Challenges

• Fragmented security controls across multiple departments leading to inconsistent practices.
• Lack of visibility into existing vulnerabilities and gaps in the security posture.
• Growing threats of ransomware and data breaches targeting proprietary research and patient data.
• Difficulty in aligning cybersecurity efforts with industry standards and regulations.

Solutions Offered

• Conducted a comprehensive assessment using the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) to evaluate current security maturity across all five domains: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.
• Identified critical assets and performed a risk assessment to prioritize areas of improvement.
• Implemented a centralized Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system to improve detection and response capabilities.
• Enhanced access controls with multi-factor authentication and encryption of sensitive data.
• Developed an incident response plan tailored to address potential ransomware and data breach scenarios.
• Conducted training programs to improve employee awareness of cybersecurity threats.

Outcome

• Achieved a 70% improvement in overall security posture as measured by NIST CSF metrics.
• Reduced average time to detect and respond to security incidents by 50%.
• Improved regulatory compliance with industry standards such as HIPAA and GDPR.
• Strengthened organizational resilience against cyber threats, ensuring continued protection of proprietary research and patient data.