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How to Present Cybersecurity Risk to Senior Leadership

Partners analyzing situation at business presentation

Speaker: James Tarala
Event: SANS Webcast
Date: July 27, 2020
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uCmvfOhR_E 

Introduction 

Effectively communicating cybersecurity risk to senior leadership and boards of directors is critical for ensuring organizations allocate resources to security initiatives. In this SANS webcast, James Tarala shares best practices for presenting cybersecurity risk in a way that resonates with business executives. 

James Tarala highlights that security professionals often struggle to bridge the gap between technical risk details and executive decision-making, leading to misunderstandings and missed opportunities for strengthening cybersecurity programs. This session provides practical strategies to engage leadership, gain buy-in, and improve risk communication. 

 

Key Takeaways 

  • Leadership teams want to know if they are adequately protected. Their focus is not on technical details but rather on risk exposure and business continuity. 
  • Avoid overly technical explanations. Instead, present cybersecurity risk in the context of business impact, financial consequences, and regulatory compliance. 
  • Use structured risk models. Frameworks like NIST CSF, CIS Controls, and FAIR help quantify and prioritize cybersecurity risks. 
  • Engagement is key. Senior leaders need to trust that the security team has a plan and can execute it effectively. 
  • Make recommendations actionable. Provide specific options for risk mitigation and outline required resources. 

Why Leadership Cares About Cybersecurity Risk 

Executives and boards have become increasingly aware of cybersecurity’s role in business resilience. However, they often lack the technical background to assess cybersecurity effectiveness. Common concerns include: 

  • Avoiding financial and reputational damage from breaches. 
  • Understanding how security investments align with business goals. 
  • Complying with regulations and avoiding liability risks.

James Tarala explains that executives do not want to be the next data breach headline. Leadership teams prioritize security when it aligns with protecting business operations and reputation. 

 

Challenges in Communicating Cyber Risk 

Cybersecurity professionals often struggle to present risk in a way that leadership understands. Tarala highlights common challenges: 

  • Using too much technical jargon. Security teams often focus on vulnerabilities, exploits, and patches, which executives may not fully grasp. 
  • Lack of clear risk prioritization. Presenting an exhaustive list of risks without ranking them makes decision-making difficult. 
  • Unclear business impact. Leaders need to understand how risks affect financial performance, regulatory compliance, and customer trust.

 

Effective Strategies for Presenting Cyber Risk 

To successfully communicate cybersecurity risk, James Tarala outlines a structured approach: 

  1. Define Risk in Business Terms Executives respond best to risk presented in the context of business operations. Security professionals should: 
  • Translate technical risks into financial and operational impact. Example: Instead of saying, “We have 3,000 unpatched vulnerabilities,” explain, “A successful exploit could cause $1.2M in downtime.” 
  • Use real-world examples of breaches within the same industry to illustrate potential consequences. 
  • Avoid vague statements like ‘high risk’—quantify risk exposure where possible. 

 

  1. Use a Structured Risk Model James Tarala recommends using a consistent framework for risk assessment, such as: 
  • NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) – A widely adopted governance model. 
  • CIS Controls – A prioritized set of cybersecurity best practices. 
  • FAIR (Factor Analysis of Information Risk) – A quantitative risk assessment model. 

By aligning risk presentations with industry standards, security leaders can standardize their messaging and improve credibility.

 

  1. Prioritize Risks Based on Business Impact Executives need clear priorities for risk mitigation. James Tarala suggests ranking risks by: 
  • Likelihood of occurrence. (e.g., frequency of similar attacks in the industry) 
  • Potential business impact. (e.g., financial losses, downtime, compliance fines) 
  • Ease of mitigation. (e.g., cost and time required for remediation)

 

  1. Use Metrics and Visualizations Executives respond better to visual data representations rather than long reports. Best practices for presenting cybersecurity data include: 
  • Heat maps to illustrate risk levels. 
  • Graphs tracking risk reduction over time. 
  • Simple scorecards comparing current security posture to industry benchmarks.

 

  1. Make Recommendations Clear and Actionable To gain leadership buy-in, security teams must present specific, actionable recommendations, such as: 
  • Requesting budget approval for critical security initiatives. 
  • Proposing policy changes to improve security governance. 
  • Explaining how security investments align with business objectives.

 

  1. Engage with Leadership Regularly Cybersecurity should not be a once-a-year discussion. Tarala recommends ongoing engagement through: 
  • Quarterly security briefings with executives. 
  • Annual board presentations with updates on risk posture. 
  • Incident response tabletop exercises involving leadership.

 

Actionable Insights 

  • Focus on the business impact of cyber risks. Instead of presenting technical details, explain how security failures could lead to financial loss, operational downtime, or regulatory penalties. 
  • Use structured risk frameworks. Models like NIST CSF, CIS Controls, and FAIR help quantify risks and prioritize mitigation efforts. 
  • Present risk with visual storytelling. Use charts, graphs, and heat maps to make security insights more digestible. 
  • Provide clear, actionable recommendations. Instead of overwhelming leadership with problems, propose solutions and estimated costs. 
  • Establish regular communication. Don’t wait for an incident—schedule quarterly security updates with leadership teams. 

 

Conclusion 

Presenting cybersecurity risk to senior leadership is a critical skill for security professionals. By framing risk in business terms, using structured models, and prioritizing clear recommendations, security teams can gain executive buy-in and drive meaningful security improvements. 

By following these strategies, organizations can enhance cybersecurity awareness at the executive level, ensuring that leadership teams make informed decisions that support long-term security resilience. 

 

For more insights on this topic, watch the full webcast here.