Digital Value Protection – A New Approach to Managing Cyber Risks

Rick Lemieux – Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of the DVMS Institute

The traditional cybersecurity narrative, often framed as a battle against external threats, has become increasingly inadequate in today’s complex digital landscape. As organizations grapple with the rapid evolution of technology, they must shift their focus from merely protecting their assets to actively leveraging digital capabilities to drive business value. This paradigm shift necessitates a transition from cybersecurity to digital value management.

Cybersecurity, while essential, has historically been viewed as a cost center, a necessary evil to mitigate risks. However, this perspective needs to recognize the strategic potential of digital security. Organizations can position cybersecurity as a critical enabler of business growth and innovation by adopting a digital value management approach.

At the heart of digital value management is the understanding that security is not merely about preventing breaches but also about enabling digital transformation. By investing in robust security measures, organizations can create a safe and trusted environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and customer confidence. This, in turn, drives business outcomes such as increased revenue, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

One key benefit of digital value management is its ability to align security initiatives with broader business objectives. Instead of viewing security as a standalone function, organizations can integrate it into their overall strategy, ensuring that security investments deliver tangible value. This requires a shift in mindset from viewing security as a compliance exercise to recognizing its role as a strategic asset.

Furthermore, digital value management emphasizes the importance of risk-based decision-making. Organizations can prioritize their investments and allocate resources effectively by assessing the potential impact of security threats on business operations. This approach helps to avoid unnecessary expenditures on security measures that do not contribute significantly to overall value creation.

To successfully transition from cybersecurity to digital value management, organizations must embrace several key principles:

• Risk-based approach: Evaluate security risks based on their potential impact on business objectives and prioritize investments accordingly.
• Data-driven decision-making: Leverage analytics and metrics to measure security initiatives’ effectiveness and identify improvement areas.
• Continuous improvement: Recognize security as an ongoing process and invest in ongoing training, education, and technology updates.
• Collaboration: Foster collaboration between security teams, business units, and technology departments to ensure alignment and shared responsibility.
• Customer-centric perspective: Consider the impact of security on customer experience and trust.

Organizations can position themselves for long-term success in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape by adopting a digital value management approach. By recognizing the strategic potential of security and aligning it with broader business objectives, organizations can create a secure, resilient, and innovative environment that drives value and growth.

About the Author

Rick Lemieux
Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of the DVMS Institute

The DVMS Institute teaches organizations of any size, scale, or complexity an affordable approach to mitigating cyber risk to protect digital business performance, resilience, and trust.

Rick has 40+ years of passion and experience creating solutions to give organizations a competitive edge in their service markets. In 2015, Rick was identified as one of the top five IT Entrepreneurs in the State of Rhode Island by the TECH 10 awards for developing innovative training and mentoring solutions for boards, senior executives, and operational stakeholders.

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