileVault tab > Click on the lock icon at the bottom-left of the window > enter your password > Click Turn On FileVault.

How to enable full-disk encryption on Windows

If you're using Windows, click on the Start button > Settings > Update & Security > Device encryption > click on Turn on.

7. Create regular backups

I typically create backups every month, but if you're constantly creating important information, you can do them weekly or daily. My favorite brand for external hard drives is Western Digital (WD), but Samsung also makes good options.

How to create backups on macOS

To create backups, I like using macOS' built-in backup tool called Time Machine. The cool thing about it is that, once I plug in my hard drive, it works automatically in the background. It continuously saves copies of all my files, apps, and any other important information and excludes useless files in the trash, cache files, and logs.

To use Time Machine, plug in your external drive > go to System Preferences > Time Machine > toggle the switch to On > Select Disk… > select the drive you want to use.

In order to use the drive, it needs to be formatted as macOS Extended (journaled). If yours isn't, Time Machine will ask if you want to reformat it, which will erase all the existing files on it. 

How to create backups on Windows 

Windows' built-in backup tool is called File History. To start backing up data on Windows, connect your external drive > click Start > Settings > Update & Security > Backup > Add a drive > select the external drive where you want to store the backups.

8. Use strong passwords

Growing up, I used to use the same password for everything. To be honest, I still use it, but only for accounts that don't really matter—like the email account I use to sign up for random newsletters to get coupons and discounts from stores.

Besides keeping everything secure on LastPass, I also like keeping a hard copy of my passwords in a safe place at home, just in case something happens to LastPass or I don't have access to it. If you do write your passwords on a sheet of paper, make sure that you place them in a secure place—i.e., not behind your computer monitor or under the desk.

9. Use two-factor authentication (2FA)

For example, if you enable 2FA for your email account, once you enter your username and password, you'll be asked to enter a unique one-time access code sent to your phone via text or an authenticator app like Microsoft Authenticator, which is the one I use.

So, even if someone knows your email and password, they won't be able to access the system without your phone.

If I'm completely honest, I dislike using two-factor authentication. My issue with it is that I have so many accounts it becomes a little annoying having to go to my phone and verify my identity every time I want to log in. 

Still, I'd rather be safe than sorry, so I enable it for important accounts, such as my bank accounts, emails, and websites. If you have online accounts with important information that support two-factor authentication, I recommend enabling it.

If everyone on your team follows these relatively simple steps, it'll add a massive layer of protection against cybercriminals. After all, cyberattackers (usually) want easy targets, so simply by not being one, you're decreasing your risk.

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Christian Coulson

Christian is an industrial engineer with a background in programming who's used his knowledge and experience to grow 7Sigma Physiques—his fitness coaching business and blog with thousands of monthly readers. He now teaches other entrepreneurs how to scale their business at blogstalgia.com.

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The Best SMB Cybersecurity Plan (Example + Tips)

Today’s ever-changing security threat landscape leaves organizations of all sizes vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Having a proactive plan in place that incorporates these ten measures can protect your organization.

Don’t panic: Protecting your information is possible and you can do so in a reasonable and economical way that fits your budget.

It can be challenging to know where to start when it comes to securing your organization's data. Use this article or download our small business cyber security plan checklist as a roadmap to stronger IT security.

Ten Tips to Building the Best SMB Cybersecurity Plan

Here are ten safeguards to consider when developing your information security plan for small business. Many of these suggestions may seem like they’re above your level of IT expertise, but keep in mind, you can always outsource to managed IT services for small businesses :

1. Password Integrity

Require passwords that include letters, numbers, symbols, case sensitivity and length. Passwords should be changed often and not allowed to repeat. See why many organizations are moving to multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra level of password security.

Single-Sign On (SSO) is another authentication service many organizations are adopting. The added network security and reduced friction on end users strikes a balance between security and usability. SSO is a great cybersecurity tool for SMBs and larger organizations.  

2. Add Cybersecurity Tools Like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Adding Multi-Factor Authentication to your accounts helps protect against many of the biggest threats to your data such as phishing attacks , brute-force attacks and password reuse. Despite warnings to the contrary, m any people use the same password for multiple accounts. Without Multi-Factor Authentication, a single compromised password can give an attacker access to many business accounts.

