Recent data breaches at companies like British Airways and Capital One have made it more evident than ever before that cybersecurity leaders must prepare for a staggering amount of potential threats. Credential stuffing, account takeovers, and insider threats are all vectors of attack that could potentially devastate a business. But without the C-suite’s support, it’s impossible for cybersecurity leaders to effectively plan for and defend against these threats.
If the C-suite doesn’t fully understand a security risk, they likely won’t prioritize investing to defend against the potential threat. This, of course, can lead to disastrous consequences, like losing loyal customers, hurting brand reputation, or incurring major fines. The British Airways breach led to a fine of almost $230 million, and that doesn’t include non-tactile losses like a damaged reputation. As a result, it’s up to the security leaders to effectively communicate and position security risks to company leaders and decision-makers.
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Here are five tips to help cybersecurity leaders navigate the C-suite:
While leaders acknowledge security is a vital part of their organization, they often prioritize other initiatives that provide a more direct return on investment. According to a recent study from Nominet, 90 percent of C-suite members think their organization lacks the proper resources to defend against a cyberattack, and 76 percent of them think a security breach is inevitable. This highlights a disconnect: While C-suite executives acknowledge security is an issue, they’re not doing all they can to protect their organizations.