“Cybercrime to Cost the World $10.5 Trillion Annually by 2025.”³ “A Cyberattack Targets Small Businesses Every 11 Seconds.”³ Headlines like these are no longer surprising, but they highlight a growing crisis that impacts businesses and individuals alike. Cyber threats are evolving rapidly, and the stakes have a real-life impact on everyday people and organizations alike. For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), the cybersecurity risks are particularly dire, with 60% shutting down within six months of a breach². Meanwhile, cybersecurity investments surged to $16.1 billion in 2024⁴ as organizations strive to mitigate these cyber risks.
Despite these efforts, many businesses and individuals still lack the tools and security measures to assess their vulnerabilities proactively. Recognizing this gap, Resonance Security has launched PulseCheck, a free cybersecurity assessment tool designed to make security evaluations accessible, actionable, and immediate.
PulseCheck is built on the principle that cybersecurity should be proactive, not reactive. By offering a user-friendly and accessible interface, it empowers a diverse audience, including small businesses, individuals, Web3 organizations, and institutions, to identify security risks (vulnerabilities) and take action before they become costly problems. When you complete a PulseCheck assessment, you receive a comprehensive PulseCheck Assessment Report in under three minutes. This report highlights key vulnerabilities and delivers personalized, actionable guidance to help strengthen your cyber defenses and put your security measures in place. The guidance is tailored to your specific context, whether you’re an individual looking to secure personal data or a business protecting customer information.
The insights don’t stop there. Another standout feature of PulseCheck is that it aims to develop an Index of Cybersecurity Positioning. This index aggregates data collection from assessments to analyze industry trends, identify systemic vulnerabilities, and provide benchmarks for cybersecurity health across industry sectors. The index will serve as a powerful tool for understanding the state of cybersecurity at scale, giving organizations a clear view of where they stand and how to improve. And for those extra security-conscious minds out there, rest assured that Resonance takes the data we collect seriously. All data collected through PulseCheck is encrypted and stored in compliance with rigorous standards, including SOC2 Type 2 compliance, which we are expecting to receive in early 2025.
When it comes to investing, cybersecurity is a critical factor in assessing a company’s risk profile and long-term viability. Using the PulseCheck Assessment Reports When it comes to investing, cybersecurity is a critical factor in assessing a company’s risk profile and long-term viability. Using the PulseCheck Assessment Reports and aggregated insights, venture capitalists can evaluate a target company’s cybersecurity readiness & security measures, identify potential liabilities, and compare portfolio companies against industry benchmarks. These data-driven insights support smarter decision-making processes and help balance growth opportunities with risk management. This makes PulseCheck an indispensable tool for decision makers seeking to enhance both growth and security. Resonance even offers customized PulseCheck pages tailored to an investor’s needs, streamlining due diligence and portfolio analysis for optimal operational efficiency.
So, what does the process of using PulseCheck actually look like? It’s a two-step process designed to be quick, intuitive, and impactful:
1. Take the Assessment: Choose which assessment fits you best, then answer a series of straightforward questions about your digital infrastructure, practices, and any existing security measures. Some examples from the Consumer Assessment are below:
2. Receive the Assessment Report: Immediately after completing the assessment, you are emailed a detailed report tailored to your specific situation. A PDF of the complete report is attached to the email as well for easy review and distribution. You can expect the report to include:
- Key Vulnerabilities: Clear identification of areas where your cybersecurity posture is weak or could be improved.
- Risk Prioritization: An evaluation of which vulnerabilities pose the highest cyber risk, so you can focus on the most critical issues first.
- Actionable Recommendations: Personalized guidance with instructions to address each vulnerability. The recommendations are designed to be practical and achievable, regardless of your level of technical expertise.
Here’s a little sneak peek into the email you will receive:
This actionable feedback empowers users to take control of their cybersecurity without feeling overwhelmed. By breaking down complex issues into manageable steps, PulseCheck transforms cybersecurity into a proactive and approachable process. By equipping users with practical insights, promoting collaboration across industries, and enabling data-driven decision-making, PulseCheck is helping businesses and individuals protect themselves from evolving cyber threats.
With the cost of cyber attacks continuing to rise, tools like PulseCheck are essential. They provide a pathway to a safer future while supporting organizations in mitigating security risks and strengthening their business operations' resilience. Whether you’re a business owner, an investor, or simply someone looking to secure your personal information, PulseCheck is here to help you navigate the complexities of modern cybersecurity quickly, effectively, and confidently.
References
- “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024.” IBM, IBM, 2024, www.ibm.com/reports/data-breach.
- Johnson, Robert. “60 Percent of Small Companies Close within 6 Months of Being Hacked.” Cybercrime Magazine, Cybersecurity Ventures, 2 Jan. 2019, cybersecurityventures.com/60-percent-of-small-companies-close-within-6-months-of-being-hacked/.
- Morgan, Steve. “Cybercrime to Cost the World $10.5 Trillion Annually by 2025.” Cybercrime Magazine, Cybersecurity Ventures, 13 Nov. 2020, cybersecurityventures.com/cybercrime-damages-6-trillion-by-2021/.
- Stiennon, Richard. “Correction: 2024 Cybersecurity Investments Hit $16.1 Billion!” The Security Industry, Substack, 3 Jan. 2025, stiennon.substack.com/p/2024-cybersecurity-investments-hit.
About the Author
Grace Dees is the Cybersecurity Business Analyst at Resonance Security. She specializes in the intersection of traditional and Web3 security by bridging the gap between technology and business objectives to deliver impactful solutions aligned with client needs.
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