Page 143 - Cyber Defense eMagazine RSAC Special Edition 2025

Cybersecurity Measures That Build Trust

Cybersecurity measures that build customer trust involve the key areas of technology, processes and
people. Starting with technology, companies must ensure they are not using the same security solutions
year-over-year. Cybercriminals are constantly adapting, re-engineering and refining their schemes—
businesses should have the same mindset if they want to maintain customer trust.

Analytical solutions built on the latest technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning
(ML), for example, enable businesses to stay agile, helping them adapt to emerging threats quickly to
ensure customer data remains protected. Brands can constantly enhance these AI- and ML-powered
systems to combat new cyberattacks and identify emerging threats by inputting new data points.

Processes should also be secure, which will require regular threat assessments. These checks allow
companies to find vulnerabilities within their everyday processes and procedures, followed by targeted
security measures. Routine threat assessments also reveal if an enterprise complies with the latest
industry regulations. Adherence to data protection regulations like the General Data Protection
Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is crucial to mitigating financial and
reputational risks while bolstering customer trust.

Last (but certainly not least) on the security checklist is people—specifically, employee training. As it
stands, general employee security “training” involves watching awareness videos and completing
quizzes. Businesses should use the same training methods to prepare general employees as they do
cybersecurity teams—namely, role-relevant simulations and mockups. These methods will also help
assess a workforce’s security fitness, enabling targeted training that adequately prepares the entire
company and increases collaboration to improve security together.

The Importance of Transparency

Unfortunately, customers can’t see the behind-the-scenes work businesses put into protecting their data
and minimizing data breaches. Companies should never assume customers know their data is safe—
they must inform their customers and other stakeholders directly.

While enterprises can’t give away all their secrets (that would jeopardize security), greater
transparency—when carefully managed properly and in close collaboration with partners—can boost
customer confidence and build brand goodwill in the future. In the B2B space, this transparency should
be bi-directional, meaning companies can learn from working with customers and their incident response
exercises.

Businesses can boost customer awareness of data protection measures through campaigns and
advertisements. Companies can also build customer trust by routinely publishing announcements or
newsletters about their security credentials validated by accredited organizations. Likewise, posting on
social media channels and other customer touchpoints about the latest company-wide security training
or best practices for data security and fraud prevention will go a long way.

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