Are your cybersecurity tools actually working?

According to cybersecurity expert Dr. Gwen Greene, the biggest wins in protecting your organization don't come from buying the latest tech. They start with asking a simple question: What am I actually trying to protect?

Without that answer, even the most expensive tools are essentially useless.

Here's where to start:

1. Know your "crown jewels."

Every organization has data or systems that, if compromised, would be devastating (think customer records, financial data, or internal communications). Identify yours first.

2. Look at the full picture.

It's not just about your own systems. Consider who has access to your network, what your organization looks like from the outside (what hackers can see), and how your vendors handle your data. A weak link anywhere in that chain is a risk.

3. Have a plan for when — not if — something goes wrong.

No system is 100% secure. Many established organizations use what's called a COOP (Continuity of Operations Plan). The COOP Is essentially a playbook for keeping things running during and after an attack.

Don't wait for a breach to find out you were vulnerable. Start by identifying what matters most, and build your defenses around that.