What does the British & Irish Lions Tour and your Cyber Security Strategy have in Common? More Than You Think…
Having moved to Australia 18 months ago, I have been getting to grips with the differences in the IT and Security industry from what I had experienced in the UK.
With my heritage being British and my current professional allegiance with Australia, I thought I would draw some fun comparisons between the key considerations for businesses developing their cyber maturity and the current British and Irish Lions Tour of Australia.
Whilst the worlds of professional rugby and cyber security are a bit more than a cross-field kick apart, I am keen to see if I can make this work… I hope you enjoy the read.
Planning and preparation
With a new financial year kicking off, it’s a great time for CIO's (Andy Farrell/Joe Schmidt) to evaluate their current state. This means reviewing capabilities, identifying strengths and weaknesses, understanding the current landscape, and setting clear priorities for the year ahead. Whether you're aiming to meet Essential 8 Maturity Level 2 or rolling out a new SIEM solution, success will come to those who prepare, plan, and stay ahead of the game. Just like any elite rugby team, it's the strategic groundwork behind the scenes that separates the winners from the losers.
Avoiding the scrum of wasted spend
With both the Lions and Wallabies having a large pool of players to choose from, it is essential that the coaches select players that are cohesive, complement each other’s strengths and avoid doubling up on skills. There is no room (budget) for unnecessary baggage, every solution must have a clear purpose and be well aligned to ensure complete security.
Over the last few months, Com-X have helped several customers in uncovering overlapping solutions and unnecessary spend. In many cases, point solutions are brought in to address individual issues but this can quickly lead to spiraling costs, increased complexity, and widening skills gaps.
At Com-X, we provide a phased approach, which allows flexibility on how your tailored and defined cyber maturity uplift strategy can be delivered. We provide a risk based and data driven view of where your organisation is at any given time in alignment to your chosen framework.
Strong defense is non-negotiable
Defense on the pitch will be a deciding factor in which team will be successful over the next few weeks. A question all CIO’s must ask themselves is, what is the cost of poor defense? What is the cost to your business if your website goes down for 1 hour?
A single gap in your defensive line could be the difference between a successful Q1 and a costly ransomware attack. In today’s threat landscape, strong cyber defense isn't a luxury, it's a baseline requirement. The Essential Eight framework exists for this very reason: to establish foundational security practices that protect against common attack vectors. Whether it’s patching operating systems, restricting administrative privileges, or implementing multi-factor authentication, these controls form the defensive line that holds the attackers at bay.
Adaptability is key
Every game in a Lions tour is different. New cities and stadiums, ever changing squad rotations, injury, and unpredictable weather conditions mean adaptability is key to each team’s performance. Success doesn’t come from rigid plans, it comes from agility, quick decision-making, and the ability to pivot when the unexpected hits.
Today’s threat landscape is evolving at an ever-increasing rate. What works today, may not work tomorrow. Frameworks like Essential 8 are not just tick box exercises, they encourage maturity and evolution of your security posture over time.
Your reputation is on the line
For the Lions and the Wallabies, the rugby world will be watching. A poor performance will hurt fans, impact the legacy of the team and crush morale as the chance to win only comes around every 12 years.
Both sides talk about what it means to wear the jersey. What does it mean to represent your company? What do you stand for? What is your mission?
A cyber breach for a business can destroy customer trust, damage brand equity, and bring legal consequences. The cost of failure is measured in more than just points conceded or downtime, it's about reputation, trust, and resilience.
Final whistle
The Lions tour and your Cyber Security strategy may belong to different worlds, but they do share some commonality. Success is built on preparation, teamwork, discipline and adaptability. At Com-X, we apply this mindset in everything we do, we help organisations defend their digital territory with clarity, confidence, and a tailored strategy.
So pour yourself a refreshing drink, enjoy the tour, and if this post has got you thinking about strengthening your cyber scrum, get in contact with Com-X we are ready to help you defend your line.
