NINJIO, an industry-leading cybersecurity awareness training company, has released its latest report: “The CISO’s Guide to Board Communications.” Filled with insights from leading cybersecurity executives, as well as first-hand information from NINJIO experts, the report offers CISOs a roadmap for communicating the importance of a robust cybersecurity strategy with their Board of Directors—including the need to arm employees with education and knowledge to become defenders against rapidly emerging cyberthreats.
Data show that cyberattacks are among the most urgent threats companies face in 2024. Not only do these attacks cause crippling financial damage, disrupt operations, and harm employees, but they also create legal and regulatory pressure while permanently undermining consumer trust. This is why it has never been more important for CISOs to make a compelling case for cybersecurity to their boards.
“The ultimate goal of any cybersecurity awareness program is to establish a culture of cybersecurity,” says Dr. Shaun McAlmont, CEO of NINJIO. “From my experience as an executive leader in the education and security industries, I’ve learned two important aspects of getting buy-in at the board level: clearly articulate the end goal, then explain how progress and success are measured. We’ve seen an uptick in boards prioritizing the overall safety of their companies, and as they increase their investments in cybersecurity, it’s the CISO’s job to help them put resources to the best possible use.”
The NINJIO report is based on three core points:
- Focus on clear communication
Fifty-eight percent of CISOs say they “struggle to communicate technical language in a way senior leadership can understand.” The best solution to this problem is to present essential cybersecurity concepts in language that is intelligible to non-technical audiences. For example, CISOs can discuss the consequences of cyberattacks by pointing to real-world incidents, huge financial costs (an average of $4.45 million per breach, to be exact), lost customers, and other links in the cyber impact chain that anyone can understand.
2. Address the human element
Nearly three-quarters of successful data breaches involve human beings. This is why CSAT is a central pillar of any effective cybersecurity platform. By showing employees which tactics cybercriminals use to trick them into providing sensitive information and access, CISOs can empower them to identify and thwart social engineering attacks. CSAT is one of the best ways to reduce the costs of cyberattacks, and CISOs are responsible for explaining to their boards how it can be deployed successfully.
3. Prioritize accountability
CISOs have to build sustainable support for cybersecurity on their boards. Cyberthreats never stop evolving, so companies can’t afford to treat cybersecurity like a box to be checked with an occasional email PSA or PowerPoint. Employees are liable to quickly forget what they’ve learned if it isn’t reinforced, and one way to help them retain crucial information (while evaluating the company’s cybersecurity posture) is by testing them.
To learn about how CISOs can work with boards to build more secure companies, download the full report here.
NINJIO is a cybersecurity awareness training company that provides an extensive library of engaging and personalized educational content designed to make employees unhackable. Each NINJIO episode focuses on a specific attack vector and uses real-world examples to demonstrate how employees can identify and repel cyberattacks. The NINJIO platform uses individual data on each employee’s personality traits, learning styles, and vulnerabilities to help companies drive sustainable behavioral change.