Top management, not an IT team, must pave the way to more robust cyber security.

Given the increasing prevalence and sophistication of cyber threats, cybersecurity has become a critical concern for organisations of all types and sizes. But do you think the security game is only for the IT team to play?  

No, another vital team needs to learn the rules that cyber attackers are playing. Yes, we are talking about the company's top management and the leadership troop, whose synergies and attentiveness can create strategies to fight against cyber attacks persistently. 

First, let us understand what steps top management should take to lead the organisation out of cyber security risks. 

1. Since they are responsible for overseeing the overall risk management strategy of the organisation, a cybersecurity strategy should remain their topmost component.
2. They should go in-depth to understand the current cyber threat landscape and the potential impact on the organisation so that they can make informed decisions about risk management.
3. They need to ensure that the organisation has the necessary policies, processes, and technology to protect against cyber threats and minimise the potential impact of an attack.
4. The top management needs to enable cyber security awareness down the silos & make sure all the stakeholders know the risks and how to identify the threats. 
5. The top management should periodically communicate about following compliance protocols by the people in the organisation and ensure the protocols are updated with relevant laws and regulations.
6. They must communicate the importance of cybersecurity to the rest of the organisation to ensure that all employees understand their role in protecting the company's data and assets.

But, the top management often thinks only about protecting customers’ systems and data when attacked. However, a real-time automated fighting mechanism is what they should seek instead of calling for meetings when attacks have already been acted upon. In such a scenario, top management should seek partnerships with external experts like cyber security consultants who can address convergence, automation, simplifying security, and scaling issues. 

We all know customers desire prompt action, and experts can assist in developing strategies to swiftly resolve security breaches and provide end-point security to organisations and systems. Cyber security consultants are typically well aware of the approaches attackers can take and plan to mitigate those threats. 

The most common conclusion that runs through our minds while reading this information would be -  Oh, so it's all about protecting the company's data, and it's their responsibility, as a prominent case scenario. However, top management should deal with cybersecurity issues from a different perspective. The efforts to prevent data breaches and make Cyber security robust should not only be about the protection of the system, but also it should be about protecting the organisation's growth and the reputation of the brand. The loss of trust in a brand bears higher consequences than data loss. 

Takeaway:

Leaders should ensure cyber security strategies, policies, and technologies are in place to address global threat intelligence, which helps to protect against security breaches and cyber-attacks. If top management paves the way and foundation for the organisation’s cyber security, the company’s brand and reputation are secured, leading to business growth.