Here's how you can educate your boss about the importance of cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity risks are very real for businesses. They can suffer from data breaches, financial losses, and disruptions to their operations. These problems can hurt their reputation and trust with customers. Every business faces these risks, so it's important to take steps to protect against them. That's why having strong cybersecurity measures in place is crucial in today's digital world.

Your boss may not understand the problems and the challenges associated with cybersecurity and how to manage them. However, she will understand business risk and how digital risk is a key component of the company's business risk. Every risk the company faces necessitates specific strategies, resources, and processes for assessment, management, and mitigation. When it comes to digital risks, cybersecurity is responsible for these tasks. This should instill a sense of need and a business case. You can complement this by providing examples of cybersecurity incidents that have happened to companies in your industry and explaining their negative consequences.

Cyber Security Risk is Real, all Businesses small, medium and large face Business Risk due to Cyber Events which can impact the Business Operations and its Reputation. First thing which we need to make the Top Management understand is Risk Appetite, all Business have a Risk Appetite which means how much risk business is ready to undertake. Second there should be a Business Continuity Plan and Disaster Recovery Plan and Teams in place if its an enterprise to make sure that there is no down time for customers in case there is a security event which impacts Business Operations. RMF to be used to Assess Risk and device plan to mitigate, transfer or accept it. Cyber Security is driven from Top management to Bottom of the Org structure.

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀. The costs associated with a data breach or cyberattack can be staggering. While vendors may promise the moon to sell their products, remember that solutions like firewalls, antivirus/EDR, and IDS/IPS each target specific risks and come with their own costs. However, true information security transcends IT systems and flashy sales pitches. Prioritizing risks will ensure that spending focuses on the most significant threats, not the most persuasive salespeople. Secure your company's future by making informed, strategic investments in cybersecurity.

The financial impact of cybersecurity incidents can be severe for businesses. They can face high costs from data recovery, legal fees, and lost revenue due to disrupted operations. Moreover, there may be fines and a damaged reputation that can lead to lost customers. Investing in cybersecurity measures is vital to avoid these financial losses and maintain a company's stability and growth.

Perform a cost-benefit analysis to show the potential savings from avoiding data breaches and downtime versus the cost of implementing cybersecurity measures. Highlight the long-term savings from investing in preventive measures rather than dealing with the aftermath of a cyber incident

Start addressing the risks that are high risk to the company. These are the risks that can have an impact on company efficiency. After, check which controls are easy to roll out. Mark controls when they will be addressed. Knowing what risks we face is number 1.

A major way of getting management's attention on the importance of cybersecurity is to emphasize the financial consequences of cyberattacks and data breaches. In addition, you can also present the ROI of cybersecurity, such as: Risk Mitigation and Cost Avoidance Competitive Advantage Meeting Regulatory Requirements Operational Efficiency

Lors de mes interventions auprès des étudiants, j'insiste toujours sur l'importance de la cybersécurité non seulement comme bonne pratique, mais aussi comme une obligation légale incontournable. Je mets en lumière les différentes lois et réglementations, telles que le RGPD, qui imposent des normes strictes de protection des données. Je partage des exemples concrets où la non-conformité a entraîné des amendes et des litiges pour les entreprises, illustrant ainsi les conséquences tangibles de l'ignorance de ces obligations.

Cybersecurity is crucial not only as a best practice but also as a legal requirement, with numerous laws and regulations mandating the protection of customer and employee information. Informing your boss about the significant fines and legal disputes that can arise from non-compliance can serve as a compelling motivator for executives to prioritize cybersecurity and ensure the company adheres to all relevant data protection laws.

Legal obligations always act as pioneers, compelling the top management to recognize and emphasize the significance of cybersecurity. Top management typically pays attention to cybersecurity-related actions that are mandated by law if they are aware that non-compliance would result in fines. Legal requirements may hold upper management accountable for any cybersecurity breaches.

Cybersecurity is not just a best practice; it's often a legal requirement. Inform your boss about the various laws and regulations, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA, that mandate the protection of customer and employee information. Non-compliance with these regulations can result in hefty fines, legal disputes, and even business shutdowns. By highlighting these legal imperatives, you can underscore the importance of adhering to all relevant data protection laws, thereby protecting the company from potential legal and financial repercussions. This legal perspective can be a strong motivator for executives to prioritize cybersecurity and ensure comprehensive compliance measures are in place.

In my experience, we saw a significant amount of improvement when the company provided a live security training. We know this because we do phishing tests. I believe it is more effective, because it is interactive. People ask questions that bother them. In addendum to this, people understand the "why" behind controls. Instead of working against these controls to outsmart them, they bring up ways to improve. For the boss, training is key. You cannot expect employees to be angles. People need to learn how to identify scams and stay protected.

