## Security-Enabled Business Opportunity Assessment

- **PURPOSE:** Helps security and business leaders identify and evaluate business opportunities that can be unlocked or enhanced through security capabilities.
- **WHEN TO USE:**During strategic planning sessions, when evaluating new market opportunities, or when seeking to leverage existing security investments for business advantage.

**SECURITY-ENABLED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY ASSESSMENT**

## PART 1: OPPORTUNITY IDENTIFICATION

**Instructions:** Gather a cross-functional team including security, business, product, and sales leaders. Use this worksheet to identify business opportunities that could be enabled or enhanced through security capabilities.

### 1. MARKET EXPANSION OPPORTUNITIES

What new markets could we enter if we had enhanced security capabilities?

Geographic markets requiring specific security compliance: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Industry segments with high security requirements: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Customer segments that prioritize security: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Other market expansion opportunities: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

### 2. PRODUCT/SERVICE ENHANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

What product or service enhancements could be enabled through security capabilities?

New features that require enhanced security: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Security as a product differentiator: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Premium offerings with enhanced security: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Other product/service enhancements: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

### 3. OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

What operational improvements could be enabled through security capabilities?

Remote/flexible work enhancements: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Supply chain/partner collaboration: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Process automation opportunities: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Other operational improvements: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

### 4. EMERGING BUSINESS MODEL OPPORTUNITIES

What new business models could be enabled through security capabilities?

Data monetization opportunities: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Platform/ecosystem opportunities: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

As-a-service offerings: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Other business model opportunities: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

## PART 2: OPPORTUNITY EVALUATION

Instructions: Select the top 3-5 opportunities identified in Part 1 and evaluate each using the criteria below. Score each criterion from 1 (low) to 5 (high).

### OPPORTUNITY 1:

| EVALUATION CRITERIA | SCORE (1-5) | NOTES |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Strategic alignment with business objectives |  |  |
| Revenue potential (size of opportunity) |  |  |
| Competitive advantage created |  |  |
| Speed to market/implementation feasibility |  |  |
| Current security capability readiness |  |  |
| Required security investment |  |  |
| Regulatory/compliance advantage |  |  |
| Customer/partner value |  |  |
| TOTAL SCORE |  |  |

Table 1: Opportunity 1

[Repeat evaluation table for each opportunity]

## PART 3: PRIORITIZATION AND ACTION PLANNING

**Instructions:** Based on the evaluation scores, prioritize the opportunities and develop initial action plans.

TOP PRIORITY OPPORTUNITY: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Business value proposition: 

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Security capabilities required: 

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Gap assessment: 

Current capabilities: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Required capabilities: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Gap: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Key stakeholders: 

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Initial timeline: 

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Resource requirements: 

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Next steps: 

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

## IMPLEMENTATION TIPS:

- Include diverse perspectives from across the organization to identify opportunities you might otherwise miss
- Use market intelligence about competitor security capabilities to spark ideas
- Start with opportunities that require minimal additional security investment to build momentum

***

(c)[Kayne McGladrey](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/) - [Get the full book "Cyber Risk is a Myth"](https://www.routledge.com/Cyber-Risk-is-a-Myth-A-Business-Approach-to-Integrated-Risk-Management/McGladrey/p/book/9781041249054)