A Leader's Guide to Cybersecurity: Why Boards Need to Lead--and How to Do It

Description

Companies are investing an unprecedented amount of money to keep their data and assets safe, yet cyberattacks are on the rise--and the problem is worsening. No amount of technology, resources, or policies will reverse this trend. Only sound governance, originating with the board, can turn the tide. Protection against cyberattacks can't be treated as a problem solely belonging to an IT or cybersecurity department. It needs to cast a wide and impenetrable net that covers everything an organization does--from its business operations, models, and strategies to its products and intellectual property. And boards are in the best position to oversee the needed changes to strategy and hold their companies accountable. Not surprisingly, many boards aren't prepared to assume this responsibility. In A Leader's Guide to Cybersecurity, Thomas Parenty and Jack Domet, who've spent over three decades in the field, present a timely, clear-eyed, and actionable framework that will empower senior executives and board members to become stewards of their companies' cybersecurity activities. This includes: Understanding cyber risks and how best to control them Planning and preparing for a crisis - and leading in its aftermath Making cybersecurity a companywide initiative and responsibility Drawing attention to the nontechnical dynamics that influence the effectiveness of cybersecurity measures Aligning the board, executive leadership, and cybersecurity teams on priorities Filled with tools, best practices, and strategies, A Leader's Guide to Cybersecurity will help boards navigate this seemingly daunting but extremely necessary transition.

Thomas Parenty has more than three decades of international cybersecurity experience, starting with employment at the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), where he worked on protecting the U.S. nuclear arsenal from foreign cyberattacks. Parenty has testified five times before the U.S. Congress on encryption, national security, law enforcement, and the global competitiveness of technology companies. In addition to cofounding Archefact Group, Parenty has contributed greatly to the public discourse on cybersecurity, helping to provide clarity and direction in this complex domain as a writer, lecturer, and speaker. He has been interviewed extensively on the cyber risks businesses face in publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal and New York Times to the Economist and South China Morning Post. Harvard Business School Press published his earlier book, Digital Defense: What You Should Know About Protecting Your Company's Assets. Jack Domet cofounded Archefact Group with the goal of fundamentally improving the way the world addresses cybersecurity and risk. In service of this mission, he helps boards and management teams understand and implement the necessary changes to their organizations, cultures, and capabilities in order to effectively oversee and manage the cyber risks their organizations face. Domet has led Archefact Group from its infancy to a multimillion-dollar global practice with offices in Hong Kong and San Francisco. You can visit the authors at: linkedin.com/in/thomasparenty/ linkedin.com/in/jackdomet/

"The Leader's Guide is direct, concise, and clear with regards to applying its major principles." -- Erik Costlow, InfoQ "So Easy, Even A CEO Can Understand It: A Call For Greater Clarity In Cybersecurity" -- Joe McKendrick, Forbes "A Leader's Guide to Cybersecurity clearly outlines the cybersecurity issues boards face today and provides a practical guide for board governance and action. The massive financial damage caused by recent cyberattacks clearly demonstrates the need for board and executive involvement and preparation. This book should be required reading for every board member." -- Jan Leschly, Member of the Board, A. P. Moller-Maersk; former CEO, SmithKline Beecham "Cybersecurity is a central requirement of board governance and oversight and is no different from other complex board issues. Boards can add significant value by asking the right questions and making sure the answers are clear and intelligible, responsive, and trackable. This book provides excellent templates to start this process, and I, for one, will be implementing them." -- Sarah Friar, CEO, Nextdoor; Member of the Board, Walmart and Slack