Cybersecurity in SMEs: Management Over Tool Chaos

The New Threat Landscape: Cybersecurity as a Top Priority

The numbers are alarming: 82 percent of companies report an increase in cyberattacks for 2025. This dramatic development makes it clear that cybersecurity is no longer purely an IT issue, but has become a central leadership responsibility. Ransomware attacks are on the rise, AI-powered phishing is becoming increasingly sophisticated and is increasingly targeting departments outside of IT. The consequences are severe: operational outages, significant financial damage, and personal liability risks for executives and board members.

Despite increasing investments in security tools, a critical gap remains: many companies lack a structured cybersecurity management approach. Risks are not systematically recorded, evidence is missing, and meaningful metrics for governance are in short supply. The market offers countless technology solutions, but without coordinated management, these tools often remain ineffective.

The Challenge: From Tools to Management Systems

Most medium-sized companies have invested considerably in security technology in recent years. Firewalls, endpoint protection, SIEM systems, backup solutions – the list of tools is long. Nevertheless, attack numbers continue to rise, and successful compromises are increasing.

Why aren't tools alone sufficient?

Technology is only one building block. Without structured processes, clear responsibilities, and continuous governance, a patchwork of isolated solutions emerges. Documentation happens in Excel spreadsheets, risk assessments remain subjective, and during audits or incidents, the necessary evidence is missing. Leadership teams lack a consolidated overview of their organization's actual security status.

The solution lies in a holistic management approach: cybersecurity must be understood as a process that defines roles, assesses risks, implements controls, and continuously reviews their effectiveness.

What Leadership Teams Should Do Now

1. Establish and Live Cybersecurity Management

Professional cybersecurity management encompasses far more than implementing technical solutions. It's about establishing an end-to-end process that includes the following elements:

Clear roles and responsibilities: Who is responsible for which areas of cybersecurity? Who decides on risk acceptance? Who must be informed during incidents?
Systematic risk identification and assessment: Which assets are critical? Which threats are relevant? What is the actual risk level, and which measures are economically sensible?
Controls and measures: Implementation of appropriate technical and organizational measures, documented and verifiable.
Regular reviews: At least quarterly, leadership teams should review security status based on clear metrics. How many incidents occurred? How quickly were they resolved? Are all critical assets protected?
Evidence management: For audits, insurance, and in case of damage, evidence must be available that appropriate due diligence has been applied.

2. Translate NIS2 into Operational Processes

The NIS2 Directive brings stricter requirements for many medium-sized companies. Abstract regulatory requirements must be translated into concrete operational processes:

Designate responsible persons: Management bears personal responsibility. Who takes operational responsibility for implementation?
Establish reporting channels: How are security incidents detected, assessed, and reported to authorities within legal deadlines?
Supply chain security: What risks come from service providers and suppliers? How are these assessed and managed?
Audit preparation: Regular internal and external audits become mandatory. Are all required records available and up to date?

The challenge lies not in technical implementation, but in the systematic integration of these requirements into existing business processes.

3. Leverage Virtual CISO as a Flexible Solution

Many medium-sized companies need the expertise of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) but cannot or do not want to create a full-time position. The reasons are varied: limited budget, difficult recruitment market, unclear permanent need.

Virtual CISO services offer an attractive alternative:

Flexible capacity: You receive exactly the expertise you need without long-term personnel commitment.
Immediate availability: Instead of six months of recruiting and onboarding, you can start with an experienced CISO as early as next week.
Clear governance: A Virtual CISO brings proven methods, frameworks, and templates and establishes structured processes.
No headcount: This can be a relevant advantage, especially for internationally active medium-sized companies.
Independence: External CISOs bring an objective perspective and are not entangled in internal politics.

The question is not whether your company needs a CISO, but which model best fits your situation.

4. Integrated Platforms Instead of Excel Chaos

Managing cybersecurity in Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, and email folders leads to inefficiency, errors, and missing evidence. Modern Governance-Risk-Compliance (GRC) platforms like Cybervize offer an integrated approach:

Centralized data management: All information on risks, assets, controls, measures, and incidents in one system.
End-to-end processes: From risk identification through measure planning to audit reporting.
Framework integration: Support for NIS2, ISO 27001, IT-Grundschutz, and other relevant standards.
Incident management: Structured recording, assessment, and handling of security incidents.
Automated reporting: Executives receive up-to-date security status overviews at the push of a button.
Audit preparation: All required evidence is available and current at all times.

An integrated Information Security Management System (ISMS) transforms from administrative burden to strategic tool for corporate management.

Practice Over Theory: Experience Makes the Difference

Theoretical knowledge about cybersecurity is important, but in practice, methodical experience counts. As founder of Cybervize, I bring more than 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, including many years at a Big Four consulting firm. This combination of consulting experience and practical implementation enables a convincing, methodical, and comprehensive approach.

Medium-sized companies rightly expect:

Convincing concepts: Not just any theoretical models, but proven practical solutions.
Methodical approach: Structured processes that are comprehensible and reproducible.
Accuracy: Precise analysis, clear documentation, verifiable results.
Comprehensive approach: Not just technology, but integration of processes, organization, and compliance.

The Speed Question: Virtual CISO vs. Recruiting

Imagine the following situation: Your company urgently needs structured cybersecurity management. You have two options:

Option A: Traditional Recruiting

Create and align job profile (2-4 weeks)
Advertisement and application process (6-12 weeks)
Interviews and decision (2-4 weeks)
Candidate's notice period (often 3-6 months)
Onboarding and training (2-3 months)
Total duration: 6-12 months

Option B: Virtual CISO

Initial meeting and requirements analysis (1 week)
Contract design (1 week)
Start with clear roadmap (possible from next week)
Total duration: 2-3 weeks

The answer to the question of which approach delivers faster results is obvious. In a threat landscape where 82 percent of companies report rising attack numbers, six months of waiting time can mean the difference between security and compromise.

Conclusion: Act Now

The threat landscape in cybersecurity continues to intensify. Ransomware, AI-powered phishing, and increasing regulatory requirements like NIS2 require professional cybersecurity management. Tools alone are not enough. Companies need structured processes, clear responsibilities, systematic risk management, and verifiable controls.

Virtual CISO services combined with integrated GRC platforms offer medium-sized companies a fast, flexible, and cost-effective solution. Instead of waiting months for a new hire, you can start with an experienced CISO and a clear roadmap as early as next week.

Would you like to review your current security status? Take advantage of the opportunity for a free consultation. Together we'll analyze your situation and develop a pragmatic roadmap for greater security, compliance, and controllability.

The question is no longer whether you should act, but when. The answer is: now.