How to Create Cybersecurity Reports That Reach the Board of Directors

Cybersecurity is a continuous ever-changing, dynamic endeavor that requires a clear communication strategy between all stakeholders within the organization. Security managers must be able to provide clear information regarding their progress, without getting bogged-down in technical details. However, many cybersecurity reports are too complex detailed, lengthy, and difficult to understand to the average reader which prevents security teams from engaging in the transparent communication regarding risk and security programs that is essential to avoiding incidents and keeping the organization safe.

When writing a report on cybersecurity it is essential to keep in mind that the target audience will not be the IT team but the board. Cybersecurity reports should focus on risk to business instead of technology, in order to appeal to the board and assist them in understanding the risks that your company faces.

If, for example, the report reveals that outdated software is responsible for the majority of the vulnerabilities that exist in the enterprise It should also be clear about the impact on the bottom line. It is also important to ensure that the report of security risks can be easily understood by non-technical audiences in particular since the framework alignment and compliance requirements are becoming increasingly important issues for boards of many.

UpGuard has a library of templates that are optimized to meet the main reporting requirements of the board and the senior management. These templates consolidate security performance insights that are commonly requested by the board, for example vendor summary reports that highlight key metrics like vulnerability management performance as well as third-party vulnerability susceptibility to attack and critical risk distribution and are crucial to building an effective risk assessment and mitigation plan. These reports can be generated quickly and then exported as PowerPoint slides, removing the hassle of preparing for board meetings.

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