How do you find and validate cybersecurity research and innovation ideas?

1 Identify problems and needs

The first step to finding and validating cybersecurity research and innovation ideas is to identify the problems and needs that you want to solve or address. You can do this by conducting a problem analysis, which involves asking questions such as: What are the current or emerging cybersecurity threats or risks that affect your target domain, industry, or audience? What are the gaps or limitations in the existing cybersecurity solutions or practices that you want to improve or overcome? What are the pain points or frustrations that your potential users or customers face when dealing with cybersecurity issues? You can use various sources of information and inspiration to conduct your problem analysis, such as: academic literature, industry reports, news articles, blogs, podcasts, social media, online forums, surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, etc.

2 Generate possible solutions

The next step to finding and validating cybersecurity research and innovation ideas is to generate possible solutions that can address the problems and needs that you identified. You can do this by applying a creative thinking technique, such as: brainstorming, mind mapping, SCAMPER, TRIZ, etc. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible, without judging or filtering them at this stage. You can use various tools and resources to support your idea generation, such as: online platforms, software, frameworks, models, templates, etc. You can also involve other people in your idea generation process, such as: colleagues, mentors, experts, peers, users, customers, etc.

3 Evaluate and select ideas

The third step to finding and validating cybersecurity research and innovation ideas is to evaluate and select the ideas that have the most potential and value. You can do this by applying a criteria-based technique, such as: SWOT analysis, feasibility analysis, impact analysis, etc. The goal is to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of each idea, and compare them against your objectives, requirements, and constraints. You can use various metrics and indicators to measure the feasibility and impact of your ideas, such as: technical feasibility, market feasibility, financial feasibility, social feasibility, environmental feasibility, security impact, usability impact, business impact, etc. You can also involve other people in your idea evaluation and selection process, such as: stakeholders, sponsors, investors, partners, etc.

4 Refine and test ideas

The final step to finding and validating cybersecurity research and innovation ideas is to refine and test the ideas that you selected. You can do this by applying a prototyping and testing technique, such as: MVP (minimum viable product), POC (proof of concept), pilot, experiment, etc. The goal is to build a simplified version of your idea that can demonstrate its core features and functions, and collect feedback and data from your target users or customers. You can use various methods and tools to design and develop your prototype and test your idea, such as: agile methodology, design thinking, user-centered design, wireframing, mockup, coding, etc. You can also involve other people in your idea refinement and testing process, such as: testers, reviewers, validators, etc.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?