See why many organizations are moving to multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra level of password security.

3. Email Security

Email can be hacked to send spam that spoofs emails from within your organization. Spam filtering, quarantines and locking down your email server can all help secure your email. Lock your email so only authenticated users (your employees and trusted partners) can send emails from your organization.

Remember, MSPs  are available to help you configure your IT security needs.

4. Limit Access 

Keep networking equipment behind locked doors made accessible to authorized individuals only. All computers should be password protected.

5. Secure Wi-Fi

Unsecured Wi-Fi keeps your network open to hackers, so rotate Wi-Fi passwords. Segment guest and corporate wireless networks to ensure network security and consider limiting guest network session lengths.

6. Create Security Policies

Security policies are useless unless documented. Document security requirements (like those listed above) needed to keep your information and employees safe, then test and implement.

7. End-User Education and Accountability

Clear expectations and a little end-user education go a long way. Your employees should know your security policies and why they exist. Store policies in a central repository accessible to all employees. Hold meetings to review new policies and consider requiring signatures when employees have read the policies.

8. Backup Data

Data backup is your safety net . Have a system in place for your IT infrastructure backups and test them. Ensure a scalable backup solution. Cloud-based or on-premise, you can handle backups and data storage yourself or have them managed for you. Take backup a step further with disaster recovery and business continuity . 

9. Install SMB Network Security Tools: Anti-Virus, Firewall, Anti-Spyware, Encryption and Anti-Malware

Proper network equipment and components are important to keep you secure. You want appropriate, consistent ways to secure endpoints and keep an eye on them. Options exist to manage, check and patch end-point software all from one console.

10. Incident Response Plan

In the event of a data breach, time is more important than ever. When your organization must quickly shift into emergency response mode everyone needs to know exactly what to do. Having a documented incident response plan is a vital component in mitigating damage to your organization.

From there, maintain, maintain, maintain. Your systems are only as secure as your last patch, update and end-users. Choose software that’s in active development or currently supported. Keep track of technology inventory and life cycle. Whether you handle this in-house or outsource it, run patches and upgrade regularly.

Many small businesses can’t afford to employ cybersecurity experts. On top of that, a good IT person can be hard to find . If you don’t have the expertise in-house, you can partner with a managed IT service provider and have it all done for you.

Read Next: No Cybersecurity Plan? The Real Cost of Network Downtime [Infographic]

Jordan Polzin

Jordan is an IT Solutions Account Executive at Loffler who helps businesses improve technology. She has been with Loffler since 2013, and has worked in business development and as a trainer and project coordinator for unified communications before moving into her current role. In her spare time, Jordan enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, watching Vikings football and trying new food.

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A Guide to Cyber Security Plan [Elements, Templates, Benefits]

Home Blog Security A Guide to Cyber Security Plan [Elements, Templates, Benefits]

A cyber security plan agrees on the security policies, procedures, and controls required to protect an organization against threats, risks, and vulnerabilities. A cyber security plan can also outline the precise steps to take to respond to a breach. A cyber security plan sets the typical   actions for activities such as the encryption of email attachments and restrictions on the use of social media. The organization should deploy a standard action plan for cyber security to safeguard the Organization from potential cyber-attacks and data breaches. A cyber security plan essentially includes a plan and action to deter various cyber attacks and a detailed data breach management plan.  

What is a Cyber Security Plan?

A cyber security plan is a written document comprising information about an Organization's security policies, procedures, and remediation plan concerning countermeasures. This plan aims to ensure the integrity of operations and the security of the Organization's critical assets.  

It's a vital tool to protect customers, employees, and corporate confidential information. By defining the current and future state of your cybersecurity space, cybersecurity best practices are being provided as a plan for the Organization. A cybersecurity plan also empowers the Information Technology team to communicate effectively with respect to the cybersecurity structure and operations. Professional earned hacking can help organizations to create effective cybersecurity plans.

Why is Cyber Security Plan/Strategy Important?

