How to Speak the C-Level’s Language (Part 1/3) Cybersecurity has evolved far beyond its technical roots — it’s a strategic business enabler. Yet many security and resilience professionals still struggle to connect with executives because they talk about controls instead of consequences. Here’s how to change that. 1. Talk risk, not tech. Executives think in exposure, liability, and continuity — not in patches or vulnerabilities. Frame security discussions around business interruption, financial loss, or reputation damage. (Carreira, Mendes, Ferreira & Christin, 2025) 2. Show ROI. CFOs look for outcomes. Quantify how a control prevents disruption or saves costs. Link every euro spent to measurable risk reduction. (Swarnam, 2024) 3. Tie to strategy. Eighty-five percent of CEOs now see cybersecurity as a growth enabler. Show how your initiatives support innovation, digital transformation, and market trust. (Gartner, 2025) The takeaway: If you want to be heard at the top, stop talking about firewalls — start talking about business.
Very well put, and most often where strategies or roles fail is because they look at it too technically and give the hiring to a technical manager with out understanding the business and the ROI. I get extremely bored hearing about CyberSecurity challenges when they miss the whole root of what it is all about. There seems to be a real negative hate on the GRC people because they do not understand what security really is.
Love this ! 💯
Thank you for addressing the daily challenges. It is essential to address them effectively and to know the stakeholders' points of contact in order to advance the issue of security.
Agree and would add: TCO. If you have hardware and software that needs additional works regarding instalation and deployment, how much it really costs after several years?
As long as cybersecurity leaders keep speaking in technical terms, they’ll keep being seen as technicians — not as strategic enablers of business continuity and value. At PT SYDECO, we translate cybersecurity into the language of leadership: ➡️ risk and loss reduction, ➡️ compliance and trust, ➡️ growth and innovation support. Cybersecurity is no longer a cost — it’s a driver of governance and performance. That’s exactly the message every CISO should bring to the boardroom. #CLevelCommunication #CyberSecurity #BusinessResilience #CyberAsABusinessEnabler #LeadershipStrategy #DigitalTrust #RiskManagement #InnovationAndTrust #Sydeco #Indonesia #AIandCyberSecurity
This is really insightful Florian Polt can‘t wait for part 2 &3! 😉
2 is tricky to make defensible, most of the time we cannot reliably estimate probability and sometimes even impact (taking into account web of controls in place)
Such a solid perspective. Speaking the language of risk and ROI is key to getting executive buy-in. Cybersecurity isn’t just tech anymore — it’s a driver of trust and business growth.
This is true for any audience, at any level. Understand their world and talk in terms that are meaningful to them.
I fully agree with all the points, they're very well summarized! Ultimately, you have to "sell" both the risks & the countermeasures to get approval. The significance of the risks should be explained & understood in simple terms & the purpose and added value of improvement measures should be presented in business language.