CyberStrong: A Primer on Cyber Risk Management for Business Managers

by Ajay Singh

Cyber risk is one of the biggest challenges businesses face in the 21st Century. The increasing dependence and use of technology to run businesses combined with the spate of cyber-attacks and risk to reputational damage in recent times has made cybersecurity a top priority for corporates as well as big and small businesses

Limited knowledge of cybersecurity among business leaders and managers is a major barrier for effective cyber risk management. This book empowers business managers to assess cyber threats, integrate cybersecurity strategy with business goals, and build appropriate response systems to deal with cyber risks.

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2020

About the author

My journey into cybersecurity took me from being a practitioner to student, then researcher and onwards to teaching management students the essentials of cyber risk management. The cyberthreat challenge today is more daunting than ever for individuals as well as organizations. I strongly believe that is important that today’s workforce is fully conversant with cybersecurity methods and processes and the objective of my book is an effort to enhance the knowledge of cybersecurity and cyber risk management among business managers, leaders, board members and students.

I have spent the greater part of my life (over 35 years) in the IT industry in different roles including being the CEO of an award-winning Payment systems company for over a decade. This exposed my to various risk scenarios and issues relating to corporate risk management, governance, and strategy, especially with respect to the deployment and use of Information Technology platforms and solutions provided me exceptional insight into how they are inherently related to cybersecurity. My experiences of leading the development of IT products and solutions for multiple industry verticals such as banking, telecom, corporate and government for global markets, enabled me to grasp important aspects of requirements of different industries, user behaviour, system performance and compliance requirements.

My education includes a master’s degree from Sheffield-Hallam University, UK, a PG Diploma in Computer Systems and my deep interest in Cybersecurity, Cyber Law, Cyber Forensics & Data Protection took me to complete a PG Diploma (From National Law School of India University) and other specialised courses and certifications in this area.

I have had the privilege of speaking at several industry forums and conferences and have been the recipient of awards including Indian Leadership Award for Industrial Development from All India Achievers Foundation, Most Talented Retail Professional of India Award from CMO Asia, Best Practice Leader Award, South Asia at OD & Talent Management Summit and Leadership Award from Indira Group of Institutes.

My research, experiences and education in the areas of Cyber Risk Management, Cyber law, Cyber forensics, Data Protection and Cyber security have provided me with many insights. The 16 key insights that I have gleaned and covered in this book, explain and elaborate key concepts and principles necessary for managing cyber risks. I have used appropriate case studies and best practices to illustrate and inspire further exploration of the subject.

I am a certified corporate director and Fellow-Institute of Directors and currently live in Mumbai, India. I serve as a Corporate Advisor & Mentor, Member of the Academic Advisory Board of the Pace University--Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, New York, and is a visiting faculty for Cybersecurity at leading Management Institutes.

Reviews

[Alok Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for the readers who own business which has most of the businesses carried out digitally. Yes, cyberspace is the new territory for start-ups, established businesses and even freelancers. The book educates the readers about the importance of cybersecurity, a dimension that we often ignore. Ajay Singh has written with expertise, experience and authority. His examples strike instantly; the alarms that he rings alerts us about many things we should worry about; and, at the same time, the remedies that the author provides are mostly easy to implement, as far as it concerns with preventing cyber attacks. He has also discussed how to deal with a hacking attempt, a hack or a devastating cyberattack. A much-needed book on a theme that needs our address, now, as we enter into the digital era in India.

[Amit Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book for readers who like to read something new that can enhance their technical knowledge. This book is meant for everyone from ordinary readers to managers who are involved in the business that depends upon web servers, networks and the internet.
There are some basic and fundamental things about cybersecurity that we are generally ignorant. And the book has tried to simplify those things in a pretty simple manner that can be useful for the readers to understand complex things in a better way.
It consists of some wonderful examples that will literally surprise you. All the online services are on the cyber threat and as a risk manager and even ordinary people, we must be aware of these things. A practical handbook to understand these things in a normal way.

[Sonali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible read! Gives immense clarity about tackling the cyber challenges of today!

[Abhishek Ranjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly wonderful book that educates the common man as well as a not-so-aware CEO the best practices in terms of keeping an organisation or individual safe from the threats of cyber attack. You can read this book out of sheer interest but you will learn a lot. I enjoyed it from the first to the last chapter. A must-read handbook on the possible future of cyber security, cyber threats and the best possible options to get out of it.
Author's expertise and authority over the issues discussed in the book are remarkable.

[Abha Grover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful handbook for any student who wants to understand the nuances of cybersecurity, risks and practical as well as abstract solutions to manage the situations once a server or a cyberspace is hacked by hackers. The author has walked the readers through different aspects of of cybersecurity and its importance in 21st-century. A wonderful book to understand things, get an overview and also prepare oneself for the challenges waiting for us as move ahead and become more and more digital in the coming years.