There are three (3) reasons why cyber security plans are important:  

• Cyber attacks are the new normal for organizations. Usually, industry-concentrated reports may focus more on bigger corporations. However, small businesses are the new target for cybercriminals. When a breach occurs in any Organization, disruptions may take a new high if there is no proper cyber security plan. If an incident response plan is incorporated into the cyber resilience strategy, damage can be reduced drastically. Hence, the earlier it detects, the easier it is to deal with and secure the data.  
• A quick response to cyber-bound threats will protect the Organization's Integrity and safeguard critical information of employees, customers, and stakeholders. For instance, if a critical asset (Laptop) of an Organization containing sensitive data is lost, a remote wipe can be possible from the host, which will protect the organization's valuable assets. A cyber security plan will encompass all necessary procedures and countermeasures desirable against any cyber threat.  
• A cyber security plan that contains measures against information technology breaches could help to prevent cyber attacks. Cyber security does not begin after an attack occurs. It's an ongoing process that requires consistent maintenance and monitoring. It is a proactive and preventive approach rather than a detective. A cyber attack prevention plan is a subset of a cyber security plan and is intended to help the Organization from cyber attacks.   

Objectives of Cyber Security Planning

Most business operations run on the internet, revealing their data and resources to various cyber threats. Since the data and system resources are the pillars upon which the Organization operates, it goes without saying that a threat to these entities is indeed a threat to the Organization itself.   

A threat can be anywhere from a minor bug in a code to a complex system hijacking liability through various network and system penetration. Risk assessment and estimation of the cost of reconstruction help the Organization to stay prepared and to look ahead for potential losses. Thus, knowing and formulating a plan of cyber security precise to every Organization is crucial in protecting critical and valuable assets. Hence, professionals trained in  Ethical H ack ing  ce rtifi cation   courses  are hired by Organizations for Incident Response roles.  

Cyber security aims to ensure a risk-free and secure environment for keeping the data, network, and devices secured against cyber threats.  

Benefits of a Cybersecurity Plan

Small, medium and large organizations are prime targets, and they need to be prepared to eliminate  cyber security threats .  A  widespread cyber security plan has become the most important factor for every business, or the  organization will be at greater risk compared to an organization with a cyber security business plan can help reduce risks to a great extent. The benefits of a cyber security plan are listed down:  

1. Better Understanding of Risks

Organizations have extensively used cloud computing technology, mobile devices, the Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Wearables, and so on. This has led to substantial exposure to cyber-attacks and threats. Hence, Organization needs to be more calculated in safeguarding themselves than ever.   A cyber security plan will help organizations understand the current IT environment, allowing them to make the necessary amendments to secure it.  

2. Enabling Proactive Protection

One of the main reasons that organizations become fall prey to cybercrime is their reactive approach. It is important to defend against cyber-attacks and a cyber-attack prevention plan and take proactive measures towards strengthening cyber security posture.  The organization  should always be prepared for worst-case scenarios. A fundamentally strong cyber security plan  can be p ut in place, which comprises vulnerability analysis and penetration testing, security vulnerability scans, business continuity, and disaster recovery, and managed security services as a proactive approach.  

3. Respond Promptly

No organization is entirely secure, even with the strongest security solutions. Some attacks can breach the strongest defenses, and many organizations have witnessed that.   That is why having a cyber security plan can be helpful.   Creating this plan means knowing exactly what steps to take in the event of a cyber-attack and comprising the possible could take place. A cyber-attack prevention plan also helps each employee in the Enterprise will know their discrete role in how they should react to the catastrophe.  

4. Necessary Compliance Requirements

In this highly regulated industry, relevant compliance standards and regulations are necessary to comply. Some of these are GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards), HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), and so on. Failure to do the same can lead to hefty penalties, lowered profits, and reputational risk. A cyber security plan guarantees utmost compliance and empowers the Enterprise to monitor all the best practices while consistently meeting industry principles and protocols .  

5. Prevent Insider Threats

Cyber security strategy and plan widen the horizon in helping organizations by repudiating insider threats by implementing a more organized approach to security. In another way, it is creating an impact to make cyber security a part of the organizational culture. Employees are currently making cyber security a top priority by engaging themselves in awareness and training sessions; hence, there is a declining trend for insider threats. In short, a cyber security plan is a natural preventive against insider threats.

