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How to Bridge the Gap Between IT and Business Leaders in Cybersecurity
As a CTO, it’s crucial to bridge the gap between IT and business leaders when it comes to cybersecurity. Unfortunately, many organizations still separate these two groups, which can lead to catastrophic consequences. To protect your organization’s mission, vision, and team well-being, you must align priorities and integrate cybersecurity into the business.
To begin with, deciphering cyber-speak into common language is essential. Avoid using technical jargon that may overwhelm even the most intelligent individual. Instead, focus on reframing cybersecurity in a way that resonates with your audience. For example, financial leaders may respond better to discussions around ROI and value-based priorities. Use this understanding to link cybersecurity risks to shareholder value and consumer confidence.
Next, align cybersecurity risks with business risks. IT leaders must articulate the realities of cyber risk and its potential impact on the organization, its employees, and its clients. Start by illustrating a familiar risk like data breaches that can occur due to open system access. Emphasize how system gaps and human oversight have a trickle-down effect. While this may evoke fear, disbelief, or disregard initially, hold true to your expertise and convey the far-reaching consequences of a breach.
The impact of a cyber attack goes beyond the initial risk of unmanaged data. Customer trust is lost, shareholder value dwindles, and employee productivity plummets as they focus on damage control rather than strategic initiatives. By prioritizing cybersecurity, you can safeguard your organization’s future and protect sensitive information.
Building relationships with business leaders to understand their priorities and concerns is crucial for success. Schedule regular meetings to align IT and business goals and address any concerns or doubts these leaders may have. Keep the conversation general at first, but strive to identify what keeps them up at night. You may find that there’s a cyber component to their worries and goals, making you an essential partner in their achievement.
Finally, instill a cyber-aware organizational culture by collaborating with your HR team to integrate security education into employee expectations. Name a cybersecurity champion to provide guidance on training modules and regular communication around best practices. Engage department leads and frontline managers in this effort by meeting regularly and encouraging them to align cybersecurity with their teams’ daily operations. Make these sessions accessible, fun, and engaging by using humor and relatable scenarios.
By following these steps, you’ll be well-equipped to bridge the gap between IT and business leaders, ultimately protecting your organization from cyber threats.
Source: www.forbes.com
