Businesses of all sizes continue to face cyber risks and threats, especially in our interconnected world. To insulate against these risks, a cybersecurity culture is essential. While appointing chief information security officers (CISOs) and security managers is vital, it's not enough. When key decisions and strategies are being made, such as digital and software tools or business models, cybersecurity must be a top consideration. 

So cybersecurity is not just a job for your CISOs, it's every business leader’s job. When you begin to take organizational decisions with security risk considerations in mind, you can create a culture of security on every level of your organization. This article examines the role of leadership in driving cybersecurity culture.

The Current State of Cybersecurity in Organizations 

The Cisco Cybersecurity Reports reveal that about 50% of large organizations, whose average workforce is more than 10,000, spend at least $1 million on security annually. While this is laudable, 57% of small business owners do not see the need to invest in cybersecurity because they are sure their businesses will not be targeted. In contrast, small businesses are actually specifically targeted in the list of criminals and represent 43% of all data breaches.

Therefore, it is necessary for all businesses, whether small or large, to maintain a strong security conscious mindset that is  aware, invested, and takes effective measures to protect against threats.

Characteristics of a Strong Cybersecurity Culture

1. Proactive: This is the characteristic of expecting and preparing for potential threats. This means staying ahead of any threat by conducting regular risk assessments to prevent attacks before they occur. 

1. Accountable: With the global cost of insider threats soaring to $11.45 million annually, an accountable culture is important. This promotes shared responsibility and ownership of digital protection which involves clearly defining roles and responsibilities, setting expectations, and holding individuals accountable for their actions. 

1. Transparent: Time is money when it comes to cybersecurity. It takes an average of 197 days to detect a breach and 69 days to contain it - that's a long time for hackers to be roaming free in your systems! Don't wait until it's too late. Practice open communication and collaboration. Share information, report incidents, and keep everyone in the loop to stay ahead of threats and respond quickly when attacks happen.

1. Risk-Aware: A risk-aware approach considers cybersecurity risks in decision-making processes, evaluating potential risks, assessing the impact, and making informed decisions to reduce or accept those risks. This awareness is essential as 88% of Boards of Directors perceive cybersecurity as a business risk, yet only 12% have a dedicated board-level cybersecurity committee.

1. Continuous Learning: With 82% of employers lacking skilled cybersecurity professionals, causing substantial harm (71%) to their organizations, a culture of continuous learning is important. This focuses on ongoing training and professional development, enabling teams to stay up-to-date with the latest threats, technologies, and best practices, and continuously improving skills and knowledge.

How Can You as a Leader Drive a Cybersecurity Culture in Your Organization?

As a leader, you set the tone for your organization's cybersecurity culture by implementing the below:

• Task Board of Directors (or Senior Management) with oversight functions on cybersecurity. This way, they obtain regular reports and can demand a level of security culture across board.
• Drive a top-down cyber culture by being seen taking cybersecurity initiatives serious; Other employees would not ignore security policies being driven and obeyed by Board and Senior Management.
• Track key security metrics with a dashboard to measure your organization's security posture.
• Start a cybersecurity champions program to arm employees to become accountable.
• Hold regular roundtable discussions to share concerns and address potential threats.
• Implement standard operating procedure with clear actions for responding to common cyber threats.
• Organize a cybersecurity awareness month with training sessions and activities to educate employees on security best practices.

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, has demonstrated a commitment to cybersecurity through various initiatives and strategies, you can also replicate.

At CyberKach, we offer expert cybersecurity advice, helping leaders like you build a strong security mindset within your organization. Contact us for guidance on protecting your organization's future.