Your client dismisses cybersecurity threats in their industry. How will you convince them of the risks?

Convincing a skeptical client about cybersecurity risks involves a focused and concise approach. so we can make them understand the: 1. Highlighted Real-World Examples 2. Emphasize Potential Impacts 3. Present Data and Statistics 4. Leverage Expert Opinions 5. Offer a Risk Assessment

People often separate cyber security from security in general like physical security but they are both fundamentally the same. It is a security problem, no less. So ask them if they leave their door unlocked in a dangerous neighborhood or for those that live in areas where carrying a firearm for protection is legal, would they still prefer not to carry it? I think we all know the answers to that. So why be less lenient on cyber security? There are thousands of hackers trying to invade and destroy your valuable businesses and take your clients along for that ride too. If that doesn't make you more aware, step away from your business because you're the security risk. Do right for your customers, employees, investors, and yourself.

To convince a client of cybersecurity risks, present data on recent breaches in similar industries. Highlight the cost of inaction—financial, reputational, and operational. Offer a risk assessment to personalize the threat and demonstrate proactive measures they can take. Education is key to understanding and action.

Present recent industry-specific case studies that demonstrate the impact of cyberattacks. Highlight the financial losses, reputational damage, and operational interruptions resulting from these instances. Utilize statistics to highlight the growing frequency and sophistication of attacks. Explain the possible legal and regulatory ramifications of insufficient cybersecurity safeguards. Provide a cost-benefit analysis demonstrating that preemptive security measures are more cost effective than coping with breaches. Emphasize how strong cybersecurity builds customer trust and can provide a competitive edge.

Empathise and present data: understand that for the customer the efforts and costs required to stay ahead in IT are significant. However, the financial losses from ignoring cybersecurity threats can be exponentially higher. This simple math is common sense. Give simple examples backed by data: In X industry, Company Z that neglected cybersecurity faced Y financial losses, reputational damage and broken partnerships. The company experienced not only high costs but also a loss of customer trust. All of these are impacting their long-term business. Dismissing cybersecurity not only risks financial loss but also damages reputation and crucial relationships.

The threat landscape is always changing, with new attacks emerging regularly. Staying informed about the latest threats is key to maintaining a strong defense. Cybersecurity is an ongoing process requiring vigilance and adaptation, as yesterday's non-threats can become today's significant risks.

Provide an overview of the current cybersecurity threats facing their industry. Highlight common attack vectors such as phishing, ransomware, data breaches, and insider threats. Explain how cybercriminals target businesses similar to theirs and the potential impact of successful cyber attacks, including financial losses, reputation damage, and legal consequences.

O cenário de ameaças à segurança cibernética está em constante evolução, com criminosos cibernéticos desenvolvendo técnicas cada vez mais sofisticadas para explorar vulnerabilidades. Entre as principais ameaças estão os ataques de phishing, que visam roubar informações pessoais e financeiras, e os ataques de ransomware, que bloqueiam o acesso a sistemas até que um resgate seja pago. Além disso, há o aumento de ataques direcionados a infraestruturas críticas, como redes de energia e sistemas de saúde, que podem causar danos significativos.

The problem here is not finding the right numbers or even presenting them to your client in a way that’ll impress them. The real challenge is making them believe you. To avoid sounding as if I’m trying to manipulate the client using numbers I try to use the costs reason as one of the last resorts. Besides, I noticed that many people don’t like to talk about money straight away. But if you see that this part of discussion is inevitable, better collect the stats in the client’s industry or some close enough from open sources that can be easily checked online. The more reputable - the better. Also, try to explain to the client where those numbers come from, when they see the sum broken down to the components they find it easier to believe.

Businesses in New Zealand frequently possess the necessary cybersecurity tools, but the shortfall often arises from complacency in maintaining and monitoring these investments. Weaknesses in application configuration have quickly become the leading root cause of compromise in recent cyber-attacks.

In today’s digital landscape, trust is a form of currency. Businesses demonstrating robust cybersecurity measures can use this as a competitive advantage. Customers and clients are more likely to engage with a business they know takes their data and privacy seriously. Thus, your cybersecurity investment protects your organization and can attract and retain the customers, contributing to ROI.

Every half-competent business person knows how valuable a reputation is. That’s why I prefer to start with potential reputational losses in case of even a seemingly insignificant data breach. It’s usually enough to do the trick as most people don’t want to take the risk of losing their business altogether because of the lost client base. Instead of presenting similar cases and bombarding the client with numbers I approach this part with storytelling. I learn everything I can about the client’s business and start the story with a cyber attack in the place where it’d hurt the most. I let the client imagine the consequences on their own, leading them through the likely scenario until they come to understand the importance of cybersecurity.

Establish metrics to measure improvements in cybersecurity posture over time. Regularly report on security enhancements, incident response preparedness, and employee awareness. Demonstrate the ROI of cybersecurity investments by quantifying avoided costs and mitigated risks associated with potential cyber threats.

Ao calcular o ROI em segurança cibernética, considere não apenas os custos evitados, mas também os benefícios intangíveis, como a confiança do cliente e a resiliência do negócio. A segurança cibernética é um investimento estratégico que protege o futuro da sua empresa. O Retorno sobre Investimento (ROI) em segurança cibernética pode ser medido por na prevenção de perdas financeiras, proteção da reputação, conformidade com Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (LGPD) e eficiência operacional.

Most cybersecurity problems happen due to a human factor and with remote work it becomes all the more important to ensure that people don’t accidentally leave gaps for cybercriminals to explore. 1) Explain to your client that a human factor will exist as long as they have people working in their company. 2) Illustrate it with a couple of examples that could take place in every other company. Something along the lines of ‘Lucy forgot to log out of her personal mail’ or ‘Jack used the same password he has for his game account’ will do. 3) Show how those small and simple errors could lead to problems on an organizational level. 4) Explain what employee training could be done to avoid that and how it will bolster security overall.

Regular training and awareness programs empower employees to recognize and prevent cyber threats effectively. Cybersecurity goes beyond just technology, emphasizing the critical roles of people and processes. Building a security-conscious culture within the organization mitigates human errors and enhances overall defense against potential breaches.

Your employees are the first line of defense against cyber threats. Regular training and awareness programs help them spot and prevent security breaches, reducing the risk of human error.

Demonstrate your commitment to risk awareness by integrating risk management into your own decision-making processes and daily activities.

Share high-profile incidents and breaches in their industry. Specific cases where companies faced significant losses can help illustrate the seriousness of cybersecurity threats.

"They say never let a good disaster go to waste, even better if its your neighbours." Clients often need leverage internally to help create importance or priority for Cybersecurity. This is one of the methods I've found effective when helping our customers.