Magazine
Disrupting Legal Tech Through A Security-First Approach
We’re proud to share that our CEO, Rajneesh Chhabra, has been recognized as one of CIO Look magazine’s Top 10 Legal Innovators of 2024.
As AI and automation reshape the compliance world, Raj is pioneering a Security-First approach—ensuring that innovation is built on a foundation of trust, resilience, and regulatory readiness.
At Secure Engage, we’re delivering AI-Native cybersecurity and compliance solutions tailored to the needs of High-Risk, High-Trust Third-Parties such as law firms. From automating complex assessments to enabling continuous threat monitoring, our platform empowers professional firms to stay secure, stay compliant to serve their clients with confidence.
Cyber Risk Assessments: Are They Truly Reliable?
In today’s hyper-connected world, cybersecurity is no longer optional—it’s mission-critical. Organizations of all sizes rely on cyber risk assessments to evaluate their exposure, identify vulnerabilities, and inform mitigation strategies. But a fundamental question lingers: Are these assessments genuinely reliable, or are they simply the best approximation we have in the absence of a more robust model?
The Complexities Behind Cyber Risk Assessments
Cyber risk assessments are designed to provide a comprehensive snapshot of an organization’s security posture at a given point in time. In theory, they should offer clarity and assurance. In practice, however, the reliability of these assessments is often undermined by several real-world challenges.
1. Organizational Reluctance and Resistance
Many organizations approach cyber risk assessments with hesitation—if not outright resistance. This reluctance can stem from a range of factors:
Substandard Security Practices: Aware that their current safeguards won’t withstand scrutiny.
Perceived Redundancy: Questioning the value of the assessment, especially if certifications are already in place.
Resource Constraints: Lack of time, staff, or budget to fully engage in the process.
Misalignment with Business Models: Generic assessment templates that fail to reflect the organization's unique risks or industry context.
Certification Complacency: Overreliance on SOC 2, ISO 27001, or similar badges as a substitute for dynamic risk analysis.
Operational Disruption: Fear that assessments will derail or distract from core business functions.
Distrust in Methodology: Concern about the validity, transparency, or objectivity of the process itself.
Data Privacy Concerns: Unwillingness to share sensitive information, especially with external assessors.
Regulatory Confusion: Uncertainty about overlapping or evolving compliance obligations.
2. Cost and Time Barriers
Conducting a meaningful cyber risk assessment isn’t cheap—or quick. The time and financial investment required can be considerable, especially for smaller organizations. As a result, many businesses either postpone, partially complete, or skip assessments altogether—undermining their effectiveness from the outset.
3. Continuous Monitoring: The Unaffordable Ideal
While one-time assessments provide a point-in-time snapshot, the threat landscape evolves daily. Continuous monitoring is essential to maintain visibility and stay ahead of risks—but for many small and mid-sized enterprises, ongoing oversight is simply too expensive to sustain.
The Uneven Playing Field in Cyber Readiness
A stark gap exists between large enterprises and the rest of the market. Well-funded organizations typically have the infrastructure, expertise, and capacity to navigate assessments effectively. Smaller businesses—the backbone of the North American economy—often struggle to engage with a system that feels opaque, burdensome, and misaligned with their reality.
So, we must ask: Can a system be considered effective if it excludes the majority it’s intended to protect?
Rethinking the Future of Risk Assessment
Cyber risk assessments, as they stand today, fall short—particularly for the small businesses that need them most. The dynamic nature of cyber threats, combined with practical and economic barriers, calls for a better way forward.
We need a more agile, cost-effective, and inclusive approach—one that adapts to different organizational realities, scales with need, and leverages AI and automation to reduce manual friction. Only then can we claim with confidence that our collective approach to cyber risk management is not only reliable—but resilient.
