Four Business Metrics That Security Professionals Can Present to C-Suite Executives

Bridging the Gap: The Role of Cybersecurity Leaders in Business Communication

Cybersecurity has evolved into a fundamental component of every business strategy, yet a significant divide remains between technical experts and executive leadership. Ideally, cybersecurity leaders—like the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)—should serve as the bridge uniting these two realms, discussing detailed nuances of ransomware attacks with security analysts in one moment and addressing budget priorities with board members in the next. However, for many cybersecurity leaders, particularly in smaller organizations lacking a dedicated CISO, the challenge of effectively communicating risk in business terms is a relentless struggle.

The Communication Challenge

Business executives are increasingly aware that cyber threats transcend mere IT concerns. The repercussions of a successful breach can extend far beyond immediate costs, leading to lost revenues, regulatory penalties, and severe reputational damage. In fact, research projects the global cyber insurance market will significantly expand from $20.88 billion in 2024 to $120.47 billion by 2032, highlighting the growing recognition of cyber threats as critical business risks. As boards start to integrate cybersecurity expertise, with 71% of public companies now having at least one director with a security background, the longstanding disconnect between security communications and boardroom expectations remains a pressing concern.

The Disconnect Between SecOps and C-Suite

A popular question among board members is: "What business outcomes can we expect from this investment?" Unfortunately, traditional cybersecurity metrics often fall short of delivering satisfactory answers. Security teams may emphasize detection and response but can overlook the necessity of articulating proactive measures and their value. This oversight contributes to a perception of cybersecurity as an abstract and unquantifiable concern.

Several structural barriers contribute to this disconnect:

1. Lack of Holistic View of Posture

The foremost question every executive wants to answer is, “Where do we stand today?” Many organizations lack tools that can quantify their overall security posture, making it difficult to measure cybersecurity effectiveness across various business units and domains.

2. Difficulty Linking Tactical Activities to Risk

Security teams often focus predominantly on detection and immediate response. As a result, they may not adequately invest in proactive measures such as security awareness training. Without a clear understanding of an organization’s baseline posture and the ability to measure the impact of proactive strategies, cybersecurity leaders can struggle to demonstrate a return on investment (ROI).

3. Siloed Tools and Data

The plethora of specialized cybersecurity tools, while robust, can lead to fragmented data and insights. Different departments employing varied tools complicate the articulation of overall business risk, making it challenging to justify security investments or prioritize risks effectively.

From Technical Metrics to Strategic Outcomes

To bridge this communication chasm between cybersecurity and business strategy, organizations should consider adopting unified platform approaches that aggregate various cybersecurity tools and data into a cohesive framework. Such modern cybersecurity platforms are gaining traction because they can connect disparate data into one holistic view, employing recognized industry standards to calculate posture ratings that matter.

By implementing these platform-based tools, organizations can achieve several key benefits:

Tracking Changes Over Time

Capturing a baseline posture rating facilitates meaningful measurements of progress over time. For example, if cybersecurity training enhances ransomware preparedness from a C+ to a B+, this improvement can easily be communicated to decision-makers who may not be versed in technical jargon.

Measuring and Modelling ROI

With established rating systems, it becomes more straightforward to link cybersecurity efforts—such as adopting multi-factor authentication or launching training programs—to specific business-level KPIs. Business leaders can model potential ROI by illustrating how investment in security can reduce risks and improve a company’s overall posture.

Prioritizing Investments Based on Risk

Tracking posture scores across different business units presents opportunities to anticipate risks and direct resources accordingly. If vulnerabilities are identified in certain teams using cloud services, prioritizing investment in those areas becomes both practical and imperative.

Benchmarking Against Industry Standards

Linking cybersecurity posture ratings to established industry standards not only encourages better resource allocation but also aids in achieving lower cyber insurance premiums and greater compliance with regulations. Such improvements can foster increased confidence among investors and clients alike.

Cultivating Meaningful Conversations

By shifting dialogue from technical details to quantifiable business outcomes, cybersecurity leaders can elevate their conversations with stakeholders to a strategic level. This not only fosters a deeper understanding of cybersecurity’s value but also facilitates the ongoing alignment of business priorities with security initiatives. By fostering transparency and quantifiable metrics, cybersecurity leadership can secure not just a seat at the strategy table, but retain it as well.

Ultimately, as cybersecurity continues to play an increasingly vital role in business sustainability, the urgency for leaders to bridge this gap grows stronger. Communication is key, and the adoption of strategic platforms promises a way to effectively tie technical efforts to broader business goals, ensuring cybersecurity’s place as an integral pillar of a company’s success.