Elements of an Effective Cybersecurity Plan

Cyber security presents several obstacles to organizations today, and it can be problematic for enterprises to keep up with the surge in cyber threats. Although it is essential to use technology to provide an automated layered security approach, simply using technology is not enough. An organization must incorporate protection into its organizational culture to protect itself against the current threat. An effective cyber security plan would allow every part of an enterprise, from its processes to technologies, to establish a robust cyber security environment. To create an operative cyber security strategy, certain key elements are necessary to obtain. These are:  

1. Working Within a Framework

The approach towards cyber defense must be custom-made to the types of data security and the circumstances involved within its architecture. The agenda is an obvious component of cyber security risk management. It includes governance for a 3P structure, which is essentially people, processes, and technology within the company. The scope should cover all working procedures, people inside and outside the Enterprise, including third-party vendors, and devices attached to the corporate network.  

2. Awareness with respect to Threat Intelligence

The more proactive decisions can be made during a cyber-attack, the better off the Enterprise can be. Firstly, a cyber-attack prevention plan is essential to know the procedures and techniques as a guide by predetermined indicators. Threat intelligence provides these metrics, background, and actionable insights into current and emerging risks to corporate assets. The expertise provided here is evidence-based, offering the keys to informed decision-making when a cyber incident starts. Vulnerabilities such as shared administrative keys, unpatched applications, operating systems, network configurations, or business operations and processes provide a context for the threat. Effective  C yber Security  cert ifica tions   online  programs can also help employees upgrade and upskill their knowledge concerning Threat Intelligence.  

3. Basics of CyberSecurity

Part of the cyber security planning guide process includes circumventing issues in the first place. Basic security systems should run in top form to achieve this goal or improve the chances of never having a disastrous breach. Security procedures are also required to be fully implemented. These include the following:  

• Firewalls.  
• Systems for Intrusion Detection (IDS / IPS)  
• Security Incident and Event Management Systems (SIEM)  
• Spam Filter/Anti-Phishing.  
• Identity and Access Management, including Privileged Access Management for Administrative roles.  
• Strong passwords  
• Multi-Factor Authentication  
• Device and Data Encryption  
• Bring Your Device (BYOD) Policy  

4. Collaborating with Internal Stakeholders

In the event of cybersecurity breaches, all employees belonging to IT, Sales, HR, Marketing, and Finance of the Organization should be ready at the time of announcement. Everyone should have a predetermined role to play in responding to an incident. The cyber security plan should include collaboration with internal stakeholders as an essential and definitive action plan.  

5. Comprehensive Risk Assessment

The most prevalent threat model is based on identified risks, their likelihood of occurrence, and the damage they could have done. Risk assessment fine-tunes the cyber security response and helps prevent attacks. It is an essential element for the pervasive cyber security maturity model.  

6. Incident Response Planning

Cyber security risks are growing day by day. That is why it is necessary to be proactive about incidents and responses. The plan for incident response plans should be layered and preemptive. Visibility is another critical factor in the event of an incident. It is best to see who has access to the network and systems and at what time to gather as much information as possible.  

7. Data Support and Operations

Data support and operations include the measures the Organization will implement for handling each level of classified data. These are the three primary categories of data support operations:  

• Data protection regulations: Organizations must set standards  to protect personally identifiable information and other sensitive data. The standards with respect to data protection regulation should follow an appropriate compliance standard along with local or country-specific regulations. Most cyber security standards and compliance regulations require data privacy standards, network, and firewall security components, and vulnerability management protection.  
• Data backup requirements:  Organization  will also need to generate secure data backups. The backup should be encrypted to store the media securely. Storing your backup data securely in the cloud is a highly secure option.  
• Movement of data:  An organization should ensure data security whenever it moves its data. Transfer of data should be done through secure protocols.  

8. Roles and Responsibilities

The component of the cyber security plan should outline the employee rights, responsibilities, and duties regarding data protection. Provide responsibility to the employees by nominating employees within internal control functions to perform access reviews, educate other staff members, oversee change management protocols, pick up and review incidents, and provide general oversight and implementation support for the cyber security policy.  

