Top executives unite – protect your business with cyber security efforts

TLDR:

• C-level executives are urged to collaborate on cyber security efforts within their organizations.
• Cyber security is a team sport that requires alignment between business leaders and security needs.

C-level business leaders, including CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs, are being encouraged to work together to support and sustain cyber security postures in their organizations. This was emphasized at the ITWeb Security Summit Johannesburg where technology professionals highlighted the importance of collaboration at the executive level. Dr Machiniba Sylvia Sathekge from SNG Grant Thornton discussed the need for teamwork in cyber security, stressing the importance of aligning business leaders with security needs without hindering innovation.

Megaree Naraidoo from Safety SA mentioned that strategic alignment in cyber security is only possible if there is a comprehensive understanding of the business strategy. Conrad Roos from TFG emphasized the importance of continuous awareness and education in enhancing cyber security postures.

The panelists agreed that cyber security is everyone’s responsibility and that all stakeholders have a role to play within the cybersecurity ecosystem. It was highlighted that CTOs and CIOs play crucial roles in protecting the organization and should support the CISO. Nelesh Baichan from Tiger Brands emphasized the need for open dialogue and resource sharing to avoid working in silos.

The key takeaway from the discussion was the importance of proactive incident response and the implementation of a cohesive strategy that includes cyber resilience policies, appropriate tools, cyber crisis programs, and basic security measures like multifactor authentication and software patching. The consensus was that business leaders need to cooperate, collaborate, and cocreate to mitigate cyber risks effectively.