Cybersecurity Frameworks Often Fail Due to 10 Key Gaps, Says Dr. Philippe Vynckier

A recent article published on HackerNoon, shared by Dr. Philippe Vynckier, CISSP, highlights ten critical gaps that frequently undermine cybersecurity frameworks, despite their comprehensive appearance on paper. The piece, titled "10 Gaps That Undermine Your Cybersecurity Framework (And How to Close Them)," argues that many organizations prioritize compliance over practical security, leading to significant vulnerabilities.

Dr. Vynckier, a digital security expert and influencer with nearly two decades of experience, including roles as former Head of Global Application Security Services at Sony and Director of Cyber Security at Jagex, contends that incidents persist not due to a lack of effort but because guiding systems are often too rigid or detached from real operations. He emphasizes that governance and risk management frequently devolve into disconnected documents rather than living, adaptive systems.

The article identifies key governance gaps such as siloed responsibility, treating security as an afterthought, misuse of frameworks as a goal rather than a baseline, and a lack of visibility for executive teams. Vynckier notes, > "For me, the answer often starts with asking one deceptively simple question: 'Who actually owns risk here?'" He advocates for cross-functional security councils and integrating security into budget and architecture reviews.

Risk management pitfalls include static risk registers, subjective scoring, and a disconnect between security and business operations. Dr. Vynckier advises moving to dynamic risk scoring, tying risk to product impact, and automating contextual risk insights. He stresses that > "Cybersecurity isn’t failing because we don’t have frameworks. It’s failing because we keep mistaking frameworks for action."

The expert suggests that organizations should focus on changing decision-making processes rather than merely patching gaps with new policies or tools. He promotes building security programs proactively, treating compliance as a floor rather than the ultimate goal, and investing in talent and scenario-based training. Ultimately, Vynckier asserts that when implemented correctly, cybersecurity transcends a cost center to become a competitive advantage.