Organisations, both large and small, face a growing number of security challenges. Many security measures traditionally focus on adding new technology layers – firewalls, antivirus tools, endpoint detection systems, and so on. Yet, while these solutions remain critical, there is a different angle that often goes unnoticed: the hidden or “unseen” vulnerabilities known as security gaps.
A “gap” can be any weakness – technical, procedural, or even cultural – that could be exploited by an attacker. Such gaps might include outdated policies, insufficient employee awareness, lax supplier management, or poorly configured systems. Surprisingly, these gaps are often not caused by a lack of security spending, but by an underutilisation or misalignment of existing solutions. In other words, most organisations already have the fundamentals in place; they simply need to leverage them more effectively and consistently.
The problem with security gaps is that they are not always obvious. Unlike a large breach or a major infrastructure failure, these gaps operate in the background, quietly enabling an attacker to probe your defences. They may arise from missing patches, overly permissive user privileges, or trusting third-party vendors without thorough vetting. In many instances, the biggest gap is plain visibility: if you don’t see the vulnerabilities, you can’t fix them.
One of the best ways to identify these hidden weaknesses is by mapping out the “kill chain”—the stages attackers typically go through when executing a cyberattack. From reconnaissance and initial intrusion to lateral movement and data exfiltration, each stage offers an opportunity to detect or block malicious activity. If, however, your security tools and processes do not adequately cover each stage, you risk leaving an opening for an attacker to leverage.
Over the course of this seven-part blog series, we will examine the common – and often overlooked – types of security gaps that plague organisations. We will delve into areas such as:
- Security Awareness Deficiencies – Why technology alone can’t protect you if employees aren’t educated.
- Misconfigurations and Operational Oversights – How small errors in configuration can lead to major breaches.
- Overreliance on Third Parties – The hidden dangers of placing too much trust in external partners.
- Lack of System Integration – Identifying gaps created by disjointed or siloed tools and processes.
- Poor Infrastructure Design – Pinpointing how basic design flaws can unravel security layers.
- Demarcation and Supplier Boundaries – Understanding the blurred lines of responsibility.
- Identifying and Closing Critical Gaps – Practical steps to achieve holistic security coverage.
By exploring each of these in detail, you’ll be better equipped to identify weaknesses that may be lurking inside your own environment. Throughout, we’ll also highlight real-world scenarios and best practices for tackling these vulnerabilities head-on. Ultimately, by “minding the gap,” you’ll gain the visibility and insight necessary to make your security strategy more robust, without necessarily purchasing a host of new systems.
Remember: a successful cyber defence isn’t just about piling on more technology. It’s about knowing what you already have, how it’s configured, and who is operating it. By discovering and addressing the overlooked cracks in your organisation’s defences, you’ll be in a far stronger position to withstand and mitigate the next inevitable cyber threat.
In the coming blogs, we’ll move beyond this introduction to focus on specific gap areas, starting with one of the most critical—and often most overlooked—aspects: security awareness training.