The Cybersecurity Formality for the Board
Reference: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2020/04/21/quantifying-cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is not a foreign concept to the Board of Directors. It is
just so often not an understood topic. Parallel in importance to
operational excellence, Cybersecurity is there to ensure business
operations continue to exist beyond the moment.
Got it. So where is the Cybersecurity difficulty at the Board level
regarding my organization. While each Board member can likely reiterate
stories of breaches and Ransomware they have read about in the news it
is just that, someone else’s problem. The breach didn’t occur here.
Compounding the issue, Board members are brought on for their specific
areas of expertise. “Regulatory affairs, government relations, legal,
finance and bank ties, connected to desirable client prospects.” What
is lacking 99% of the time? Cybersecurity expertise focused on ensuring
business continuity and protection of client’s and the organization’s data.
Why is this true? This is the way we have always done it. Breaches happen
to others. We feel immune because we are too big, too small, not
interesting to the threat actors, what do we have that attackers would
want, we’ve never been breached yet, too expensive?
Misunderstanding at the Board level will continue until Cybersecurity
experts are added and Security Awareness training is provided for other
Board experts.
Back to the original question,
“How do we quantify Cybersecurity for the Board of Directors?” Until we
place Cybersecurity experts on the Board who can qualify and quantify
information they are provided this will continue to be an exercise in
formality. Formality is for show. Actionable information presented to a
knowledgeable group of advisors will facilitate effective and informed decisions.
Digital Assurance Advisors provides consultation to the Board to help
navigate the complex area of Cybersecurity. That is our specific area of
expertise. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
Learn more about your Board Advisors who are ready to help you ...
Rick Howard
Greg Duckert
Chris Kolenda
