Strengthen Security Strategy Without Expanding Your Team: How Network Digital Twins Empower Smarter Cyber Defense

Cybersecurity is no longer just a tech issue—it's a priority that sits right at the boardroom table. With escalating cyberattacks that are becoming both more frequent and complex, the pressure is on for CIOs and CISOs. The implications of not having clear visibility into our networks can be dire.

According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the financial toll of cybercrime could reach a staggering $9.5 trillion by 2024—almost three times what it was in 2015. A recent study revealed that an eye-popping 94% of IT and security leaders faced a major cyberattack in the last year. This isn’t just a string of isolated incidents; it’s a clear signal of the systematic threats that exploit the weaknesses in our intricate, hybrid network environments.

Even with substantial investments in cybersecurity tools, many organizations continue to struggle to gain a comprehensive view of their networks. Without genuine insights into exposure points, at-risk devices, and the enforcement of proper segmentation, even the most sophisticated security programs fall short in their ability to defend against, detect, and respond to threats.

How can a Network Digital Twin improve Security Operations?

Forward Enterprise is the only true network digital twin, delivering a mathematically accurate digital twin of the entire network—across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments. Supporting 30+ hardware vendors, 35+ operating systems, and all major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), it provides unified visibility and control across even the most complex infrastructures.

Designed to help CISOs navigate today’s expanding attack surfaces and mounting regulatory pressure, a true network digital twin models every possible network path to reveal hidden vulnerabilities, policy violations, and misconfigurations—before they become breaches. The platform delivers continuous, actionable insights into security posture and compliance status, eliminating blind spots caused by device sprawl or incomplete documentation.

What are the benefits of a Network Digital Twin for CISOs in terms of protecting their networks and maximizing their budget? 

Take, for example, a $9 billion financial institution that leveraged Forward Enterprise. Over a two-year period, they uncovered more than 1,500 vulnerabilities and slashed their audit preparation time by 80%. This proactive approach not only enhanced compliance but also significantly improved their overall security posture.

Another large financial services firm faced an overwhelming task: assessing and verifying CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) across a network of 45,000 devices. Their team was spending, on average, 8.35 hours on each CVE, costing about $1,670 per vulnerability. With nearly 1,000 critical CVEs needing analysis each year, these costs quickly piled up.

By using Forward’s CVE analysis capabilities, they were able to reduce triage time from hours to mere minutes. The result? An impressive $1.67 million in annual savings and a clearer sense of which vulnerabilities were genuinely risky based on actual network exposure.

Achieving this level of efficiency would be impossible without verified, centralized data. As one customer from the financial technology sector commented: “Our organization couldn’t meet regulatory audit and risk requirements until we brought Forward Networks on board. Now, we can maintain our team size, which would have otherwise needed to double or triple without it.”

Security teams can't afford to operate in the dark. They also shouldn't need to expand exponentially just to stay ahead of threats. A network digital twin offers the verified visibility necessary for moving from a reactive stance to one that proactively reduces risks, all while maximizing the efficiency of existing staff and resources. To learn how a Network Digital Twin can help you, request a personalized technical session.