How to Create Cybersecurity Reports That Reach the Board of Directors

How to Create Cybersecurity Reports That Reach the Board of Directors

How to Create Cybersecurity Reports That Reach the Board of Directors

Cybersecurity is a complicated and constantly evolving field that requires an effective communication process between all stakeholders across the entire organization. Security managers must be able to communicate clearly about their progress, without getting bogged down in technical details. Many cybersecurity reports are too technical, detailed, and incomprehensible to the average reader which hinders security teams from engaging in clear communication regarding risks and security plans that are essential to avoiding security breaches and keeping the company secure.

When writing a report on cybersecurity it is essential to remember that the primary audience for the report will not be the IT department but the board. Security reports should concentrate on business risk, instead of technology, to appeal to the board and help them understand their company’s exposure to risk.

For instance, if the report reveals that outdated web server software is responsible for the majority of an organization’s security risks, the report should present the information in a manner that highlights the impact to the organization and its bottom line. It is also crucial to ensure that the reporting of security risks can be easily understood by non-technical people in particular since framework alignment and regulatory compliance are becoming increasingly important concerns for boards of many.

UpGuard has a library of templates that have been optimized to meet the primary reporting requirements of the board and the senior management. These templates consolidate security performance insight commonly requested by the board, like summary reports from vendors that highlight the most important metrics, such as vulnerability management https://cleanboardroom.com/how-to-create-cybersecurity-reports-for-boards/ performance as well as third-party vulnerability susceptibility to attack and critical risk distribution all of which are vital to creating a strong risk assessment and mitigation plan. These reports can be produced immediately and exported as PowerPoint slides, which eases the stress of preparing for board meetings.