[Rupesh Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author of this book is a learned person who has achieved so many prestigious positions in his professional life. He started his journey into the world of Cyberworld as a student and served the top positions of premium companies. He has tried to translate practical lessons he learnt in his life in the book where the professionals, executives and even ordinary person can understand about Cyber Security in a very effective manner. Cyber Security is the need of today and you must be aware of it if you are on the top position of a firm. It illustrates complex things in a pretty easy language. The book is very informative and interesting and it will surely attract the readers.

[Kritika Jha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is well-researched and the author is well-versed. He has given some really expressive data to understand the threat of cybersecurity in the upcoming days. How much will it cost the world on a daily basis? After the COVID-19 scare, digitalisation has penetrated almost everywhere and the urgency of a strong cyber law and data protection has emerged. While these things might take time, the author has tried to make the readers aware of the risks related to cybercrimes. Reading this book will ensure that readers know what they are dealing with, how to ensure maximum security against chances of cyberattack and how to come out of it once it takes place.

[Rajni Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ajay Singh has utilized all his experiences to write this book and I really appreciate his book for the explanation that he truly needs to make individuals awakened to the dangers associated with computerized workspace and furthermore the potential approaches to limit them. His insight will help people who are experts and even CEOs who are concerned. It will surely help those people who are either interested in the safe use of technology or whose job is to protect data and other chunks of digital dust. The author has shared very basic things in the book that can be useful in even our daily life.

[Ashutosh Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ajay Singh who is the writer of this book, is a Corporate Advisor and Mentor, and visiting faculty on Cybersecurity at leading management institutes. He writes about Cyber risk that is one of the biggest challenges businesses face in the 21st Century. This book empowers managers to assess cyber threats, integrate cybersecurity strategy with business goals, and build appropriate response systems to deal with cyber risks. This is also helpful for young entrepreneurs. All the chapters are written in a logical order and a person with the basic knowledge of information technology can easily understand. I recommend this very well written book with data, facts, news.

[Simran Sherya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The threat of cybercrime and cyber fraud have increased all over the world. Most of the times, cybercrimes take place due to ignorance or lack of knowledge about cyberspace, cybersecurity and internet use.
The book 'CyberStrong' by Ajay Singh has tried to highlight those essential points that are needed to safeguard our data in the age of rapidly growing digitalisation. It is written in a very lucid language and a detailed manner that everyone can understand it easily and implement those tips and ideas in real life. An informative guidebook for understanding the basics of cybersecurity.

[Saloni Ranjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an ideal book that can be used as a guidebook for those who manage servers, take care of security of websites and database and also those who are the big-heads in any company, small or big. Ajay Singh has used his experiences as a cyber security expert and also his expertise as a person who helped setting up big companies on the digital horizon. His advice is simple and viable. His warnings are realistic. His predictions are worth-reading. Anyone who is just reading this book as a passtime will also understand the importance of cybersecurity in today's world.

[Shivani Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Academic book, mostly. However, after navigating 2-3 chapters, I realised that this is a book that can help anyone understand how important is the concept of cybersecurity and equally important is realising that cyber theft is very much a probability today, with all the growth in the field of IT sector. Ajay's book can be helpful for computer science and data students, business owners, website managers and anyone who depends on the internet for bread and butter... a well-written, precise and essential book today!

[Rahul Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book from the first to the last page. I learned so many new things from the book. It is written in a very practical manner that can be grasped by a layman... like us. Some facts in the book have shocked me completely. How the hackers can put health and banking services on hold? How there is a loophole in coding after every 5000 lines of codes? These facts make this book interesting to read out and never let readers feel bore. A wonderful book that is the need of today.

[Sushmita Payal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is full of vital information regarding internet technology, cybersecurity and hacking. It can be useful for the wide range of readers from common citizens to CEO of technology firms. The arguments are presented in a polished way that makes the reading experience smooth for the readers. A perfect book to read, think and understand the threat looming on the cyber world.

[Akash Aryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very informative read. Ajay has introduced the readers to the risks that technology (the internet based) brings to us and how can we overcome some of them and minimise the risk factors associated with many of them. It is a handbook, basically, with most contemporary information and classic examples of hacking spoiling the show. Be prepared, if you are a business owner, and be safe.

[Kundan Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though the subject is new or rather too new to me, I liked the way of expressing these ideas, concepts and problems with remedies. The author has been very convincing and I am sure that the book on cyber issues will convey the right message to the right readers in a very effective manner.

[Sonali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Congratulations to the author for being a finalist at the International Book Awards 2022!!