What do you do if your communication isn't convincing others to prioritize Information Security?

First, ensure the business understands why security matters. Highlight the financial risks: what happens to share prices if a publicly traded company gets hacked? Reputation tanks, customer trust plummets, and the bottom line takes a hit. Instead of technical jargon or fear-mongering, align Information Security with business goals. Protecting the brand, regulatory compliance, and securing revenue streams all depend on robust security. Bring it home with real-world data and case studies. Make it clear: good security isn't just smart; it's vital for business success

One of the biggest challenges all the time is the conflict between the business team and the security team in any organization. Sometimes business and security speak different languages, making it challenging to understand each other's perspectives and creating a sense of division. Moreover, the technical experts sometimes struggle to communicate the risks effectively in a language that the business can comprehend and act upon.

If your message is falling on deaf ears the tendency is to talk louder or blame the audience but that is wrong. Cyber has its own language , Privacy has its own language, Business has its own language It is your job to learn to speak the language of the audience. You must understand what inspires, scares and amuses them. Being a “award winning” CISO means nothing to business if your message is doom and gloom or presents a road block to business. For every issue you find, you must also have a realistic business enabling solution. If you don’t and are in a leadership position, it might be time to step down. Cyber security is a business issue first and you must understand the business you are working in

If my communication isn't convincing others to prioritize Information Security,I'd reassess my approach.Firstly,I'd tailor my message to resonate with the audience's priorities and concerns, highlighting the broader impact of security breaches on business objectives and reputation.Utilizing compelling data and real-world examples can illustrate the importance of proactive security measures.Additionally,I'd collaborate with key stakeholders to address any misconceptions or resistance to change.Emphasizing that prioritizing security is crucial in every organizational sector, not just cybersecurity, can underscore its significance. Continuous efforts to educate and engage stakeholders are essential for fostering security awareness.

Draw parallels between digital security and more familiar forms of security. For instance, compare passwords with house keys, and explain how failing to secure a password is like leaving your front door unlocked. This helps users intuitively grasp the importance of following security protocols.

In our projects, we often progress in matters related to security by examining standards and listening to experts, rather than relying solely on our own interpretations. For instance, in our new card system projects, we present PCI standards to individuals and establish a process.

Try framing your message in a way that resonates with their priorities. Highlight the potential risks and costs of a security breach, such as data loss, financial damage, and reputation harm. Emphasize how investing in security measures can protect the organization's assets and reputation in the long run. You could also use real-world examples or statistics to illustrate the importance of information security. Keep communicating the importance of security in different ways and at different times. Persistence can pay off!

Convincing others about information security can be tricky if your communication isn't getting through. So, please understand who you're talking to. Are they executives worried about finances? Technical staff needing specific solutions? Frame your message in a way that resonates with their concerns. Don't just talk about threats, translate them into consequences. Data breaches can lead to financial losses, reputational damage, and even legal trouble. Use data breaches that have impacted similar organizations to show the potential cost. If you have any internal data on near misses or attempted attacks, share that as well. Don't just highlight the risks, present practical solutions that address them.

Explain how an Information Security incident can tarnish an individual's reputation or professional credibility. Provide examples of high-profile data breaches resulting in public scrutiny, job loss, or damage to career prospects. By illustrating the long-term consequences of reputational damage, individuals recognize the importance of safeguarding their personal and professional information to preserve trust and credibility.

Makes the threat more real rather than just a hypothetical scenario. to helps people understand the consequences of their actions/inactions. This makes IS more relatable and emphasises the importance of everyone's involvement in safeguarding information assets. People often act differently when they perceive a personal stake or risk of loss.

Clearly articulate the potential risks and consequences of neglecting Information Security. Use real-world examples, case studies, or industry trends to demonstrate the impact of security breaches or data breaches on the organization's reputation, finances, and regulatory compliance.

We all come from different background. Embracing our differences, we recognize that none of us are inherently better or worse, just different. Let's dive into practical AND CUSTOMISED exercises. While understanding cybersecurity concepts theoretically is valuable, it's the application that truly solidifies learning. By integrating practical exercises like simulated phishing attacks or breach scenarios into our training programs, we empower employees to put their knowledge into action. These exercises serve as eye-opening experiences, highlighting the significance of cybersecurity and allowing us to grasp the repercussions of security breaches within a safe and controlled educational setting.

As an expert in information security, it's crucial to personalize the risks associated with breaches to prioritize the importance of security measures. Instead of discussing abstract threats, provide concrete examples of how a breach could impact individuals directly. By highlighting potential scenarios where personal data or professional work could be compromised, such as identity theft or loss of credibility, you make the consequences more tangible and immediate. This approach fosters a sense of urgency and accountability, prompting individuals to take proactive measures to safeguard sensitive information and mitigate potential risks.

