Effective board communication is crucial to ensure directors make informed decisions and are involved. However, boards face the challenge of balancing the need to communicate effectively while also safeguarding sensitive information from cyberattacks.
Boards should use secure collaboration tools, such as board portals and real-time messaging platforms to ensure that discussions, documents as well as other sensitive data confidential. This is a growing concern as more businesses fall victim to hacks and breaches, and regulators are setting new security standards.
Security experts have stated that it’s not a matter of «if» an organization will experience data breaches, but rather «when.» A successful cybersecurity framework includes an effective board relationship with the chief information security officer (CISO). CISOs should seize every opportunity to share their strategy and vision with the board. This will assist them get board support his explanation to provide an effective response to cyberattacks.
Many board members and governance professionals rely on personal email to send internal governance communications especially during virtual meetings. This practice puts organizations at greater risk of being targeted by phishing attacks as well as other cyberattacks targeting prominent individuals like directors, C-level executives and other top management personnel.
It is crucial to educate your board members about the importance of cybersecurity. This should include a thorough examination of the information they share through unsecure channels such as meeting notes or informal communications. Additionally, it is important to choose a secure document sharing platform that provides encryption and access controls to prevent documents from being downloaded or copied by outside individuals, such as those found in a cyberattack.