In an exciting episode of Cyber Defense TV, Gary Milevsky was joined by ThreatConnect’s CEO, Balaji Yelamanchili. Known for his invaluable expertise in cybersecurity and his significant role in helping companies like Symantec flourish in the tech industry, Yelamanchili shares the importance of threat and risk intelligence in any business’s cyber defense strategy.
Yelamanchili views cyber threat landscape and cyber risk management as two sides of the same coin. The objective is to protect digital assets against potential cyber attacks. To do so effectively, businesses need not only advanced tools and technologies, but also an understanding of their unique cyber threat landscape and business-related risks. The latter includes implications of potential data breaches such as financial, reputational, or regulatory risks.
Understanding these two aspects – the cyber threat landscape and internal risk –is vital in making the best out of investments in cyber defenses. According to Yelamanchili, ThreatConnect focuses on helping businesses maximize their return on such investments.
When it comes to managing cyber risk, Yelamanchili notes quantifying risk is vital. However, risk quantification must be based on comprehensive and accurately mapped data to avoid the issue of “garbage in, garbage out.” Instead of a manual approach, machine-based models trained with a diverse range of data – threat landscape information, the company’s current security posture, and curated loss data – offer better precision and credibility. This data-driven approach gives businesses a clearer picture of potential risks, enabling them to prioritize mitigating measures.
The goal of ThreatConnect’s last-mile solution is not just about enhancing detection and response time, but also increasing businesses’ proactive measures to build resiliency against cyber threats. By staying on top of companies’ threat landscapes and varying risk factors, Threat Connect helps businesses remain on the front foot against potential attacks.
Easy deployment and integration are other critical features of ThreatConnect. As a solution designed to operate within existing ecosystems, it can connect to a broad range of cybersecurity tools and technologies. The use of automated data mapping, in a matter of days, hastens the deployment process and maximizes resources.
ThreatConnect aims to provide defenders with an advantage in a landscape where attackers theoretically only need to get it right once, and defenders need to get it right every time. By ensuring a strong understanding of the external threat landscape and internal risk landscape, businesses can make the best out of their cyber defenses and continue innovating without slowing down due to cyber threats.