The European Union (EU) has made significant strides lately in shaping cybersecurity regulation—new developments include those related to the NIS2 Directive, the EU Cybersecurity Act, the EU Cloud Services Cybersecurity Scheme (EUCS), and the EU Cyber Resilience Act.

When considering cybersecurity, many may first think of cutting-edge tech companies. Healthcare providers may spring to mind for others and government agencies for still others. But strong cybersecurity—if it’s not already—is becoming paramount in every sector, and if the recent attacks tell us anything, it’s now paramount for universities as well.

President Biden has issued a groundbreaking Executive Order to steer America toward leadership in harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) while managing its associated risks.

With the new SEC Cybersecurity Disclosure Rule requiring both the reporting of material cybersecurity events and the disclosure of cybersecurity programs for public companies, those affected are taking a closer look at cybersecurity frameworks that—while previously considered optional or “nice to have”—could help their organization meet the new regulatory requirements.

Red teaming is a proactive approach to cybersecurity, where a group of ethical hackers simulates real-world attacks on an organization's systems to identify vulnerabilities and test its defenses. This process helps organizations improve their security posture by revealing weaknesses before malicious actors can exploit them.

The Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) final rule on Cybersecurity Risk Management, Strategy, Governance, and Incident Disclosure will require buy-in and active preparation from several departments of your organization to accommodate the new requirements.

For anyone who wants to expand their skills on red teaming with advanced OPSEC tactics and defense bypass techniques, Red Team Ops II (RTO II) is a great course among the many different exams and certifications a cybersecurity professional might invest in to advance their knowledge—and their careers.

As cybersecurity practices go, you have a lot of options, with penetration testing being just one of them. However, a penetration test has more value than many may initially recognize—in addition to how they serve your compliance initiatives.