How t o Create an Effective Cyber Security Plan [Step-by-Step]  

There are 8 lean steps to planning an operative cyber security plan, including Conducting a Security Risk Assessment, Evaluating Systems, Applications and Tools, selecting a Security Framework, Reviewing Security Policies, creating a Risk Management Plan, Implementing Security Strategy, and Evaluating the Security Strategy.  

Step 1: Conduct a Security Risk Assessment

A Cyber Security Risk Assessment requires an organization to determine its key business objectives and recognize the Information Technology assets essential to those objectives. It is then a case of classifying cyber-attacks that could adversely affect those assets. Cyber Security Risk Assessment within a cyber-attack prevention plan also analyzes the likelihood of those attacks occurring and their impact.  

The assessment includes the following critical areas evaluated and documented accordingly:  

• Identification of Assets:  A list of physical and logical assets within the risk assessment scope should be created. This list will help to preview the asset repository and help to diagnose critical issues during a major incident  
• Identify Threats:  Threats are the tactics, techniques, and approaches used by threat actors that have the potential to cause harm to the assets of the Organization. To help identify potential threats for each asset, a threat library (MITRE ATTACK Knowledge Base) needs to be implemented, as this will help determine the types of protection.  
• Public  
• Private  
• Confidential  
• Restricted  
• Internal Use Only  
• Intellectual Property  
• Risk Prioritization:  Prioritization of Risk indicates an assessment of the landscape of Enterprise Risk posture. A Business Impact Analysis (BIA) was conducted to identify the critical systems and data to be performed and leverage the result for risk prioritization. A risk register was created and maintained for all assets tagged as the highest risk  

Step 2: Set Your Security Goals

The objective of Cyber Security is to safeguard information from theft, compromised or attacked. Cyber security business plan can be measured by at least one of three goals  

• Protect the Confidentiality of data (Confidentiality) - Keeping the sensitive data private and accessible to only authorized users  
• Preserve the Integrity of data (Integrity)  
• Promote the Availability of data for authorized users (Availability)  

The CIA triad is a security model that is designed to guide policies for Information Security within the premises of an organization. Every Information Security Strategy Plan should include a detailed model and guiding principle derived from CIA Triad. The following steps will help to create cyber security goals:  

• Categorizing the assets based on their importance and priority.   
• Restraining the potential threats.  
• Determining the method of each threat  
• Monitoring any breaching activities and managing data at rest and data in motion.  
• Iterative maintenance and responding to any issues involved.  
• Updating policies to handle risk based on the previous assessments  

Step 3: Evaluate Your Technology

Cybersecurity is technology-centric and always depends upon the core systems of an Enterprise. While the assets are to be segregated as per their criticality towards business within the risk register, it is also important to understand and evaluate the technology landscape for proactive mitigation of risk. Once the critical assets are identified and segregated, it is essential to determine the functions evaluating the assets and the related functions of technology. It is also imperative to mention that businesses should be involved as a support function within the network. The below steps to be followed to evaluate the technology:  

• Identification of the Operating Systems (Servers / Desktop / Laptop) used within the entire network  
• Categorize devices nearing to End-of-Life period accordingly discontinue updates  
• Deploy support personnel to maintain critical assets  
• Remove duplication of services provided by different systems  

Step 4: Se lect a  Security Framework  

• Cyber security business plan framework allows organizations to understand why Cyber Security is significant and how the same can be dealt with. It also gives protection on how organizations can lessen the risk of falling victim to any cyber-crimes. Execution of cyber security business plan framework is important as:    
• The framework provided is a maturity model that has been fully implemented. Therefore, no additional build-up is required.   
• The critical infrastructure of the framework can be implemented in various stages; hence, it seems more effective in businesses. This enables the organization to implement the framework in parts, starting from the lower level and slowly executing to the higher level.  
• It provides a measure of the cyber world's current situation and details how the same can be improved with respect to the policies and practices in the Organization.  

