Intro
Comprehensive cyber security education is crucial for C-suite executives to mitigate risks and protect their organisations and data. This article, along with all other related to our C level cybersecurity event, offers practical guidance on supporting senior executives in their cyber security education, addressing prevalent scams and threats targeting C-level executives.
Cybersecurity awareness for the boards is a necessity
Although business executives focus on sales, customer experience, risk, and cost, IT and CISOs are concerned with protecting devices, networks, programs and data from unauthorised access or damage. As a result, pursuing different goals can lead to misunderstandings in the boardroom which results in underestimating the importance of cybersecurity measures by executives.
Misunderstanding can lead to business disruptions, productivity and revenue losses, settlements, fines, and penalties which can amount to over millions of euros. Thus, boards of directors can not ignore and in fact must embrace security as a critical part of doing business.
As we can see, security awareness is not only a technical issue, but also a human one. C-level executives have a crucial role to play in fostering a culture of security and protecting the business from cyber threats.
Bridging the gap between technical details and C-level strategic perspective of Cybersecurity Awareness
When it comes to cybersecurity, for business leaders and non-IT it’s very much a case of “lost in translation” in almost every company – they have faced some form of miscommunication regarding IT security which can lead to serious consequences.
As a direct result of a breakdown in communications regarding it can cause serious project delays, cybersecurity incidents, negative effects impact the business, including wasted budget, loss of a valued employee, or worsening relationships between teams.
The good news is that both IT and business leaders are willing to take steps towards better communication with each other.
Target Audience
But first, let’s see who is the target audience. Consider these positions: CEO, MD, Business Unit Head Legal Counsel, Head of Sales & Marketing, HR Director, CIO/CTO, Communications Director, etc.
Now, lets see what are the critical factors of an awareness program that focuses on a C-Suite:
Tailor Training Programs to Specific Needs
Create cyber security training programs developed specifically for C-level executives to meet their unique needs. These programs ought to center their attention on the one-of-a-kind difficulties and dangers they encounter. Give in-depth information on a variety of different cyber dangers, such as phishing, BEC schemes, ransomware, and insider threats. It is necessary to emphasise how important it is to recognize suspicious actions and report them as soon as possible.
Maintain C-level executives’ awareness of the most recent cybersecurity dangers, and best practices
Enable regular security updates and newsletters to provide C-level executives with valuable information. Ensure these communications are concise, relevant, and focused on the topic at hand. Encourage senior leaders to stay vigilant and make informed decisions by offering useful insights and practical advice.
Test the Vulnerability of C-Level Executives to Phishing Attacks Using Simulated Phishing Campaigns
It is important to assess the vulnerability of C-level executives to phishing attacks using regular simulated phishing campaigns. Conduct phishing campaigns to raise awareness and educate senior executives on spotting phishing attempts. Analyse data to identify knowledge gaps and offer targeted training in those areas.
Secure By Example
Since security culture is built from the top down, remind executives that they are examples for the rest of the company. As such, they have an important role in modelling positive cyber-hygiene habits for the entire organisation. They’re the most prominent employees, and if they aren’t following the rules it’s more difficult to expect anyone else to. They need more reminders that if they want to keep the company secure, they need to lead by example.
Use Real-World Scenarios
Educate executives on the very specific threats that they are likely to face. Social engineering attempts are getting more elaborate. Prepare the C-suite with interactive, training exercises that force them to work through a series of real-life scenarios. In particular, they should work on things such as identifying misspellings, syntax issues, and misplaced characters that could indicate a phishing email.
Speak the Language of Risk
Get buy-in by speaking the C-suite’s language. CISOs often find it difficult to receive buy-in from other executives on cybersecurity initiatives because it seems like an intangible investment. The key to getting company executives to sit up and pay attention to cybersecurity and security awareness training is proving the return on investment. That’s difficult when no one knows if they’ll be attacked, but every business leader should assume their business will be a target at some point. Just one attack could cost tens of millions of euros, and prevention is much cheaper. Security breaches represent a direct financial risk to any business. Quantifying the cost of human risk and demonstrating the return on investment that executives are likely to see if they spend on training will make them more likely to get on board, and follow the rules.
Cyber hygiene benefits
Fundamental cyber hygiene practices are must haves for the modern interconnected organisations. They include robust password management, software updates, encryption protocols, and the implementation of security infrastructure. Furthermore, in your C-level awareness program you should highlight the importance of regular system audits, risk assessments, and incident response planning to preemptively address potential vulnerabilities and respond effectively in the event of a breach. You should also underscore the indispensable nature of practising good cyber hygiene in safeguarding personal and organisational data in an era defined by pervasive digital connectivity. Why is this important for your executives? Because they need to set the tone from the top and provide necessary support and resources for the corporate cyber hygiene practices.
Protecting sensitive information
Protection of sensitive information should be defined in your information security policy and procedures. You can also create documented guidelines on how to protect sensitive information for the C-level executives, since they are in possession of the most critical information in the organisation. Such targeted documents should not be overloaded with theoretical principles, instead, you can use the real life examples, everyone can easily comprehend and implement in day to day work. As a security leader you will know what are the specific sensitive information within your organisation and what security tools you made available to your senior management. They just need to use them. Remind them through awareness e-mails or short learning sessions.
Assess the results
To measure the effectiveness of your security awareness program for C-level executives, you need to assess the results and outcomes of your efforts. You can use various metrics and indicators to evaluate your program, such as knowledge tests, behaviour audits, surveys, interviews, feedback forms, and incident reports. By doing so, you can demonstrate the value and impact of your program, and justify your investment and resources.
Improve the Cybersecurity initiative
Security awareness is not a static or fixed concept, but a dynamic and evolving one. You need to constantly improve your program and adapt it to the changing needs and expectations of your C-level executives, and the emerging security threats and challenges. You can use the data and insights that you collect from your assessments to identify the areas and opportunities for improvement, and implement the necessary changes and enhancements. You can also benchmark your program against the best practices and standards in the industry, and learn from the experiences and feedback of other organisations and experts.
Conclusion
To reinforce the message of a security awareness program, especially for C-level executives, it’s important to integrate the core security principles into the everyday decision-making process. This can be achieved by providing clear, actionable insights through regular, targeted communications that link cybersecurity directly to business outcomes and personal accountability.