Au moins 90% des salariés (Chiffres sortis de mon chapeau) utilisent certainement un système informatique au travail. Pensez-vous que 90% des salariés soient formés ou même simplement sensibilisés à la cybersécurité ? Pas en 2024 en tout cas... Il y a encore beaucoup de chemin à faire. La prise de conscience n'est pas encore faite !

Employee training in cybersecurity is essential to protect a company. Staff must recognize phishing attempts, use strong passwords, and follow best practices to prevent breaches. Regular training ensures everyone is aware of the latest threats and how to respond. Investing in training empowers employees to act as the first line of defense, safeguarding an organization's data and systems.

When you chat with your boss about ramping up our cybersecurity, don't forget to bring up employee training. Think about it—most security mishaps start with simple human errors. A little extra knowledge can go a long way. By teaching our team how to spot phishing scams, handle sensitive info, and manage passwords properly, we’re not just dodging potential breaches. We’re actually building a culture where security awareness is part of the job description. It turns every employee from the front desk to the corner office into a vigilant defender of our digital realm. So, let’s make sure our team isn’t just equipped with tools but also the know-how to use them effectively.

Essential to safeguarding against cyber threats, investing in the right technology to protect against cyber threats, which help to risk mitigation, which help to potential losses form a cyber incident. Risk Mitigation: Cyber threats, such as ransomware, data breaches, phishing mail, and malware can cause of financial losses, damage reputation etc. Firewalls, antivirus software, encryption tools, and secure backups from a crucial line of defense. there's an upfront cost, it pales compared to potential losses from cyber incidents, regular updated and maintenance tools ensure ongoing protection, Countermeasure : use strong passwords and Two Factor Authentication (2FA), and educate people, timely check logs analysis.

Emphasize how important it is to invest in our tech defenses. Think about all the gadgets and gear we rely on—firewalls, antivirus software, encryption tools, and solid backup systems. They're not just tech speak; they're our safeguard against the digital wild west. Putting money into these technologies now might feel hefty, but compare that to the fallout from a major security breach. It’s like choosing a top-notch alarm system over the cost of a break-in. Regular updates and a bit of TLC for our systems keep us ahead of the hackers. It’s not just spending; it’s smart investing for our safety and smooth sailing.

In my past role in phishing awareness program lead, I’ve learned the importance of presenting cybersecurity risks in relatable terms. For eg: in a company with 100 employees, 30 have elevated access. If 30% of phishing emails are opened and 12% result in clicks, the risk of a breach is significant. A breach could cost around $4.24 million, nearly 10% of a company’s $50 million annual revenue. Quantifying risk through data correlation is powerful. Show your boss the number of employees who haven't completed cybersecurity training and have failed phishing tests. This data highlights the link between lack of training and vulnerability, reinforcing the need for ongoing education, MFA, and continuous monitoring to protect our financial health.

🕒 Over time: ➖System/Network architecture undergoes modifications 🔄 ➖System/Network modules experience configuration changes 🔄 ➖Software continuously receives updates that fix bugs and might introduce new ones 🐞➡️🐛 ➖Personnel within the organization rotate 🔄 ➖New technologies are introduced and adopted 🆕 The entire company/organization is a dynamic entity. Can anyone truly believe that security and vigilance should not be continuous and persistent processes? ⚠️🛡️

Its a daily activity, we need to keep an eye on the cyber security posture of our organizations assets be it infrastructure, data and premises etc. Regular updates to operating systems need to be installed as a compliance with the Patch management policy, all other softwares used should be patched by the patches/updates provided by the respective vendors, there should be no out of date software in use in the infrastructure of the organization. All known vulnerabilities should be mitigated. Dedicated personal should be allocated to work on cyber security tasks. AS its said the adversaries have to get it right only once to do damage to our organizational reputation and business.

1. Ditch that PowerPoint presentation 2. Develop storytelling skills and write a narrative 3. Combine all the mentioned factors & write a problem statement 4. Elaborate on the current state 5. Describe the future state 6. Mention constraints, budget requirements & assumptions 6. Generate interest among peer group and gain consensus 7. Present to your boss 8. If boss still does not get it, ditch that boss and go to your super boss! Do not be fearful and do the right thing for your organization and its people.

Quoting example of threat to the critical data, existing infrastructure supporting cyber security, and required updates must be discussed clearly. Quote examples of real world, if cyber security is not improved, what could be repercussions.