Based on the requirements of the Organization, different frameworks can be implemented. These are:  

• ISO 27001  - The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Cyber Security Framework suggests the best practices that an organization can follow to safeguard its critical assets and data.  
• PCI DSS   - The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is one of the categories of cyber security structures that emphasizes principles for online payments and transactions. It is a set of procedures that aid Enterprises in thwarting fraud while transacting through debit cards, credit cards, prepaid cards, or other forms of the card .  
• NIST CSF   - National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is one of the topmost industry-leading frameworks for augmenting the basic substance of cyber security to recover the groundwork for supervising cyber security menaces by using standard techniques and procedures. The five core elements of NIST, which most Organizations3 follow, are: Protect, Identify, Detect, Recover, and Respond .  
• GDPR  - The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) look around to create a coordinated data protection law framework across the European Union (EU) and work towards giving back to data subjects, being in charge of their data, during staggering strict boundary rules on those hosting and processing this data, anywhere in the world. This framework is also important for controlling and protecting the data from cyber perpetrators.  
• Physical  
• Administrative  
• Technical  
• Policies, Procedures, and Documentation Requirements  

Step 5: Review Security Policies

The objective of cyber security policies within the Cyber security business plan is to address security threats and implement a cyber security management plan. A thorough review of the policies is recommended to ensure security policies are up to date and address emerging threats. The steps toward reviewing security policies are as follows:  

• Keep track of the policies in a centralized location  
• Review the policies annually and/or when the business needs proper change with justification  
• Communicate policy changes accordingly within the Organization  
• Ensure that every policy contains a revision and version information table  

Step 6: Create a  Risk Management Plan  

One of the constructive ways to defend against a cyber security breach is to design a detailed cyber security risk management plan, which needs to be amalgamated into a robust plan that is responsible for all kinds of Organizational risk posture. The intention of the cyber security risk management plan is to substantiate the Organization's posture towards cyber security with respect to safeguarding data from being stolen or lost. The following 8 steps are a guideline for creating a cyber risk management plan.  

• Identifying the most valuable Digital Assets:  The primary step in creating a cyber risk management plan involves ascertaining the Organization's most valuable digital assets. A list of critical assets to be created  with the most susceptible at the highest and  to prioritize the most critical list items within the strategy .  
• Audit Organization's Data and Intellectual Property:  It is essential to perform an audit with respect to Organization's digital assets and data. The audit result's outcome will help create an effective cyber risk management plan.  
• Perform a Cyber Risk Assessment:  The following step in this process requires carrying out a cyber risk assessment. This particular type of evaluation is designed to identify numerous pieces of information that could be potentially affected by a cyber-attack.  The principal goal of a cyber risk assessment is to comprehend where weaknesses exist and curtail gaps in cyber security .  
• Analyze Security and Threat Levels:  Conducting security and threat modeling can help expose pertinent information regarding threat stages and help Enterprises better determine their cyber security posture.  
• Create an Incident Response Plan:   An incident management and response plan are a consolidated module of instructions configured toward different cyber security threats such as cyber-attacks, data loss, service outages, and many other events that pessimistically impact normal business operations. The plan can effectively help to detect, respond and recover from cyber security incidents. The incident response plan eventually embeds the cybersecurity recovery plan from a business continuity standpoint.  

Step 7: Implement Your Security Strategy

Implementing  the cyber securi ty  management  pla n is the most imp ortant task in th e entire  strategy ,  and this comes  with a layered ap proach. Internal  teams  discuss the  plans in detail  and assign remedi a tion  tasks  accor dingly. A PMO  will lead the project,  create milest ones for  e very ta sk ,  and track clos u re  to complete t he enactment  acco rdingly.

Step 8: Evaluate Your Security Strategy

This last step in  forming  t he cyber security  strategy is  to  sta rt  ongoing supp ort of the s ecurit y strategy.   The security strategy must be  mon itored and  tested frequently  to en sur e the goa ls of the st rategy  ali gn with the th reat landscape . Be lo w   are  steps  to be  fo llowed to maintain  continuous  and  comprehensiv e o v er sight:  start ongoing support of the security strategy.   It is imperative that the security strategy be monitored and tested frequently to ensure the goals of the strategy align with the threat landscape . Below are  steps  to be followed to maintain continuous and comprehensive oversight:  

