How to Build a Lean Security Model: 5 Lessons from River Island
Jun 11, 2025
Vulnerability Management / Cyber Hygiene
In today's security landscape, budgets are tight, attack surfaces are sprawling, and new threats emerge daily. Maintaining a strong security posture under these circumstances without a large team or budget can be a real challenge. Yet lean security models are not only possible - they can be highly effective. River Island, one of the UK's leading fashion retailers, offers a powerful case study on how to do more with less. As River Island's InfoSec Officer, Sunil Patel and his small team of three are responsible for securing over 200 stores, an e-commerce platform, a major distribution center, and head offices. With no headcount growth on the horizon, Sunil had to rethink how security could scale effectively. By adopting a lean security model, powered by Intruder's exposure management platform , the team was able to improve visibility, respond faster to threats, and empower others across the business to fix what matters most. Here are five key lessons from thei...