Fix Cybersecurity Gaps Before Summer Hits
Mid-Year Security Starts Now: Why March Is a Critical Month for Cyber Risk
March often feels like a transition month. Budgets are set, projects are underway, and teams are moving fast. But for cybersecurity professionals, March is also a critical checkpoint. It is early enough to course-correct and late enough for risk to quietly accumulate.
Organizations that pause in March to reassess their security posture are better positioned to avoid operational surprises, audit stress, and incident-driven fire drills later in the year.
This guide highlights why March matters and where InfoSec teams should focus now to strengthen resilience for the months ahead.
Why March Is a Security Inflection Point
By March, many security programs are operating on momentum rather than intention. Access exceptions linger, vendors onboard quickly, and new tools are deployed without full review. At the same time, threat actors continue to evolve their tactics.
March offers a strategic moment to:
-Identify gaps that emerged in Q1
-Validate assumptions made during planning
-Align security controls with how the business is actually operating
Small adjustments now can prevent large issues later.
Revisit Identity and Access Decisions
Access sprawl is one of the fastest-growing risks in most organizations. March is an ideal time to review:
-Privileged accounts and service access
-Temporary access that became permanent
-New hires, role changes, and contractors
Reconfirming least privilege early helps reduce exposure before mid-year audits and compliance reviews begin.
Assess Third-Party and Vendor Risk
Vendor relationships tend to expand quickly in the first quarter. Security teams should use March to:
-Review vendor access and integrations
-Confirm risk assessments are current
-Validate contractual security expectations
Supply chain risk rarely appears overnight. It builds quietly when oversight lags.
Pressure-Test Incident Readiness
Most organizations have incident response plans, but far fewer test them regularly. March is an ideal time to:
-Run a tabletop exercise
-Review escalation paths and communication plans
-Identify gaps in detection or response workflows
Testing before a real incident exposes weaknesses while there is still time to fix them.
Looking Ahead: Align Security With Business Priorities
Security is most effective when it supports how the organization actually works. March provides an opportunity to reconnect with leadership and operational teams to ensure security priorities align with current initiatives, not just annual plans.
This alignment builds trust and reduces friction later in the year.