• Establish internal stakeholders from all the business functions for ongoing support  
• To perform an Annual Risk Assessment  
• Obtain regular feedback from internal and external stakeholders  

What to Include  in  Your Cyber Security Plan Template  f or Small Business  

A cybersecurity action plan template for small businesses outlines everything the Organization needs to protect the business from cybersecurity threats. A thorough cybersecurity project plan template includes preventative and reactive measures to minimize business risk. The plan typically includes the following components:  

How to Implement Cyber Se curity Plan for your Business and  Best Practices  

Having a cybersecurity implementation plan from the start and continuing it throughout the development cycle is an industry best practice. However, the process is monotonous and requires detailed planning before execution. Below are the steps to implement a cyber security plan:  

1. Build a Cyber Security Team

The first step in a cyber security management plan is to build a dynamic team. This team designs and builds the framework of the security program monitors the threats and responds to the incidents.  

2. Inventory and Manage Assets

The cyber security team's initial screening is to understand the assets that exist location of those assets, make sure the assets are tracked, and secure them properly. In other words, it is time to prepare a catalog of everything that could contain sensitive data, from hardware and devices to applications and tools (both internally and third-party developed) to databases, shared folders, and more. Once the list is prepared, the same is assigned to each asset owner, and then the same is categorized by importance and value.  

3. Assess the Risk

Thinking about risks, threats, and vulnerabilities is indispensable to evaluating risk. A list of probable threats to the Organization's assets should be made ready, and then a numeric score to designate these threats based on the likelihood and impact. The numeric score can be classified and ranked accordingly based on potential impact. Vulnerabilities identified from these assets can comprise people (employees, clients, and third parties), processes, and technologies in place.  

4. Manage Risk

As the ranking of the list that has been prepared by assessment, it can be decided whether Organization wants to reduce, transfer, accept, or ignore each risk.  

• Reduction of risk : Recognize and implement fixes to counter the risk (e.g., put in place a firewall, set up local and backup locations, implement DLP tools to curb phishing emails, etc.).  
• Transferring risk :  Buy an insurance policy for assets or collaborate with a third party to transfer that risk.   
• Accepting the risk : Accepting the risk when the value of countermeasures is greater than the loss amount.  
• Avoiding the risk : This occurs when Organization contradicts the existence or probable impact of a risk, which is not recommended as it can lead to irreversible consequences.  

5. Apply Security Controls

For the risks that have been identified, controls should be implemented. These controls will alleviate or eradicate risks. They can be technical (e.g., encryption, intrusion detection and prevention software, antivirus, firewalls, anti-malware, and phishing software) or non-technical (e.g., policies, procedures, physical and logical security, and employees). Security controls are to be implemented accordingly as per the technical / non-technical aspect.  

A complete cyber security audit program should be in place to understand the standpoint with respect to Organization's Threat Matrix. This can help the Organization identify the Root Cause of the incident as well.  

Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Implementing Yo ur Cyber Security Strategy/Plan  

The following list is the most common areas that should be avoided while implementing the cyber security plan:  

• Denial of Common Cyber Threats  
• Neglecting Regular Software Updates  
• Falling for Common Cyber Threats  
• No Training for Employees  
• Not Creating Strong Passwords  
• No Cybersecurity Policy  
• Not Protecting Business Data  

Example s of Cyber Security  Management  Plan  

Every Organization is unique, and its operating procedures are different. Hence, it is important to understand the complete architecture of the systems and applications in scope within the purview of the Organization. One of the examples of the heat map defining CIA for a cybersecurity action plan template which defines risk assessment of the critical assets, is attached below for reference:

Cyber Secu rity Plan  Implementation  Templat e  

Here are some of the standard Cyber Security Plan Implementation Templates.  

• Template 1 –  Download Link  
• Template 2 –  Download Link    

The following Cyber Security Program implementation milestones are the reference towards the implementation of the Cyber Security Plan:  

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The organization should not wait for a cyber incident before implementing a proactive cyber security strategy across their business. With a strong cyber strategy, not only the business has a fast recovery time, but it will also be cautioned and prepared for any cyber incidents in the future.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Metrics are tools to facilitate decision-making and improve performance and accountability. A cyber security metric contains the number of reported incidents, any fluctuations in these numbers, and the identification time and cost of an attack.

