How can you ensure IT risk reports are relevant and timely for different audiences?

1 Understand your audience

The first step to create effective IT risk reports is to understand who your audience is, what they care about, and how they consume information. Different audiences may have different levels of technical knowledge, risk appetite, decision-making authority, and communication preferences. For example, senior management may want to see high-level summaries of the most critical risks and their impacts, while IT staff may need more detailed and technical information on the root causes, mitigation actions, and performance indicators. Therefore, you should tailor your IT risk reports to suit your audience's needs and expectations, and avoid using jargon, acronyms, or irrelevant data that may confuse or overwhelm them.

2 Define your objectives

The second step to create effective IT risk reports is to define what you want to achieve with your report, and how you will measure your success. Depending on your objectives, you may want to inform, educate, persuade, or influence your audience. For example, if your objective is to inform your audience about the current state of IT risks, you may want to use factual and objective data, such as risk scores, trends, and incidents. If your objective is to educate your audience about the best practices and standards for IT risk management, you may want to use examples, case studies, and recommendations. If your objective is to persuade or influence your audience to take action or change behavior, you may want to use emotional and motivational language, such as benefits, costs, and consequences.

3 Choose your format

The third step to create effective IT risk reports is to choose the best format for your report, based on your audience, objectives, and data. Different formats may have different advantages and disadvantages, such as readability, interactivity, accessibility, and scalability. For example, you may choose to use a dashboard, a report, a presentation, or a video. A dashboard may be suitable for providing real-time and interactive data, but it may not be able to convey complex or nuanced information. A report may be suitable for providing comprehensive and structured information, but it may not be able to capture the attention or interest of your audience. A presentation may be suitable for providing engaging and persuasive information, but it may not be able to provide enough detail or evidence. A video may be suitable for providing visual and emotional information, but it may not be able to provide enough clarity or accuracy.

5 Deliver your report

The fifth step to create effective IT risk reports is to deliver your report in a timely and appropriate manner, based on your audience, objectives, and format. You should consider when, where, how, and how often you will deliver your report, and how you will ensure your report reaches your intended audience and achieves your desired outcomes. For example, you may choose to deliver your report via email, web, or print, and you may choose to deliver your report daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly. You should also consider how you will solicit and incorporate feedback, suggestions, and questions from your audience, and how you will update and improve your report based on your audience's needs and expectations.

6 Evaluate your report

The sixth and final step to create effective IT risk reports is to evaluate your report's effectiveness and impact, based on your objectives, data, and feedback. You should measure and analyze how well your report met your objectives, such as how well it informed, educated, persuaded, or influenced your audience. You should also measure and analyze how well your report used your data, such as how well it presented, interpreted, and explained your data. You should also measure and analyze how well your report received feedback, such as how well it engaged, satisfied, and influenced your audience. You should also use the results of your evaluation to identify and implement areas for improvement, such as content, format, delivery, or evaluation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?