Cybersecurity discussions often focus on advanced threats, cutting-edge technologies, and the rapid evolution of cybercrime. Yet, the biggest challenge for cybersecurity leaders isn’t technical—it’s communication. Bridging the gap between the technical world of cybersecurity and the priorities of business stakeholders is vital for building trust, driving action, and securing the resources needed to stay ahead of threats. The ability to clearly articulate the relevance and value of cybersecurity can determine whether your voice is heard—or overlooked.
While technical expertise is crucial, our greatest shortcoming often lies in how we communicate cybersecurity’s relevance and practicality to decision-makers, business partners, and colleagues. Knowing how to answer six essential cybersecurity questions can empower even the newest or most introverted security leader to drive improvement, influence decision-making, and build stability.
The key? Create and practice concise answers for each question, keeping them under 30 seconds. In total, your responses should take no more than five minutes. These five minutes can transform your impact, expand your network, and generate crucial support.
Here are the six questions:
1. How's our security?
Generic, high-level, question, typically from a senior exec who cares deeply but not specifically about cybersecurity. Your answer? Create simple categories (we like preparation, operation and response) and have one metric on-hand for each. Relatability will provide clarity.
2. How do you know?
This is a natural follow-on, or an initial question from someone trying to rationalize cybersecurity spend and process. Build trust by briefly explaining your visibility and the data and events you’re gathering about your systems and the threat landscape in terms stakeholders understand.
3. What's been happening?
Cybersecurity is interesting and this question is an opening to create a new fan. Share a specific and relatable story about threats, incidents, or successes, and you’ll make cybersecurity engaging and relevant.
4. Are we getting better?
This question can trip up the best leaders if they’re not prepared. The answer is always yes, because in our industry, understanding where things are weak or needing critical improvement is the definition of getting better. Highlight improvements in protection where you can and visibility where you can’t, using clear business-centric examples to show progress.
5. What should we do next?
Welcome to the doorstep of success. This question means that you’ve created enough interest, and demonstrated enough credibility, that your audience wants your advice. You're almost home. Offer actionable recommendations in straightforward language that is grounded in organizational objectives, not the blurry world of risk, and you’ll be better understood and valued.
6. Why does this matter?
It’s always been a surprise that most non-cybersecurity people don’t connect gaps in cybersecurity, and even the results of most attacks, to core business issues. Avoid the temptation to overstate the risks or the impacts, and come up with simple, digestible, consequences. Where you can, reframe one or two security measures to demonstrate value through resilience, improving trust with stakeholders, or financial and strategic benefits that you can measure. The key here is to remember that cybersecurity will always compete with new technologies, competitor momentum, interest rates, sales, and market events, for attention and support.
And there you are
The way we communicate will make (or break) our ability to generate support and internal champions. By tailoring our language, focusing on relevance, and framing cybersecurity in terms of business outcomes, you will build relations and awareness among the types of executives that can magnify your voice and create lasting change.
Looking to enhance your communication or overall cybersecurity strategy? Contact us today to connect with an expert and start building a tailored approach for your organization.
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