Dear chief executive,
the role of the person leading a company has traditionally been tied to strategic vision, growth and organisational culture. Today there is new ground demanding your direct attention: information security.
Protecting data is not a technical detail to delegate to the IT department. It is a matter of trust, of reputation and, ultimately, of the survival of the business. The question to ask is a simple one: is my company genuinely protected?
The spread of remote work has widened the perimeter of vulnerability. Every person accessing data from home, or from anywhere at all, becomes a possible way in. A single breach does not only compromise confidential information: it compromises trust built with customers over years.
You do not need to become a technology expert. You need to understand the risks and make sure the organisation has the resources and the preparation to face them. You need to work with the people responsible for security rather than receive reports from them. And you need to communicate yourself how much this matters, from the boardroom down to the newest hire.
Information security is not an island in the sea of running a business: it is part of the ship. Do not underestimate the role you have here. Your company, your employees and your customers are counting on you.
Originally published on LinkedIn. Reviewed by the author.