Reporting Cybersecurity Risk to the Board of Directors
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When presenting a complex risk assessment and its implications to a Board of Directors, one must use the language that board members use, that resonates at the level of organizational governance the boards provide. This paper explores the linkage between events and conditions in the IT world where most cybersecurity professionals dwell and the high-level, organizational goal and strategy world in which Boards of Directors operate.
Cybersecurity professionals understand the importance of their function from a technological perspective certainly and most likely from a basic strategic and economic point-of-view as well. Boards of Directors are generally the opposite; they understand (and direct) strategic and economic affairs of the organization, and cybersecurity technology, practice and planning fundamentally.
It is essential for the cybersecurity professional to adopt the mindset of a Board member when communicating effectively with a Board of Directors. Ensuring the most congruency between cybersecurity initiatives and strategic direction will result in support that can translate into budget, standing and reputation for the cybersecurity organization.
This paper covers the following key topics:
- Cyber risk as strategic risk
- Oversight programs
- Legal and regulatory concerns
- The role of threat intelligence
- Reporting and education for boards
This ISACA® white paper is written for cybersecurity and other information technology and business practitioners who need to communicate with Boards of Directors and other principally non-technical, strategic decision makers.
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