Three ways to position the value of cyber to the board

Cybersecurity is often seen as a necessary evil, and something that board members know they must invest in, but it’s not something they get excited about. Positioning the value requires shifting mindsets and culture. So, how do you get a board to care about cyber like their bottom line depends on it? (Spoiler alert: it does!) You craft a compelling narrative that aligns with business objectives and demonstrates tangible value.

Here are three ways to do that:

1. Tell Your Cybersecurity Story
   • Cohesive Narrative: Imagine, your company’s journey through the digital wild west. It’s not a dry report, it’s an epic adventure in problem solving. Remember that time we narrowly avoided a data breach that could’ve cost us millions? Paint that picture. Make it vivid.
     It’s like telling the tale of your greatest escape, but with data. They need to see the drama, the stakes, and the heroics.
   • Board-Level Reporting: And let’s get real about reporting. Ditch the jargon and tech-speak. Executives want high-level insights, not the technical details. Think of it as translating from geek to sleek. Use visuals—graphs, charts, whatever makes the information pop and ties back to the ROI. It’s not just about what you say, it’s about how you present it. Keep it sharp, keep it engaging.
   • Talk Business: Now, for the decisive factor—business impact. If our cybersecurity efforts
     fail, what happens? Lost data, lost revenue, regulatory fines, and a big dent in reputation. Frame it in terms of potential disaster scenarios. When you put it in their language, they’ll see why it matters. It’s not fearmongering; it’s reality-checking.
2. Quantify Risk (Talk Money)
   • Utilize Metrics the Board Understands: Boards live and breathe metrics, so talk their language. Convert cyber risks into financial terms they grasp. Potential revenue loss from a breach, cost of downtime—spell it out. Suddenly, it’s not just about bits and bytes; it’s about dollars and cents.
   • Talk About Exposure & Risk Drivers: Identify those risk drivers and lay them out. External threats, internal vulnerabilities, whatever keeps you up at night. Make the board understand exactly what we’re up against. It’s like showing them the monsters under the bed. Only these monsters are real, and they’ve got teeth.
   • Frame Conversations Around Revenue: Here’s a twist: don’t just talk about loss. Highlight how robust cybersecurity protects revenue streams. Show them the money saved and opportunities seized because our defenses held firm. It’s about turning a potential negative into a clear, tangible positive.
3. Showcase Your ROI & Business Alignment
   • Show How Cyber Can Be a Driver of Revenue: Cybersecurity isn’t just a shield; it’s a spear. Show how strong cyber practices can drive revenue. Think compliance certifications that open new markets, or robust defenses that build customer trust. Highlight success stories where cyber strength led to business wins.
   • Shift the Cost-Center Mindset: Finally, break the cost-center mentality. Cybersecurity isn’t a drain on resources; it’s a strategic investment. Show how it reduces operational risks, enhances resilience, and yes, contributes to the bottom line. Shift their thinking from “necessary evil” to “competitive advantage.”
   • Enable Other Business: Cyber is the unsung hero behind every successful business unit. Protecting intellectual property, securing customer data, ensuring service availability—it’s all interconnected. Highlight collaborations where cybersecurity made a crucial impact. Make it clear that cyber is the backbone of business innovation.

In the end, it’s about weaving a compelling narrative, speaking the board’s financial language, and highlighting the strategic value of cybersecurity. Make it personal, make it relevant, and make it profitable. That’s how you get the board to not just listen, but to champion the cause of cybersecurity.