When you're finding it challenging to convince others about the importance of prioritizing information security, it's crucial to approach the issue from multiple angles. Start by clearly demonstrating the business impact. Use concrete examples and data to highlight the potential financial, reputational, and legal risks associated with security breaches. Present real-world scenarios or recent security incidents within your industry to make the risks more tangible and immediate. Using graphs, charts, and other visualization tools can help as well.

General threats are not useful at all. After all, it will never happen to them⸮ This all comes down to your risk assessment and thread modelling. If your stakeholders have a hand in this, then they should understand the impacts and act accordingly. If not, make sure you have written proof to cover yourself when the invevitable happens.

Tailor your communication to the specific risks and consequences that are relevant to different stakeholders within your organization. Help them understand how security breaches could directly impact their roles, responsibilities, and objectives.

Organize workshops or collaborative sessions involving representatives from various departments to foster a deeper understanding of Information Security concerns. Encourage open dialogue to identify department-specific vulnerabilities and explore tailored security solutions. By soliciting input and involving stakeholders in decision-making, you promote a sense of ownership and collective responsibility towards Information Security.

Champion collaboration within the organization, engage various departments, empower ownership of information security within each department. Be open to understand the departmental concerns, provide perspective and reasoning for the controls and when appropriate, adjust policies to facilitate their work not hinder it.

INFORMATION SECURITY is a typical second-line area; therefore, one of its key characteristics should be collaboration. It's not just about dictating what and how activities should be executed, but as they work with the entire organization, in addition to being resilient, they must be empathetic, know how to listen, communicate simply, and ensure that, by appealing to that power to influence others, in a clearly collaborative environment, the process owner does what needs to be done, with the assistance of #InformationSecurity.

The stick and the carrot. You can let them choose. Over time they will learn the carrot is better. If you've experienced a cyber-incident of any nature, I'm pretty sure the business has some role to play there. Make them come with you, for example, to explain a client their data is gone because somebody did something stupid. And let them do the speech. They'll do it once. Not twice. That's the stick. If never had to go through it, yet, you're lucky. Buy a lottery ticket or something. Then go back to work and show the business how by collaborating with you closely THEY'll be able to, for example, shorten the go to market of THEIR new product or service. And notice the THEY/THEIR. This is not about you. That's the carrot.

- Según mi experiencia es aconsejable buscar y potenciar los puntos fuerte de colaborar con cualquiera de las áreas de negocio. Hay hacerles ver que no somos un stopper y que somos un facilitador para que las cosas se hagan bien y además de forma segura.

Your risk assessment and thread modelling should be done, or at least involve all your stakeholders. Ensuring that there is collaboration and open communication is key to success. The worst thing you can do is silo the information.

Build relationships. Understand the pain points of others and offer help and collaborate to make things better for both parties. Communicate clearly and correctly. Form friendships - security should be a partner to the business teams.

Foster collaboration with key stakeholders, including executives, department heads, IT teams, and employees across all levels of the organization. Involve them in discussions about Information Security priorities, challenges, and solutions to build consensus and ownership.

Once more, cyber risks never rest, always lurking. Therefore, training and awareness must be a continuous and flawlessly executed process. Tailored to each company, it should encompass the best methods of communication, testing, auditing, challenging, and enhancing. A robust plan defined by the CISO with the support of top management (tone at the top), HR, Communications, Compliance, as well as excellent execution, with constant audit validations, and agile corrections, to emerge stronger.

Hold training sessions and interactive workshops to educate your colleagues about potential security threats and their role in preventing them. It is also crucial to articulate the consequences of not managing risk in simple and relatable terms eg using case studies - I like using Latitude, Uber & Optus as they have good coverage of key security domains/threats (third party risk, MFA, APIs, social engineering)

The temptation is often very great to think that the directors, C-suite and other top brass either know what they're doing (they don't! Not when it comes to cyber security!) and that they don't need training, or that they're too busy for training. Put that thought very far out of your mind. They are the number 1 targets, and therefore need the most bespoke and probably even intense training of all the employees. Also 'bring it home' - teach them how to teach their family members about cyber security. So many data breaches nowadays started with the first foothold being in someone's home. Make cyber security real and personal, something from which the whole family can benefit.

- Totalmente de acuerdo, la concienciación continua es algo primordial hoy en día. Los empleados tienen que conocer las amenazas y la dirección los riesgo que amenazas al negocio.

You need to speak in their language and in non-Technical term and teach them important of security and what would be impact if they ignore it. Share real stories of security breaches.

Provide ongoing education and awareness initiatives to enhance understanding of Information Security principles and practices throughout the organization. Offer training sessions, workshops, and resources that empower employees to recognize security threats and take proactive measures to mitigate risks.

Reconhecer que as pessoas representam a principal ameaça à segurança da informação, não necessariamente por malícia, mas muitas vezes por falta de conhecimento ou atenção. Portanto, a responsabilidade pela segurança deve ser compartilhada por todos! Para isso, um processo contínuo de educação e conscientização é essencial. Promover oportunidades de aprendizado por meio de workshops, boletins informativos e reuniões regulares que abordam as tendências recentes, ameaças e melhores práticas em segurança cibernética ajuda a manter a segurança da informação em destaque na mente de todos.

