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Title: Three Valuable Reasons Why Cybersecurity Leadership Is Failing
As the world becomes increasingly dependent on technology, cybersecurity leadership has become a critical component of any organization’s success. However, many leaders are failing to provide adequate security measures, putting their companies at risk of significant financial and reputational damage.
In my recent research, I’ve identified three valuable reasons why cybersecurity leadership is failing:
1. **Failing to Emulate the Organization’s Culture**
Cultural division can have a detrimental effect on technology, particularly in regards to risk treatment. If contractors are excluded from various team engagements, it’s difficult for them to emulate the brand’s culture. This creates a barrier to effective communication and decision-making.
Imagine if your organization wanted contractors to emulate its brand but excluded them from various team engagements. It would be challenging for leadership to state that their culture is cohesive. Cybersecurity leaders must understand the security landscape, drive the organization’s security approach, promote a security-first culture, and enforce accountability.
In my book, “The Cybersecurity Mindset,” I emphasize that an inclusive culture can reduce problematic security issues and position a secure environment to interact with business objectives. This applies equally well to divided cultures, which would improve connections and foster a risk-based approach for the organization.
2. **Conveying the Wrong Security Message**
Communication is critical in cybersecurity leadership, as it determines whether leaders are influential or ineffective. Many C-suite professionals may lack technical proficiency but understand the impact of cyber attacks on the organization’s customer base and growth. Some can even identify where cybersecurity produces value and return on investment.
However, security leaders must demonstrate the same skill set when communicating with board members and other stakeholders. The challenge lies in framing security as a solution rather than a problem, while avoiding reputational damage. Boards generally tolerate limited unanswered questions or delayed responses, so every security message must convey authenticity and effectiveness.
Trusted relationships become essential in this context. When addressing board members, cybersecurity leaders are essentially salespeople responsible for promoting cybersecurity initiatives. They should avoid framing their messages as “we had 1 million failures last month” but instead focus on proactive measures: “We are actively developing solutions to address phishing attacks, which will improve security awareness and mature our cybersecurity protection program.”
3. **Lacking Business Acumen**
Cybersecurity leaders must drive business relationships, facilitating risk management and aligning with corporate goals. They need to understand the organization’s future state by attending business sessions and collaborating with executive managers. This requires a fundamental shift in mindset from being solely focused on security to considering the larger business landscape.
In conclusion, cybersecurity leadership failures are often due to cultural division, ineffective communication, or a lack of business acumen. By addressing these shortcomings, leaders can effectively promote a risk-based approach that aligns with their organization’s objectives and strengthens connections between various stakeholders
Source: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2025/04/03/three-valuable-reasons-why-cybersecurity-leadership-is-failing/
