Senior leadership ignores proactive security measures. Are you willing to risk a cyber attack?

I always say to my peers and mentees: "Imagine you have been informing leadership about cyber risks for a year and tomorrow you experience a cyber breach. What evidence will you be able to show during an independent investigation that you did all you could to persuade leadership to invest into controls that could have prevented the breach?" Some could call it "cover your arse"; I call it a sensible insurance policy. So what would be that evidence? Emails where you highlight the issues and propose solutions, and the responses from leadership, a risk register populated, meeting minutes of your meetings with leadership.

Senior leadership is generally not concerned about cyber risks unless they are explained in terms of potential business losses or risks. Therefore, security personnel are responsible for communicating these risks in a way that emphasizes potential business impact. This is a more effective way to highlight the importance of these risks and the potential consequences if they are ignored.

No amount of technology can overcome a leadership or strategy vacuum. Ironically, lack of leadership concern about security and risk will almost certainly leave you with little technology to deploy in the first place. At the end of the day, security practitioners rarely have the organizational power to truly drive transformation by edict. We educate, evangelize, convince, cajole, and beg, but ultimately the decision rests with the business. Thus, all we can do is document the risks, communicate the risks, and provide our recommendations. If regulatory matters or legal concerns arise, such as in the case of federal contracts and False Claims Act issues, then consider your options for ethics complaints and whistleblower protection.

Ever wondered what keeps cyber experts up at night? It's the "It won't happen to us" mindset. I've seen the aftermath, companies paralyzed by cyber-attacks, wishing they'd heeded warnings. Don't be a cautionary tale. Implementing frameworks like NIST or ISO 27001 can significantly reduce risks. Remember, it’s not a matter of if, but when an attack will occur. Are you prepared to handle the fallout? Investing in proactive measures today can save millions tomorrow.

To persuade senior management to prioritize proactive security measures, consider contextualizing them with business objectives, highlighting the financial and reputational impacts of cyber-attacks, providing data and metrics, keeping them updated on evolving threats, comparing the organization's security posture with industry standards, proposing a risk-based approach, highlighting regulatory requirements, demonstrating ROI analysis for security investments, allowing external experts to provide unbiased assessments, and estimating all aspects to build a comprehensive business case for proactive security.

As a security representative, we should highlight the importance of security to the organization, and how security aligns with the business vision and goal. Security function allows and enables the organization to achieve its objectives, goal thus increasing the value of the organization. Demonstrating the financial/Reputational consequences of a cyberattack and the effectiveness of security measures can justify the cost concern.

There is a famous saying: "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face". Same is true for Cybersecurity. Cyber breaches are inevitable and even the organizations that believe it's not critical to have good cyber defense mechanisms or see cybersecurity as a cost center and cut the spending, they will end up spending even more in wake of cyber breach. One of the main reasons why cybersecurity is a cost concern is because it's explained in very technical terms versus business impact, the lingo that executives understand. In addition, lack of KPIs/KRIs and proper metrics doesn't quantify the risk properly for senior executives.

The cost of a cyber attack can be astronomical. Direct financial losses, fines, legal fees, and recovery expenses add up quickly. Investing in proactive security measures is far more economical. Prevention saves money and protects your business in the long run.

Investir de forma proativa talvez não seja muito caro, como muitas empresas acreditam. Precisamos quebrar este estigma. Com bons profissionais de segurança é possível encontrar soluções de segurança que atendam as necessidades de qualquer nível de maturidade e orçamento disponível hoje em dia. O que não se deve nunca, é esperar um ataque grave para começar a investir.

If senior management doesn't understand the risks you are explaining, and thereby doesn't implement the controls you suggest -- you have failed in the most fundamental aspect of your job as a security professional -- explaining risk in a way that makes sense to others. In some (many?) cases that is the hardest part of the job and in some edge cases maybe even impossible, but the requirement remains and is still critical, and you are the expert with the undestanding that needs to be explained well enough for good risk decisions. In most cases, it it not the security professional's job to determine what level of risk is to be accepted, so finding language and terms that convey technical risk as business risk is paramount.

Leaders are meant to inherently make risk-based decisions. If senior leadership is ignoring proactive measures then there is a knowledge gap that a CISO must address. Cybersecurity executives must understand and adapt to the cybersecurity IQ of other executives and the board which may include a knowledge gap in terms of the risk to the organization the proactive measures are designed to avoid or minimize.

As a cybersecurity person, proactive measures are denied you should get justified for the rejection. These measures definitely help in reducing the future attacks and security breaches. There could be many reasons for denying these measures such as cost to the measures, experts on the field, no strategy plan on implementing it and no time on it. Definitely you have bridge understanding with senior leadership on these type scenarios. Make them understand the importance of these measures.

The CISO of the organization empathizes with the importance of security to the organisation's C-level executives. Invite them to participate in your security awareness activities, such as training sessions, simulations, or campaigns.

Implementing decent cyber security practices is like buying an insurance. Sure, you can live without it. What's your plan when SHTF? Sadly, only regulations can force some companies to implement required cyber security measures. That's why Security is often classified as a sibling to Compliance. The missing word here is ACCOUNTABILITY.

