In life and in business, we often face a choice: do we act to prevent a problem, or do we wait for the problem to occur and then react? Most of us would agree that prevention is better than cure. Yet, many people struggle to take action to improve a future they cannot see.
This tendency to be reactive rather than proactive is a common human trait. We might only go to the dentist when we feel the pain of a toothache, or we only eat when we feel hunger pains. This mindset, while common, can have significant consequences, especially in the realm of cybersecurity.
Organisations that are reactive are often less likely to implement the necessary measures to protect themselves from cyber threats. They do not see or cannot visualise a future where a data breach happens to them. However, in cybersecurity, this future issue is known as a ‘risk’, and the entire discipline of risk management is about taking steps now to make a future incident less likely, or to lower its potential damage.
Often, people have to experience the pain of a cyber attack before they truly value proactive protection. To help you understand your own tendencies, here are six questions you can ask yourself. Your answers may reveal whether you are more likely to avoid cyber protections and, consequently, more likely to experience a cyber attack.
A Quick Self-Assessment
Consider the following questions to see if your habits lean more towards being proactive or reactive:
- What is the ANCAP safety rating of your car? Did you check the crash safety rating before you purchased it? Do you know which car currently has the highest safety rating?
- Have you ever run out of petrol while driving your vehicle?
- Do you schedule regular dental check-ups, or do you only go when you have a problem?
- Do you take your car for regular, scheduled services?
- Thinking about your last few holiday trips, how many of them did you plan and organise in advance?
- Do you tend to eat at set times, or do you wait until you feel hungry?
What Do Your Answers Mean?
These questions are not about judging your daily habits, but about revealing a pattern of behaviour.
- Proactive individuals tend to plan ahead. They research the safety rating of a car because they can visualise the risk of an accident, even if they hope it never happens. They service their car and attend dental check-ups to prevent future problems. They keep their fuel tank from running empty and plan their trips to ensure things run smoothly.
- Reactive individuals are more likely to respond to immediate needs. They may not consider a car’s safety rating because the prospect of a crash feels distant and unlikely. They might wait for a warning light—or the engine to stop—before seeking fuel or a mechanic. Pain, whether a toothache or the stress of a disorganised trip, is often the trigger for action.
Linking Daily Habits to Cybersecurity
If your answers suggest you lean towards a reactive mindset, you are not alone. However, this is the very mindset that cyber attackers often exploit.
Driving a car is one of the riskiest activities many of us do daily, yet few people know their vehicle’s safety rating. This is because it is difficult to imagine being in a crash. Similarly, it is hard for business leaders to imagine the devastating impact of a cyber breach until it happens. Interestingly, many electric cars have very high ANCAP ratings such as the Tesla Model 3 (highest ANCAP rating), a fact a proactive person might discover during their research.
In cybersecurity, a reactive approach means waiting for the “pain” of a breach: the financial loss, the reputational damage, and the operational chaos. By the time you react, the damage is already done.
A proactive approach involves implementing security measures before an attack occurs. This includes using external cyber experts, conducting regular security audits, training staff to recognise phishing attempts, and ensuring systems are kept up to date.
Proactivity is the Smarter Strategy
Being proactive is almost always easier, less time-consuming, and cheaper than being reactive. This is especially true for cybersecurity. Cleaning up after a data breach can be incredibly expensive and complex, whereas the cost of preventative measures is a manageable and predictable investment.
Improving your cybersecurity posture is one of the most effective proactive steps you can take to secure the future of your business.
If you recognise reactive tendencies in your approach and are concerned about your organisation’s cybersecurity, it may be time to consider a more proactive strategy.
At Vertex, we specialise in helping organisations build strong, proactive cybersecurity defences. We can assist you in assessing your current risks and implementing tailored solutions to protect your business.
Visit our website or contact us today to learn how we can become your partner in cybersecurity.