A adoção de práticas de Quantificação de Riscos Cibernéticos (CRQ), como o Open FAIR, pode evidenciar a relação custo-benefício e o retorno sobre o investimento (ROI) de medidas de segurança da informação em termos monetários. Esse enfoque permite que os líderes empresariais vejam claramente como os investimentos em segurança protegem ativos valiosos, e também promovem eficiência operacional, redução de custos e vantagem competitiva no mercado. Por exemplo, ao implementar soluções de segurança, pode-se minimizar o tempo de inatividade causado por incidentes cibernéticos. Demonstrando esses benefícios tangíveis, facilita a decisão informada sobre o investimento em segurança cibernética, com o impacto direto na saúde financeira da empresa.

We always need to highlight why information security is fundamental to the organization's business. Image risks, financial loss and impacts on productivity are some points that must be taken into consideration to ensure success in delivering end-to-end security.

Highlight the tangible benefits of prioritizing Information Security, such as improved operational resilience, reduced financial losses, enhanced regulatory compliance, and increased customer trust and loyalty. Use case studies, testimonials, and real-world examples to illustrate the positive impact of security investments.

Hay varios ejemplos que se puedes destacar: - Seguridad por diseño - Privacidad desde el diseño - Arquitecturas de seguridad en los proyectos Todas estas acciones ayudan a mejorar la seguridad y reducir costes futuros.

También con una correcta gobernanza , implementando un framework de seguridad. Realizando auditorías internas. Realizando un correcto análisis de riesgos o de impacto

What are the benefits? • Money saved. • Cybersecurity incidents reduction. • Data leak mitigations. • Reputation damage control. • Increase sales. • Compliance benefits: SOC-2, ISO 27,001. All these will impact your benefits.

Illustrate the benefits of robust Information Security practices to garner support. Showcase how proactive measures lead to efficiencies, cost savings, and competitive advantages. For instance, highlight how security protocols streamline operations, minimize downtime, and bolster customer trust in reliability and professionalism.

Flexibility is key if initial communication fails to prioritize Information Security. Listen to feedback and adapt your approach accordingly. Consider interactive methods like simulations for better engagement. Recognize that persuasion is iterative, requiring persistence and openness to adjusting tactics.

Start a metrics program with simple pie charts and percentage and reduce your dependency on stats based dashboards. And make sure your new dashboards fit and navigate nicely on your leaderships' cell phone. Shameless Plug: Check out my book called Converged Security Metrics

Continuously evaluate and adjust your communication tactics based on feedback and results. Experiment with different messaging, channels, and formats to find the most effective ways to engage and persuade your audience.

You need to revise your strategy and sometimes you need enforce certain policies like preventing staff from disabling their security products, prevent them from installing and take other steps. You need to clarify the consequence of the cybersecurity breach.

If you are unable to describe why a risk is potentially financially detrimental to the company, and what the likelihood is of such a risk occurring, then you haven't got a risk to talk about. Communication and framing are crucial. Being a trusted and approachable partner is the ladder to success.

If your communication isn't convincing others to prioritize Information Security, try tailoring your message to your audience's interests and concerns. Use clear, simple language and storytelling to illustrate the importance of Information Security, highlighting business benefits and showing data-driven results. Build relationships with stakeholders, seek support from leadership, and provide actionable solutions. Celebrate successes and continuously improve your approach based on feedback and results. Remember, effective communication is key to building support for Information Security. Be adaptable, persistent, and creative to drive change.

There are battles you can win. There are battles you should withdraw from. If that latter, make sure you have evidence so you can present it with a nice “I told you so”. If this happens too often, look for another job.

It is important to get them involved. When you talk about security , they feel like you and your team are in charge and they are just users. However, if you ask them to involve and they feel included, you will gain their trust and could have a better communication to change their mind on the priority for information security.

Create visual aids that quantify the loss associated with the risk. Businesses care about money and reputation. Show stakeholders how taking that step to prioritize security isn't just optional, but a critical step to protecting what's important. Unfortunately, sometimes the best communicative evidence is post an incident that could've been prevented.

When advocating for Information Security, it's crucial to align with the language and priorities of your audience. Security isn't just about avoiding threats, but enhancing business value. Tailoring the dialogue to show how security measures contribute to operational efficiency, customer trust, and compliance can shift the perception from cost to investment. Engaging stakeholders with real-world impacts and collaborative discussions can demystify complexities and foster a proactive security culture across all levels of an organization.

1. Risk Assessment: Conduct a thorough risk assessment to identify and prioritize (together C-level) potential threats that could impact the organization's assets, operations, and reputation. 2. Business Impact Analysis: Highlight the direct correlation between information security and business continuity. 3. Cost-Benefit Analysis: Present a cost-benefit analysis that compares the potential costs of implementing robust security measures with the potential costs of a breach.