CEOs vs Cybersecurity Incidents
Cyber Incident: what’s a CEO to do?
According to the UK National Cyber Security Centre – cybersecurity has become a paramount concern for organisations of all sizes.
As leaders, every CEO plays a crucial role in both preventing and responding to cyber incidents; below are five key insights to share with your CEO:
1. Understanding the CEO’s Responsibility
Cybersecurity is not just an IT issue but a strategic business asset that faces risks and requires considered attention; being accountable for the organisation means cybersecurity is included, and this demands active engagement in cybersecurity governance and oversight.
2. Creating a Cyber-Resilient Culture
The importance of fostering a cyber-resilient culture starts with the CEO by promoting cybersecurity awareness and vigilance among all employees.
3. Ensuring Effective Communication
Prioritise clear communication with stakeholders during a cyber crisis, including board members, senior leadership, employees, customers, and regulators.
4. Preparing for Cyber Incidents
Proactive preparation is essential and CEOs should work closely with their executive team to develop and regularly test incident response plans.
5. Learning from Cyber Incidents
Every cyber incident presents an opportunity for learning and improvement. CEOs should conduct thorough post-incident reviews to identify root causes, gaps in cybersecurity defences, and lessons learned.
In conclusion, CEOs play a pivotal role in safeguarding their organisations against cyber threats and mitigating the impact of cyber incidents.
By prioritising cybersecurity, fostering a cyber-resilient culture, ensuring effective communication, proactively preparing for incidents, and learning from past experiences, CEOs can enhance their organisation’s cyber resilience and protect against evolving threats in an increasingly digital world.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Deloitte advises on digital trust for executives HERE
The National Cyber Security Centre Incident Response guide is HERE
A great article on CEO cyber accountability from Parenty and Domer can be found HERE
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
One more thing,
At Pfortner, we ensure that critical communications stay private.
If you need to protect sensitive communications, please see www.pfortner.co.za
Or send a blank email to info@pfortner.co.za, and we will get back to you.