How to Create Cybersecurity Reports That Reach the Board of Directors

Cybersecurity is a complicated and dynamic field that requires an effective communication process between all stakeholders within the organization. Whether it’s keeping data secure or reducing risk, or communicating with the board and C-Suite about the latest threats and risks, security professionals must be in a position to provide clear and concise information on their progress, without being bogged down by technical details. But many cybersecurity reports are too technical complicated, detailed, and unintelligible for the average person, preventing security teams from engaging in the clear communication regarding risks and security programs that is crucial to avoid security breaches and keeping the business secure.

When creating a cyber-security report, it’s important to remember that the principal audience isn’t the IT department but the board of directors. To make the report more appealing to the board, it should be focused on business risks rather than technology.

For instance, if a report indicates that outdated web server software is responsible for the majority of the company’s attack surface The report should communicate this information in a manner that highlights the impact to the organization and its bottom line. It’s also necessary to ensure that the information reported about security risks is comprehendible to non-technical audiences particularly since the framework alignment and compliance requirements are becoming a major issue for many boards.

Fortunately, UpGuard offers a library of templates for reports that are designed to meet the main reporting expectations of the board and senior management. These templates combine security performance data that are frequently requested by the board, for example vendor summary reports that highlight crucial metrics like vulnerability management performance and third-party attack susceptibility and critical risk distribution, all of which are crucial to building a strong risk assessment and mitigation process. These reports can be generated in a matter of minutes and exported as PowerPoint slides, which removes the burden of preparing for board meetings.

https://cleanboardroom.com/how-board-portals-mitigate-compliance-risks/