#thenewscompany : Cybersecurity is evolving at an unprecedented pace. AI, quantum computing, and automation are redefining how organisations defend against threats. Yet, as Dr Claudia Natanson MBE, CEO of the UK Cybersecurity Council, highlighted in her recent talk at Cloud & Cyber Security Expo as part of Tech Show London 2025, the industry’s long-term success hinges not on chasing the latest innovations, but on reinforcing the fundamentals.
Her argument was clear: cybersecurity must be deeply embedded in business operations, and professionals must become effective advocates within their organisations.
The Case for Returning to Fundamentals
Natanson emphasised that cybersecurity has never been just a technology issue—it’s a business issue. Too often, organisations focus on adopting new tools without first ensuring they have a strong foundation in risk management, resilience, and user awareness.
At its core, cybersecurity is a change management process. It requires companies to rethink how they operate, communicate, and train their teams. Security leaders who successfully drive this change do so by embedding cybersecurity into business processes rather than treating it as a standalone function.
For CISOs, security architects, and IT leaders, this shift means working beyond their technical remit. Speaking the language of business—aligning security with revenue protection, operational resilience, and regulatory compliance—is now a necessity. Boards and executive teams are not interested in vulnerability reports; they need to understand how cybersecurity risk translates into business risk.
Strengthening the Role of Cybersecurity Professionals in Business Operations
One of the biggest challenges in cybersecurity today is that security teams are often seen as blockers rather than enablers. Natanson stressed that professionals must position themselves as strategic partners, not just risk mitigators.
The key to achieving this is trust. Security professionals need to shift from a “command-and-control” approach to a collaborative model. Instead of issuing mandates, they should work with business units to integrate security into everyday decision-making.
This requires more than technical expertise—it demands soft skills, communication, and the ability to translate cybersecurity threats into business language. For instance, instead of presenting executives with a report on system vulnerabilities, a more effective approach would be: “If this system remains unpatched, we are exposed to a potential breach that could disrupt our customer-facing services, leading to reputational damage and regulatory fines.”
Without this level of engagement, cybersecurity risks becoming siloed, leading to critical gaps in business alignment.
The UK Cybersecurity Council’s Role in Defining Professional Standards
A significant step towards professionalising cybersecurity is the establishment of the UK Cybersecurity Council. Formed in 2021, the council aims to provide structure, standards, and pathways for cybersecurity careers in the UK. Natanson pointed out that one of its major goals is to create a clear framework for career progression, ensuring that security professionals have recognised qualifications and a structured route to senior roles.
This initiative addresses a long-standing challenge: the lack of industry-wide benchmarks for cybersecurity expertise. Unlike law or medicine, where professional standards are well-defined, cybersecurity has suffered from inconsistent expectations. By introducing chartered and accredited pathways, the Council provides a blueprint for professionals looking to demonstrate their credibility and advance their careers.
For businesses, this shift means they can now benchmark their cybersecurity teams against industry-recognised competencies, making it easier to assess and hire qualified professionals.
Preparing for the Next Era of Cybersecurity
Despite the emphasis on fundamentals, cybersecurity is not static. Emerging technologies, particularly AI and quantum computing, will reshape the risk landscape. Natanson made it clear that organisations with a strong security foundation will be best positioned to adapt.
She highlighted the need for security leaders to embrace emerging technology rather than resist it. Quantum computing, for instance, is expected to break many of today’s encryption methods by 2030. AI, meanwhile, presents both an opportunity and a risk—offering automation and threat detection but also opening new attack vectors.
The ability to understand, communicate, and integrate these technologies into existing security frameworks will be a crucial skill for security professionals moving forward.
Building a Cyber-Resilient Future
The message from Natanson’s talk at Cloud & Cyber Security Expo was clear: long-term cybersecurity success is not about layering on more tools—it’s about ensuring that the basics are deeply ingrained in organisational culture. Security leaders must act as business enablers, advocating for cybersecurity in a way that resonates with executives and operational teams alike.
By reinforcing core principles, aligning security with business strategy, and fostering collaboration, organisations can create a resilient cybersecurity posture—one that withstands not only today’s threats but also the challenges of the future.
For senior decision-makers, the priority is clear: empower security teams to move beyond technical silos and integrate cybersecurity into the fabric of business strategy. And for cybersecurity professionals, the challenge is to step up—not just as defenders of technology, but as strategic partners shaping the future of enterprise security.
Source : techerati
