Boards urged to take more active role in cybersecurity governance


Corporate boards must elevate cybersecurity from an IT concern to a core component of corporate governance, according to a recent Harvard Business Review article. Directors are now expected to move beyond merely listening to actively overseeing cyber risk. This requires asking tough questions about the organization's risk tolerance, its preparedness for incident response, and the potential business ramifications of a breach.

The article highlights a common challenge: boards often lack the specific expertise needed to effectively challenge management on cybersecurity matters. To address this gap, boards should consider appointing members with dedicated cybersecurity backgrounds or bringing in external, independent advisors.

Active governance means treating cyber risk with the same disciplined rigor as financial or legal risk. This includes regular reporting that converts technical metrics into clear assessments of business exposure. 


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