CEOs and the Cybersecurity Challenge

All hands on deck!?This call to arms includes the CEO, but not in ways you might think.?

Cybersecurity is only partially a technical matter.?In fact, most people overlook the fact that Facilities departments are as an important a factor of any viable cybersecurity solution as IT organizations.?With this perspective in mind:?What is the role of CEO in regard to cybersecurity?

When speaking directly to CEOs, I begin my answer this question by saying “Bring your CEO Mindset to this pressing and complex challenge. In other words: ?Embrace cyber assaults on U.S. companies as a material threat to all of the company’s stakeholders; , then, “Laser Focus” your attention on what only you, the CEO, can control.?For substantially all companies, large and small, this rightfully implores the CEO to become the focal leader as follows:?

1.???Communicate to stakeholders “why” it is important to succeed in combatting cyber attacks.?Clearly Identify the top assets that must be protected, and how the company intends to respond to breaches.

2.???Eliminate silos that stand in the way of success.?At a minimum, this includes, IT and Facilities, as well as cybersecurity and physical security.?These groups must work together with singular clarity.

3.???Improve your security posture from year to year.?This requires identifying valid metrics that can serve for multiple years and be used to validate and communicate progress, if any, clearly and accurately.

4.????Mobilize key personnel.?This ?requires getting the right people in key positions, and aligning authority, accountability, and compensation with success.

5. ?Incorporate cybersecurity into branding initiatives.?Avoid confusing PR with having a real, defensible cybersecurity program, and treat it as a customer value.

The CEO is uniquely suited to lead these initiatives.?Do so well, is perhaps the only road to success.?Ambitious CEOs embrace this challenge.