The Hidden Costs of M&A: A CISO’s Perspective on Cyber Due Diligence

In this episode of Cyber Talks, Greg Crowley and Dwayne Smith delve into the critical role of cybersecurity in mergers and acquisitions (M&A). They discuss how cyber risks can significantly affect company valuations and the challenges that arise during these transactions.

Dwayne shares his experiences, highlighting the importance of educating stakeholders about potential security issues that could derail deals. The conversation emphasizes the need for robust security measures, including identity management and threat intelligence, to mitigate risks and ensure successful integrations.

Topics discussed include:

• The impact of security breaches and incidents on M&A valuation and deal terms
• What red flags can derail a merger or acquisition (privacy incidents, regulatory violations, unresolved breaches)
• The most useful cybersecurity metrics and reports for due diligence
• Real-world examples of integrating security tools and policies post-acquisition—and lessons learned
• The role of threat intelligence and dark web monitoring in uncovering hidden risk
• How to avoid post-acquisition surprises related to legacy code or unsupported infrastructure
• Top security investments sellers should make to maximize future valuation

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About Cyber Talks

From ransomware attacks to supply chain compromises, eSentire’s Cyber Talks podcast will delve into the world of the latest cyber threats that are impacting businesses globally. Join our team of security experts as we speak with C-level executives and security practitioners about the cyber risks affecting their business and how they’re addressing these challenges.

About eSentire

eSentire, Inc., the Authority in Managed Detection and Response (MDR), protects the critical data and applications of 2000+ organizations in 80+ countries, across 35 industries from known and unknown cyber threats by providing Exposure Management, Managed Detection and Response and Incident Response services designed to build an organization’s cyber resilience & prevent business disruption. Founded in 2001, eSentire protects the world’s most targeted organizations with 65% of its global base recognized as critical infrastructure, vital to economic health and stability. By combining open XDR platform technology, 24/7 threat hunting, and proven security operations leadership, eSentire's award-winning MDR services and team of experts help organizations anticipate, withstand and recover from cyberattacks. For more information, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.esentire.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eSentire⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.