Cybersecurity strategies for small businesses – Christian Hyatt | Risk3Sixty

Welcome to another episode of The Roadmap. This time, we delve into a critical topic that’s on every business owner’s mind: cybersecurity. Joining us is Christian Hyatt, the owner of Risk3Sixty, who brings a decade of experience safeguarding businesses against cyber threats. From starting with a single client to building a robust cybersecurity firm, Christian’s journey is a testament to the growing importance of cybersecurity in today’s digital landscape.

Key Takeaways

1. Christian Hyatt emphasizes that cybersecurity is not just about defense; it’s also crucial for closing deals, gaining contracts, and building customer trust. Businesses need to mature their cybersecurity programs to meet regulatory compliance and market demands.

2. Risk3Sixty operates on a hybrid model, combining professional services with a SaaS platform. This approach helps clients implement and manage comprehensive cybersecurity strategies, addressing both immediate and long-term security needs.

3. Ransomware is identified as the primary threat to small businesses due to its ease of implementation and high profitability for cybercriminals. Christian discusses how organized these criminal operations are, likening them to legitimate companies with significant resources and sophisticated strategies.

4. Hyatt highlights the importance of security awareness training for employees. Risk3Sixty conducts phishing campaigns and retraining sessions to help organizations identify and mitigate cyber threats. Vigilance and skepticism are essential in the evolving landscape of cyberattacks.

5. The cybersecurity industry faces a significant talent shortage. Risk3Sixty focuses on hiring based on core values and potential rather than just technical skills and invests heavily in training. This strategy helps build a competent, dedicated workforce to address complex cybersecurity challenges.

"At the end of the day, we're really trying to serve the customers and serve our team by having great clients, great sources of revenue, and adding huge amounts of value." - Christian Hyatt