What are the best ways to educate clients and stakeholders about security?

Use Analogies: Explain complex cybersecurity concepts using everyday analogies that clients and stakeholders can easily relate to. This helps demystify the subject without compromising the core message. Risk-Based Conversations: Frame cybersecurity discussions around risk rather than technology. This appeals to business-oriented stakeholders and helps them understand why specific measures are necessary. Modular Learning: Break down cybersecurity education into modular, digestible units. Offer these in a sequence, letting clients and stakeholders build their knowledge incrementally to prevent overwhelm.

I believe, security is all about living a stress free life. If you could manage to tell your audience the impact and consequences the security incidents could led to, either to their business(s), customers and even to their personal lives, they are going to much engage in your discussion or might contribute some of their experiences as well. Security is all about taking care of people’s well being emotionally and physically.

In my opinions , Use everyday words that your audience is familiar with. Avoid using jargon or technical terms unless you are sure that your audience understands them. Explain technical terms in plain language. Use short sentences and paragraphs. Break down complex concepts into smaller, more manageable pieces. Use visuals, such as images or diagrams, to help explain your points. Be patient and understanding. It may take some time for your audience to understand complex security concepts.

Simple analogies can really help to highlight the value of security to enable the business. What might this look like? How about an example of driving a car? You need to quickly get from A to B (business objective). You need to get there safely and without crashing (the risk). In the event of a crash, (which was not your fault of course) you should be wearing a seatbelt and have airbags equipped (security controls). Whilst this is an overly simplified explanation, it can start to frame some stakeholder thinking on the role of Cyber Security as an enabler for innovation and opportunity within the business.

A strategy we've seen highly effective at moving the 'awareness needle' across all levels of the organization is to demonstrate risk through collaborative red team exercises. Finance? Stage simulated BEC fraud and review the outcomes as a team. General IT? Targeted employee impersonation and review as a team. C-Suite? Stage simulated board-level impersonation and review as a team. General Staff? Simulated help desk impersonation and credential harvesting - and review as a team. The closer you can relate the risk to their immediate role and workflow, the more the user will participate in a security-first culture.

Ensure your clients and stakeholders grasp the importance of security by making it relevant to their specific situation. To effectively educate them, focus on high-impact context that captures and maintains their interest, especially when it matters most. Begin by immersing yourself in what's currently unfolding within the client's industry, customer base, and the broader markets aligned with their business strategy. Approach the conversation from the standpoint of safeguarding their business against potential downsides while fortifying it against vulnerabilities that could jeopardize its growth and success. This approach will help your clients and stakeholders appreciate the significance of security measures in their unique circumstances.

Always use the approach of Why, What, How. Use examples, real world situations from actual events. Relate the specific topic to the listeners organisation. Use the term’s reasonable and practicable when explaining financial investment requirements.

Engage by asking questions to the audiance/stakeholders to make sure that one is active listening and give real life examples which might be more helpful than giving only stats. Examples will help others understand more especially if a lot of technichal words or abbreviations are being used.

Using data visualizations with simplified data sets allow people to have a shared understanding which results in quicker comprehension and learning. I build data visualizations for this specific purpose which I share on LinkedIn for all to use.

In any enterprise company there is a plethora of incredibly boring training to undergo before even beginning your job function. Users, developers, stakeholders etc. end up jaded and fatigued before the race even begins. There are so many interesting platforms and methodologies out there which enable us to avoid “click through” walls of text. Engage your audience. Threats and risk are actually in many ways exciting topics. Gamify. Reward. Engage. Demonstrate in simple terms the real life consequences to such threats being realized. Foster collaboration between end users and those in security roles. To think outside the box, engage outside the box.