• Working Within a Framework  
• Awareness with respect to Threat Intelligence  
• Basics of Cyber Security  
• Collaborating with Internal Stakeholders  
• Comprehensive Risk Assessment  
• Incident Response Planning  
• Data Support and Operations  
• Roles and Responsibilities 
• Conduct A Security Risk Assessment 
• Set Your Security Goals 
• Evaluate Your Technology 
• Select A Security Framework 
• Review Security Policies 
• Create A Risk Management Plan 
• Implement Your Security Strategy 
• Evaluate Your Security Strategy 

A strategic cyber security plan specifies the security policies, procedures, and controls required to protect an organization against threats and risks. A cyber security plan can also outline the specific steps to respond to a breach.

Koushik Dutta

Koushik is an MCA, CISM and CFE with 13+ years of multi-faceted global experience in Cyber Security, Information Security, Data Privacy, and IT Audit across BFSI, Automobile, and IT industries. Koushik handled various technical positions to provide consultancy for strengthening the cyber security posture of multiple large organizations.

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Helping our customers through the CrowdStrike outage

Jul 20, 2024 | David Weston - Vice President, Enterprise and OS Security

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On July 18, CrowdStrike, an independent cybersecurity company, released a software update that began impacting IT systems globally. Although this was not a Microsoft incident, given it impacts our ecosystem, we want to provide an update on the steps we’ve taken with CrowdStrike and others to remediate and support our customers.  

Since this event began, we’ve maintained ongoing communication with our customers, CrowdStrike and external developers to collect information and expedite solutions. We recognize the disruption this problem has caused for businesses and in the daily routines of many individuals. Our focus is providing customers with technical guidance and support to safely bring disrupted systems back online. Steps taken have included:  

• Engaging with CrowdStrike to automate their work on developing a solution.   CrowdStrike has recommended a workaround to address this issue and has also issued a public statement. Instructions to remedy the situation on Windows endpoints were posted on the Windows Message Center .   
• Deploying hundreds of Microsoft engineers and experts to work directly with customers to restore services.   
• Collaborating with other cloud providers and stakeholders, including Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Amazon Web Services (AWS), to share awareness on the state of impact we are each seeing across the industry and inform ongoing conversations with CrowdStrike and customers.  
• Quickly posting manual remediation documentation and scripts found here .
• Keeping customers informed of the latest status on the incident through the Azure Status Dashboard here .  

We’re working around the clock and providing ongoing updates and support. Additionally, CrowdStrike has helped us develop a scalable solution that will help Microsoft’s Azure infrastructure accelerate a fix for CrowdStrike’s faulty update. We have also worked with both AWS and GCP to collaborate on the most effective approaches.    

While software updates may occasionally cause disturbances, significant incidents like the CrowdStrike event are infrequent. We currently estimate that CrowdStrike’s update affected 8.5 million Windows devices, or less than one percent of all Windows machines. While the percentage was small, the broad economic and societal impacts reflect the use of CrowdStrike by enterprises that run many critical services.  

This incident demonstrates the interconnected nature of our broad ecosystem — global cloud providers, software platforms, security vendors and other software vendors, and customers. It’s also a reminder of how important it is for all of us across the tech ecosystem to prioritize operating with safe deployment and disaster recovery using the mechanisms that exist. As we’ve seen over the last two days, we learn, recover and move forward most effectively when we collaborate and work together. We appreciate the cooperation and collaboration of our entire sector, and we will continue to update with learnings and next steps.  

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Widespread IT Outage Due to CrowdStrike Update

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Additional CISA Resources

CISA’s Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy

CISA’s Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy provides full-time federal employees an opportunity to focus on professional growth through an intense, full-time, three-month accelerated training program.

CISA Events

CISA hosts and participates in events throughout the year to engage stakeholders, seek research partners, and communicate with the public to help protect the homeland.

CISA Services Catalog

A single resource that provides you with access to information on services across CISA’s mission areas.

CISA Training

As part of our continuing mission to reduce cybersecurity and physical security risk, CISA provides a robust offering of cybersecurity and critical infrastructure training opportunities.