Top information security leaders gathered at the RSA Conference Europe 2013 conference in Amsterdam to discuss how enterprise organizations can build up their cyber defense postures in response to a changing security landscape.

Speakers noted that organizations realize they are responsible for protecting themselves, business partners and their supply chains, EMC said Tuesday.

“Attackers look for the easiest means of compromise, that’s why attacks are moving from more security-mature organizations down to less mature, typically smaller, partners,” said Dylan Owen, cybersecurity manager for cybersecurity and special missions at Raytheon.

“Attackers can exploit the trust relationships between companies to infiltrate well-protected targets through supply chain partners with less security experience,” he added.

More companies are seeking to build their security posture as a proactive approach instead of as a reaction from an attack, according to RSA.

An RSA security brief unveiled at the conference says lapses in applying security protocols continue to be the main cause of data breaches.

The “Taking Charge of Security in a Hyperconnected World” report says says systems that rely solely on traditional modes of virus and intruder detection and achieve minimum compliance are also more vulnerable to attacks.

The report recommends ways organizations can improve preparedness and response such as giving users training and assessing security operations for potential areas of improvement.

“As more organizations take a broader community-minded view of their risks and security practices, information security will improve for all of us,” said Art Coviello, executive chairman of RSA.