Why CEOs, Boards, and Business Executives Need a Cybersecurity Capabilities Assessment Framework

Why CEOs, Boards, and Business Executives Need a Cybersecurity Capabilities Assessment Framework

This IDC Perspective identifies a cybersecurity assessment framework and information-reporting process for CIOs and CISOs to fulfill the rising requirement to summarize this complex and urgent technology topic into a reporting framework optimized for C-suite, board, business, and technology executives throughout the organization. In 2023, the age of digital business has landed firmly with more than 50% of North American business revenue being digitally based. For organization leaders, or those aspiring to be organization leaders, this requires acknowledgment, recognition, and acceptance of concurrent responsibilities. You as a senior leader require a degree of working knowledge of cybersecurity issues related to your organization's digital backbone. Most CEOs, board members, and business executives would agree that the organization's digital capabilities are essential to its success; well, all organizations' cybersecurity capabilities are an explicit and integral component of their digital business capabilities. Yet many leaders cannot explain how effective the cybersecurity tools and practices in their organizations are, let alone how they compare with statistically derived industry norms. That's problematic because most enterprises are continually subjected to cyberattacks that can seriously harm them and their customers and their supply chain partners. To achieve the organizations' required business and mission outcomes, IDC has created a Cybersecurity Capabilities Assessment Framework — a tool to guide organizations in achieving their desired, business-relevant cybersecurity end state. "Some CEOs regard cybersecurity as the CIO's concern, but evidence shows that when CEOs and boards engage with CIOs, cybersecurity is more effective in protecting businesses," says Marc Strohlein, adjunct research advisor with the IT Executive Programs (IEP) at IDC. "And CEOs need to remember that successful attacks and data thefts not only damage businesses directly but also damage brands and erode customer and partner trust."

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