What do you do if your boss underestimates the cybersecurity risks of new technologies?

How to convince your boss to prioritize cybersecurity for new technologies? 3 takeaways: Educate: Share relevant examples of cyberattacks targeting new technologies. Quantify: Present the potential financial impact of a breach on your company (aka $$$$). Propose solutions: Recommend security measures tailored to the new technologies/Usercases. By effectively communicating the risks and solutions, you can influence your boss to make cybersecurity a priority.

To convince your boss to prioritize cybersecurity for new technologies, present a compelling case that outlines the potential risks and financial implications of cyber threats. Stress the importance of being proactive rather than reactive to these threats, and how cybersecurity can protect the company's assets and reputation. Use concrete examples of recent cyber incidents in similar industries to illustrate the urgency. Suggest starting with a cybersecurity assessment to identify vulnerabilities and demonstrate commitment to safeguarding the company's digital infrastructure. Emphasize that investing in cybersecurity is not only about risk management but also about enabling secure innovation and maintaining customer trust.

It's crucial to effectively tackle this issue to promote enhanced security measures in the workplace. Begin by enlightening your supervisor about the potential consequences of cybersecurity threats linked to emerging technologies, backed by concrete examples or case studies to underscore the significance of strong security protocols. Furthermore, suggest precise solutions or tactics to alleviate these risks, like adopting multi-factor authentication, scheduling routine security evaluations, or allocating resources towards employee training initiatives geared towards cybersecurity awareness.

Frame as business risk (e.g., lost sales from data breach). Use real-world attacks in your industry. Propose security solutions alongside new tech (e.g., security software). Keep it simple.

Speak in a way that leadership can both understand and appreciate - risk and business impact. Too often we speak to leadership and stakeholders in the same way that we speak to our own teams - and we come from a technical viewpoint. Look into the how the organisation addresses risks and build your case towards that viewpoint.

I will go a step further that present evidence of similar organisations not just in terms of what had hit them and how the cyberattack unfolded rather pls educate the boss on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the loss suffered. You need to lay emphasis both in terms of reputation loss suffered and financial losses caused as a result of under estimating cybersecurity risks.

When your boss downplays cybersecurity risks of new tech, gather evidence to convince them. Here's how: Focus on Specific Threats: Research vulnerabilities of the new technology. Are there known attack methods? Highlight these. Industry Benchmarks: Find cybersecurity reports relevant to your industry. Show how similar companies address new tech risks. Case Studies: Look for real-world examples of cyberattacks targeting the specific technology or similar ones. Data Breaches: If data breaches are a concern, showcase the financial and reputational impact of such incidents. Present this evidence clearly and concisely. Quantify the risks whenever possible (e.g., percentages, costs).

Evidence of Cybersecurity Risks with New Technologies: 1. Recent Cyberattacks. 2. Cost of Cybercrime. 3. Increased Threats with New Technologies 4. Industry Reports Remember: Tailor the evidence to the specific new technology your boss is considering. Research relevant security vulnerabilities and potential consequences.

Leverage a transparent framework to quantify risk - one where you can readily “show your math”. A good example of this is Factor Analysis for Information Risk (FAIR).

For instance, to underscore the importance of cybersecurity, consider highlighting key incidents where insufficient security had significant repercussions such as Equifax Breach, in 2017, a breach exposed the personal data of 147 million people, resulting in a settlement of up to $700 million, illustrating the financial and trust costs of security lapses.

Propose security solutions with new tech: encryption, access control, training. Pilot program with enhanced security to test in a controlled environment. Consult cybersecurity experts for secure implementation. Cost-benefit analysis: security cost vs. potential cyberattack losses. Integrated Security: Suggest specific security measures for the new technology. Test & Learn: Propose a pilot program with strong security for controlled testing. Expert Guidance: Recommend consulting cybersecurity specialists. Cost Justification: Frame security as an investment by comparing costs to potential cyberattack losses.

What i would suggest is propose various solutions in the form of cost and benefits accrued if risk is avoided (if an option), mitigation, transfer and so on. If your organisation is convinced about handling the cybersecurity risk well, then explain in terms of total cost of ownership i.e. TCO of the solution and the benefits accrued.

Conduct thorough security assessments: Before implementing any new technology, conduct a security assessment to identify potential vulnerabilities. Implement a Zero-Trust security model: This model assumes no user or device is inherently trustworthy and requires continuous verification for access. Prioritize strong encryption: Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA): This adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password, making it more difficult for unauthorized users to gain access to accounts.

Proposing frameworks like NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) or CIS Controls (Center for Internet Security Controls) can be instrumental in setting structured, attainable cybersecurity goals. These frameworks offer a comprehensive set of standards and best practices that can guide your organization in strengthening its cybersecurity posture. This makes it possible to set clear cybersecurity objectives to ensure greater organizational resilience.

Once your boss understands the magnitude of the risk, ask them if they think the risk is one that should be accepted. If they respond in the affirmative, work with them to identify the business stakeholder(s) that would need to accept the risk.

Work with the business to understand the level of impact of the risk were to be realized. If it is significant, have the business communicate as such to your boss. Sometimes your boss just needs to hear the message from a different person.