Cybersecurity should be design and not after thought. And it's much costlier and ineffective if security layers are not built into the core of the system design. Its much easier if cyber hygiene measures are part of the organization culture with personnel being rewarded for being the digital guardians and data custodians.

A strong security culture starts at the top. When senior leaders prioritize security, it sets a standard for the entire organization. Employees are more likely to follow best practices when they see leadership taking it seriously. This shift fosters a proactive approach to security.

É necessário que a InfoSec da sua empresa tenha uma área de conscientização para treinar todos os colaboradores sobre as melhores práticas de segurança, além de mostrar a todos, quais as ações estão sendo tomadas para aumentar a resiliência de segurança da empresa.

Showing the work is better lesson than teaching them. Especially for security interns, the higher managers and AVP should work with them on new projects and help them understand market trends and threat evolution. The senior engineer should act as a playbook and show their students or interns about the procedures their company should go through and the steps they have to take for different scenarios which introduce good cyber hygiene for the company. Inspiring them and showcasing the path is crucial and they will draw their own path into developing them in this field.

Building a security-conscious culture starts at the top. When senior leaders neglect cybersecurity, it sets a tone of complacency throughout the organization. Conversely, when leaders champion proactive security measures, it fosters a culture where every employee understands the importance of cybersecurity and their role in protecting the organization.

Including the cybersecurity team in the planning process from the beginning is crucial. Ensures that security measures are integrated into the design and development stages, reducing vulnerabilities and costly retrofits. Early involvement helps identify potential risks and implement appropriate controls, aligning security with objectives. It fosters a proactive security culture, promoting awareness and compliance. Moreover, it enables the cybersecurity team to better understand the project's goals and constraints, facilitating more effective and tailored security solutions. This approach enhances overall resilience and trust in the organization's security posture.

Cybersecurity should be woven into your overall business strategy. Aligning security measures with business goals ensures comprehensive protection. This integration supports growth and innovation while safeguarding critical assets. Security should be a strategic priority, not an afterthought.

Cybersecurity should not be an afterthought; it must be integrated into the overall business strategy. Senior leadership must ensure that cybersecurity considerations are embedded in every strategic decision, from product development to vendor selection. This holistic approach ensures that security is a fundamental component of the organization’s operations

The threat, technology, regulatory landscape keeps on evolving a) PDCA Use the principles of PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) for overall cyber security posture. Know your business, its critical assets and how optimally you can secure them. Goldilocks principle must be adhered b) Threat informed decisions All cybersecurity decisions should be based on threat/risk scenarios. Use MITRE and CTIS (Cyber Threat Information Sharing) c) Risk Culture The senior leadership team sets the risk culture. They are accountable for both financial and non-financial risks. Inform and educate them about reputation loss, regulatory fines and morale deficit if right actions are not performed d) Policy updates Regular policy updates on threat informed decisions

Cybersecurity is an ongoing process that requires constant attention. Regular updates to policies, continuous staff training, and adopting the latest technologies are crucial. Staying ahead of emerging threats is essential for maintaining a robust security posture. Evolution is key to resilience.

Use a risk quantification approach to provide a detailed analysis of the potential risks and consequences of a cyber attack. This should encompass financial losses, reputational damage, legal implications, and operational disruptions. Present a clear plan for mitigating identified risks, including timelines, responsibilities, and cost estimates. Make the financial aspects clear, including costs, benefits, and repercussions of ignoring the risks. In this context, the focus of the response should be on how you quantify the risks, as this is crucial for senior business leaders.

It's imperative for senior leadership to prioritize proactive security measures. Cyber threats are evolving, and the cost of a breach far exceeds preventive investments. As security heads, it's our responsibility to lead by example, demonstrating the value of robust security frameworks. By presenting clear, data-driven justifications, we can highlight the potential risks and associated costs of inaction. Emphasizing ROI and aligning security initiatives with business objectives can help bridge the gap between technical needs and strategic priorities. Promoting a culture of proactive security not only protects assets but also enhances trust and resilience in the face of cyber threats.

Beyond tech, there's a factor often overlooked, PEOPLE. A single click can undo even the strongest security. But what if your staff was your best defense? Beyond the technical aspects, consider the human element of cybersecurity. Insider threats are a significant risk. Implementing a zero-trust model and conducting regular audits can mitigate these risks. Additionally, ensure that your incident response plan is robust and tested regularly. Invest in a security awareness program. And don't forget cyber insurance. Being prepared for the worst-case scenario can make all the difference.

The role of a cyber professional is to provide a comprehensive risk matrix that shows what are the inherent risks and likelihood of that risk happening followed by the actions that could potentially be taken in order to mitigate those risks and the residual likelihood and impact. The key is to ensure that you communicate everything without leaving any stone unturned. It is not the responsibility of the cyber professional to be mitigating risks without financial means without the support and without the business buy-in Does that mean you’ll never get attacked? No. What are you doing is ensuring that the potential of attack is minimal and the business can recover immediately after such attack.

Ignoring proactive security measures puts the entire organization at risk of cyber attacks. To address this issue, educate senior leadership on cyber threats and implement proactive security measures. Conduct a risk assessment, develop a cybersecurity policy, and engage with cybersecurity experts. Monitor and audit regularly to maintain a strong security posture.