Inflection Point: Cyber Resilience Beyond Perimeter Security
Remember when we thought building a tall, thick digital wall around our network was enough?
That’s so 2010.
Relying on perimeter security today is like hiding in a trench while your enemy attacks with drones. You’re fighting yesterday’s war with way-outdated tactics.
Modern cyber defense requires resilience: Being both “hard to hack” and “fast to fix” when something goes wrong. Because something will go wrong.
I was talking with a VP of IT last week who proudly spoke about their newly installed, top-tier EDR solution. When I asked about their recovery plans, they looked at me like I’d suggested they prepare for an alien invasion.
“We don’t need that,” they said. “Our perimeter is solid.”
Two days later, they reached out to me about an article that explained in detail how ransomware gangs have reliable tactics for going around EDR. I think they finally realized their solid perimeter won’t matter once the threat is inside.
This is why the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is so valuable. Everyone knows about the Govern, Identify, and Protect functions - they’re the basics. But the real power comes from the other three:
👉 Detect - Can you spot problems quickly? Most breaches go undetected for months until the hammer falls.
👉 Respond - Do you have a clear, tested plan for when things go wrong? Not if, but when.
👉 Recover - How quickly can you get back to business? This is where resilience truly matters.
In 2017, DHL in Europe suffered a ransomware attack. Because they had focused on all five NIST functions, they detected it early, contained it quickly, and recovered critical systems within hours.
FedEx (TNT Express) wasn’t so lucky. The same attack shut them down for weeks and caused them to rapidly lose business to DHL. The difference? One prepared for resilience, the other just built higher walls.
Think about your own org:
💣💥Could you detect a cyber attack in progress?
💣💥Do you have a response plan that everyone knows?
💣💥 How quickly could you recover your most critical systems?
If you’re not confident in your answers, it’s time to shift your focus beyond the perimeter.
Do you have the buy-in from your senior decision makers to make this change?
Have you told them that being cyber resilient means accepting that breaches will happen? The question isn’t if you’ll be attacked, but how quickly you’ll bounce back?
Click comment and tell me one thing you’re doing to improve your cyber resilience beyond perimeter security.
I read every comment you post.
-Kip
P.S. Please forward this "Inflection Point" to someone you care about.
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Kip Boyle is a husband, dad, entrepreneur, and experienced cyber risk manager. He founded Cyber Risk Opportunities LLC in 2015, after seven years as the CISO of PEMCO Insurance in Seattle. As a captain on active duty in the US Air Force, he served in the Combat Archer and F-22 Stealth Fighter programs where he was the director of enterprise network security. These days, he serves as virtual chief information security officer for many customers, including a professional sports team and fast-growing FinTech and AdTech companies. Over the years, Kip has built teams by interviewing hundreds of cybersecurity professionals. And now, he’s sharing his insider’s perspective with you!
👉 Connect with Kip on LinkedIn
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113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205
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3moIt's crazy that a VP of IT at a big company would ever say that they didn't need a recovery plan. It's like having a backup/restore plan for your data. If you don't have a plan, and you've never implemented, you're gonna have a bad time when your systems fail and you can't reach your critical data. It's great that your company takes a 'defense in depth' approach.
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3moThis is such an important post Kip Boyle. What you share on LinkedIn is literally a PSA!