When your boss downplays cybersecurity risks, building alliances can strengthen your case. Here's how: Identify Allies: Look for colleagues in IT, legal, or compliance who share your concerns. Data & Impact: Share the evidence you gathered (industry reports, attack examples) with your allies. Unified Voice: Present your concerns together. A united front holds more weight than a solo approach. Focus on Benefits: Highlight how strong cybersecurity protects the company (e.g., legal compliance, customer trust). By building alliances, you leverage shared expertise and present a more persuasive argument to your boss. The focus shifts from individual concerns to a unified effort for the company's well-being.

Across the entire architecture of an organization, breach of any given system will have more or less impact on different teams. By working with each team to identify their most critical systems you build relationships to support future requisitions to protect them.

Here's my experience: Understand Perspective & Priority: I took the time to understand my boss's perspective and priorities. Knowing what mattered most to them, I could tailor my communication to address their concerns. Quantify Potential Losses in terms of $ value: I quantified the potential losses associated with cybersecurity incidents to make the ROI tangible. I used data from industry reports, case studies, and past incidents to estimate the financial impact of breaches, downtime, regulatory fines, and remediation costs. Visualization: Visualizing the potential costs and benefits helped my boss grasp the importance of investing in cybersecurity measures.

Focus on ROI (Return On Investment). Here's how: Cost of Breaches: Show data on the financial impact of cyberattacks in your industry. Security Saves Money: Highlight how cybersecurity tools prevent these costs. Quantify Benefits: If possible, put a dollar value on the benefits of strong security (e.g., avoiding fines, protecting customer data). Investment vs. Loss: Frame cybersecurity as an investment that saves money compared to potential losses from a breach. By speaking your boss's language (money!), you make a stronger case. Focus on how cybersecurity helps the company financially, not just on technical risks.

Focus on Cost Savings: Data Breach Costs: Highlight the potential financial losses associated with a data breach, including fines, legal fees, and customer churn. Emphasize how robust cybersecurity can significantly reduce these costs. Productivity Gains: Explain how preventing cyberattacks minimizes downtime and lost productivity, ultimately saving the company money. Improved Brand Reputation: Strong cybersecurity demonstrates a commitment to protecting customer data, leading to increased trust and brand loyalty. This can translate to higher customer acquisition and retention rates.

Excellent cybersecurity not only saves on data breach, lawsuits and bad resulting PR, but also shows compliance to shareholders and the SEC under new rules on this topic. Additionally, cybersecurity must be combined with good privacy/data collection policies practice. Done thoughtfully in combination with review of data regulations, this can include a strategy for the use and/or sharing of data that results in new products, product improvements, sale of data or use with strategic partners, and a very happy marketing team filled with data for new leads.

Investing in cybersecurity is crucial, as a single data breach can cost companies an average of $3.86 million globally, highlighting the financial impact of cyber threats. This investment safeguards against such costs, builds customer trust, ensures operational resilience, and maintains compliance with regulations, thereby strengthening your market position. In an era valuing data privacy, robust cybersecurity not only protects but also serves as a key differentiator, attracting partners and customers. Thus, cybersecurity is a strategic imperative for long-term business success.

It is important for decision-makers to understand that cybersecurity is ever-evolving and that staying on top of things is an ongoing cost. I.e. never present a solution as "a solution", but rather something that will "work well enough until there's a better option". Similarly, help them to understand that security products have a lifecycle just like hardware and need to be replaced on an ongoing basis for many and various reasons.

Actively listening to the boss’s perspective to understand the for understanding the underlying reasons and customizing your approach effectively. Is it due to a lack of awareness or knowledge? Raising awareness becomes critical, and real-world examples and case studies can illustrate the impact. However, fostering a culture of risk reporting within the organization is equally important. Implementing an environment that enables people to report risks without fear or management pressure is crucial. For example, having multiple reporting channels, including anonymous options, along with well-defined rules and policies, can shape this environment. Recognizing and rewarding risk reporters further encourages positive risk reporting behaviors.

First, don't assume that you're right and they're wrong. Take the time to understand why their thinking differs from yours on a given risk. Are there perspectives or assumptions they hold that you hadn't considered? After hearing their perspective, you'll find opportunities to clarify where there may be misconceptions on either side. It's possible for you both to be aligned on the fundamental risk but to have a final determination of what to do about it that's different. Again, it's helpful to understand why so you have additional information on how to approach this and other risks in the future.

In addition to the outlined steps, it's important to cultivate a culture of cybersecurity awareness within the organization. Encourage employees at all levels to be vigilant and proactive in identifying and reporting potential security threats. Conduct regular training sessions and simulations to ensure that everyone understands their role in maintaining cybersecurity. Remind them that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility, and even the smallest actions, like using strong passwords and being cautious of suspicious emails, can make a significant difference in protecting the organization's sensitive information. By empowering employees to be proactive in cybersecurity, you create an additional layer of defense against potential threats.

Your job is to provide careful, accurate analysis of risks and recommendations to your boss(es), business owners, and/or clients. Be ready to address their concerns, but ultimately it's up to them to choose how to act on the information.

If your boss underestimates the cybersecurity risks of new tech, it's crucial to communicate these risks clearly and concisely. Gather evidence and case studies that highlight potential vulnerabilities and past incidents related to the technology in question. Propose a detailed risk assessment to objectively demonstrate the potential impact and likelihood of cybersecurity threats. It's also helpful to suggest proactive measures or solutions that can mitigate these risks. Remember, your goal is to educate and persuade, not alarm. Approach the conversation with a problem-solving mindset, focusing on protecting the company's interests and ensuring its long-term success.