Cybersecurity is a constant menace for today’s corporations and governments, and it can cripple business performance. Companies suffering cyberattacks tend to struggle to attract customers, as their reputations nosedive. And the cost of poor cybersecurity is huge at around $3-4 trillion worldwide.
Even so, there’s plenty of evidence that companies are failing to put in place effective cybersecurity practices. Many cybersecurity-tools have no idea whether their security investments are working, and a shocking percentage of companies have no clue about how to protect their assets against cyber attacks.
In this article, we’ll look at how some key organizational players can fit into an effective cybersecurity strategy. From CEOs to CDOs and HR teams, staff all have roles to play in securing corporate operations – and the responsibility goes way beyond IT professionals. It’s a challenge for every team member, no matter who they are.
1. CMO (Chief Marketing Officer)
In the modern corporate world, data is money. The information that companies hold about their customer base, and the people who interact with their websites, social media channels, or apps, represent huge assets which can make or break business fortunes. And companies spend billions finding ways to fine tune methods of data collection and analysis.
That’s why CMOs need to be well informed about cybersecurity. The data they collect isn’t just valuable for their own campaigns. It could be lucrative for competitors as well (not to mention data brokers who sell stolen customer records).
Because of this, CMOs need to know how to protect their data collection systems and analytical findings, via 2-factor encryption, and encrypted email accounts. They should also look into adding VPN protection for remote workers and core servers. Check out VPNPro for the low down on some excellent solutions in this are.
2. CIO (Chief Information Officer)
CIOs are responsible for the information technology infrastructure which underlies modern companies. As such, the role of cybersecurity in their everyday work should be self evident.
CIOs are the C-level employees who are tasked with guarding servers, databases, client records, remote devices, payment systems – everything that companies use in day-to-day operations. If these systems are breached by attackers, the responsibility ultimately lies with the CIO.
However, studies by endpoint security firms have constantly found that CIOs either aren’t investing in cybersecurity, or aren’t capable of mastering the tasks required. One survey from analysts 1E found that 93% of CIOs contacted stated that they were “experiencing challenges” in grasping the threats posed to corporate assets. The same survey found shockingly high rates of unpatched software and unclear security protocols – both core tasks of the CIO.
3. HR Director
Human resources may not seem at first glance to be intimately involved in cybersecurity, but look again. In the best companies, HR is actively engaged in assessing the risk of “inside jobs” and poor staff security practices, and is also capable of acting when breaches are detected. That’s an essential aspect of a security-focused corporate culture.
This matters because human error remains the most important single factor behind cybersecurity breaches. From clicking rogue links when surfing the web, to downloading suspect attachments, staff are capable of introducing malware and other malicious actors into corporate networks – and they do so, on a huge scale.
HR plays a key role across the entire corporate feeding chain – policing not just low-grade employees, but executives as well. This was shown graphically in the recent Pathe scandal, when phishers managed to steal $21 million from the film company’s Dutch subsidiary, by targeting the Financial Director.
With a proactive, well trained HR team in place, companies can ensure that all staff are on the same page regarding cybersecurity, from top to bottom.
4. CEO
CEOs are at the head of corporate decision making chains, so they have three major roles to play in the cybersecurity realm. Firstly, they make key decisions which cascade throughout the company, promoting healthy security behavior and investing in the technology needed to counteract digital threats.
In this way, CEOs “set the tone” for cybersecurity at all levels of the company, playing an essential role in improving the general quality of vigilance and safety.
Secondly, CEOs are paid to take responsibility for general cybersecurity performance. In the Pathe Netherlands case cited above, the CFO was sacked, but the CEO followed. In less dramatic cases, CEOs have been able to lead effective responses to data breaches – which may be why stats show that they tend to be paid more after cybersecurity lapses.
Finally, CEOs communicate with the wider world about corporate security strategies, and act as lightning rods for crisis management when needed. So they need to be briefed about how to ease the worries of investors and customers, and make the right moves if disasters do happen.
5. CDO (Chief Data Officer)
CDOs are generally C-level employees, and have a core cybersecurity role: protecting the databases that corporations rely on to manage supply chains, customer relationships, and stock levels. As with CMOs, CDOs have to be closely attuned to changes in cybersecurity methods, and work closely with their CIO to blend software and hardware security at all points.
We’ve placed CDOs at the end of our list for a reason. Many experts feel that CDOs should be tasked with heading cybersecurity efforts within corporations or other large organizations. The reason is that their jobs encompass technology, human resources, and data governance – including compliance with regulations and the creation of effective security protocols.
However, bear in mind that leadership and teamwork have to go together. Everyone needs to be on board for cybersecurity strategies to take root and succeed – and no job position can be excluded.
Authored by Sarah Sasani
This is a sponsored post.