A nice presentation doesn't make it software. How to Identify a High-Quality Cybersecurity Management Solution

For typical business applications, this can result in project delays or higher costs. In the field of cybersecurity, however, the consequences are much more serious. Organizations rely on cybersecurity management software to help them manage assets, risks, security incidents, and compliance with regulatory requirements. If the system does not function as expected, this often only becomes apparent during an audit or when responding to an actual security incident.

Why Is There a Discrepancy Between Perception and Reality?

Much of the software is developed in accordance with legislative requirements or technical specifications. Analysts prepare the requirements, developers program them, and the result is an application that meets the defined requirements. But in practice, things are often more complicated.

Cybersecurity management is not just about complying with individual regulations. Organizations have to deal with day-to-day operations, infrastructure changes, and collaboration among departments, vendors, and regulators. If the system design lacks the experience of the people who actually manage these processes, a gap emerges between what the software can do on paper and what the organization needs in real-world operations.

That is precisely why high-quality software should be developed in collaboration with experts in the field, rather than based solely on legislative documents.

What to Ask When Choosing Software

Choosing a cybersecurity management system isn't just a matter of checking off features on a list. It's much more important to find out how the product performs in day-to-day operations.

1. Ask for reviews from actual users

These days, it's not enough for websites to just feature the logos of well-known companies.

Ask if you can speak with someone who uses the system every day. They’ll usually tell you much more than a sales presentation ever could—what works well, where the limitations lie, and how the vendor responds to customer requests.

2. Be concerned about the safety of the product itself

A security software vendor should be able to demonstrate how it verifies the security of its own application.

Ask questions such as:

• When was the last penetration test conducted,
• whether it was conducted by an independent third party,
• how the identified vulnerabilities are addressed.

A transparent supplier will have no problem sharing this information.

3. Check how quickly it responds to changes in legislation

The field of cybersecurity is evolving very rapidly.

In the Czech Republic today, the requirements of Act No. 264/2025 Coll. on Cybersecurity and the related implementing decrees are the primary governing factors. The European NIS2 Directive establishes a framework for member states, but organizations themselves are primarily governed by Czech legislation.

So ask yourself:

• How quickly does the supplier implement legislative changes?
• Who is monitoring the changes?
• How are they reflected in the product?

This will give you an idea of whether the system will still be usable in a few years.

4. Try out a real-world task in the system

A well-prepared demo can convince almost anyone.

So please request access to the test environment and try it out for yourself:

• create a new asset,
• create a risk,
• propose measures,
• go through the security incident process.

It is precisely during these everyday activities that we can see whether the software is ready for daily use.

5. Think long-term

Cybersecurity management software is not a one-time investment.

Legislation is changing, organizations are growing, and new threats are emerging. That is why it is important to know who is behind the product, how its further development is proceeding, and whether the supplier has a clear product strategy.

Software should support processes, not complicate them

Today, modern cybersecurity management tools are not just used to track assets or risks. They should help organizations manage the entire process—from asset identification and risk assessment to planning countermeasures, managing tasks, and preparing audit documentation.

This is precisely the direction in which the OMIS application is being developed. It is designed to integrate assets, risks, their interrelationships, and audit findings into a single, easy-to-understand system. As a result, security managers, IT staff, and organizational leadership all share the same view of the current status and can make decisions based on real data, rather than just spreadsheets or documents.

The right questions are the best investment

You can tell if software is high-quality not so much by its presentation as by the solutions the vendor offers.

Don't hesitate to ask about references, product safety, the development process, or readiness for future legislative changes. A good product will not only stand up to such questions but will usually be able to answer them in great detail.

Because in the field of cybersecurity, what matters most isn't how the software looks in a presentation. What matters is how it performs when your organization actually needs it.

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Author of the article: Vlasta Šejvlová, CEO of Open Apps Development

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