How to Talk Cybersecurity with Your Board

We live in a world where data privacy and information security are more critical than ever. Data breaches have become routine news fodder, with sensational headlines about hackers stealing data becoming commonplace.

As the frequency and cost of cyberattacks rise, boards are increasingly recognizing the risk to their organization. During a board meeting, you should engage them concerning cybersecurity, ensuring they know the risks and their responsibilities in preventing breaches.

Here are some tips on how to do this effectively:

Know Your Audience

The board of directors can be from various professions, from marketing and sales to financial services and law. Therefore, the best way to tailor your discussion will be to know your audience. You should be aware of any specific knowledge gaps that particular board members may have so you can work to bring them up to speed. If you’re in a situation where you’re bringing in an outside expert to educate them, make sure you give them enough preparation time and space to be effective.

Make the Case With ROI

When discussing the cybersecurity agenda, it’s essential to get them thinking about why you’re bringing it up. With increased attention comes a surge in requests for more funding and resources for cybersecurity, which puts the board in a difficult position. If your board doesn’t understand why cybersecurity is such an urgent matter, they may not feel pressure to allocate more funds to the department. To avoid this, you’ll want to make them understand that cybersecurity is not only a compliance issue but also a business risk.

Communicate Effectively

Many of the members present during the cybersecurity meeting likely lack a technical understanding of cybersecurity. Instead of using too much jargon, use data storytelling techniques. This will help in understanding the threat and making decisions regarding the issue. You could also use examples from companies that have handled cybersecurity issues to help illustrate the points. Also, these examples could help formulate a cybersecurity plan.

Prepare for Questions

During the board meeting, there will be objections and questions. You must be ready to tackle them. This means you will have to conduct thorough research before the meeting. The information you present has to be factual and backed with solid evidence. The board might want to know, for instance, what areas of cybersecurity need to be addressed first and how much they would cost.

Communicating with your board about cybersecurity has never been more critical. With increased attention to cybersecurity risks has come increased expectations from regulators and users. Understanding the board members, focusing on ROI, effective communication, and adequate preparation will go a long way in helping to present the issue to the board of directors.