Podcast Recap: How to Simplify Cybersecurity for Your C-Suite

“Doing security well is challenging; it’s too easy to be on the bad side with tools at anyone’s disposal, teaching us the hard reality of our enormous task — to be on top of everything.” – Matthe Smit.

The year 2023 was a turbulent year for chief security officers everywhere, with supply chain, ransomware and phishing attacks devastating small and large businesses alike. It isn’t their fault, though! Matthe Smit and I discuss with Modern CTO’s Joel Beasley why the C-suite needs to pay more attention to their CSOs.

Cybersecurity can no longer be seen as a cost center — it has to be considered a foundational element of business operations. This was a key point of discussion during that podcast that delved deep into cybersecurity’s role in the modern threat landscape. They clearly define the relationship between an organization’s CSO and its executive management in navigating the intricate and ever-evolving nature of cyberthreats.

Read on to discover what we believe CSOs can do to communicate better with their management, how they can vouch for more funding and even improve their chances of obtaining a desirable cyber insurance policy.

Streamlining conversations with the C-suite

Our conversation revolved around simplifying cybersecurity conversations, making them more accessible to non-technical stakeholders. Focusing on risk management, business continuity and operational impacts can help thoroughly clarify cybersecurity for the C-suite. This approach aids in better expressing and understanding the immediate need for improving IT defenses, all while fostering a more proactive stance toward cybersecurity within organizations.

The multifaceted role of CSOs and information security (infosec) professionals particularly stood out during the session. Beyond the daily grind of countering attacks such as DDoS and phishing, infosec professionals often shoulder the responsibility of managing significant breaches — incidents that could potentially spell a KT event for businesses. The conversation illuminated the aspect of cybersecurity’s role in digital transformation as well, which is generally overlooked.

As businesses evolve and adopt new technologies, integrating cybersecurity from the get-go, rather than as an afterthought, is crucial for safeguarding future operations.

Why investing in cybersecurity is a must

It’s scary to think, but also sad to realize, that securing additional funding for IT security has been, and continues to be, a common challenge. For years, many have viewed security as a cost center, which makes it a daunting task for CSOs to express the need for increased budgets. The ever-expanding attack surface and the sophistication of cyberthreats mean that cybersecurity is an ongoing endeavor, necessitating continuous investment.

We emphasized the importance of viewing cybersecurity through the lens of business benefits to help improve communications with the management. Shifting the conversation to emphasize risk management and the inherent uncertainties in security improves the likelihood of securing investments. This can then lead to the acquisition of necessary tools and technologies, even when their function may not be immediately apparent to non-experts.

The two Datto experts further went on to share their experiences on the dynamic nature of cybersecurity. They stressed that as adversaries evolve, so must defense mechanisms, mirroring the innovation seen in malicious activities. Their real-life experiences shed light on the need for businesses to continually adopt the latest cybersecurity best practices and work on strengthening their strategies to protect against current and future threats.

Bolstering cyber resilience

The concept of security maturity is one that all organizations must become familiar with if they are to thrive today. They must implement and follow a security awareness approach to ensure their employees and stakeholders possess a certain degree of cyber readiness. From those still questioning the basic need for antivirus software to those with sophisticated, proactive security operations centers (SOCs), the journey toward cybersecurity maturity is unique for each organization.

The fact that cybersecurity maturity also plays a vital role in obtaining cyber insurance is also an important discussion that cannot be avoided.

Datto and Kaseya are at the forefront of empowering CSOs across the world to make cybersecurity a key part of business strategy, highlighting the need for ongoing improvement, clear incident communication and strategic planning. Catch the podcast recording here and dive deeper with insights into enhancing security measures and the importance of proactive and adaptive approaches to counter digital threats effectively.