CISO Presenting to the Board: Some suggestions for a deck

Presenting cybersecurity information to a board of directors can be daunting, especially for new Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs). With board members often focusing on governance, compliance, and risk management, crafting a clear, concise, and informative presentation is crucial. In this article, I provide a framework for creating a presentation deck tailored for a board of directors, highlighting the critical components that should be included to ensure effective communication and engagement. Every company and organization is different and many companies create slideuments. Consider this article a north star and adapt your delivery to your program and organization.

Slide Structure

• Title Slide: Your title slide introduces you to the board of directors, giving them your name, title, company name, and the presentation date. It’s the first impression and sets the context for the rest of the presentation. Since this deck may be a standalone document, ensure the information is clear and correctly formatted.
  • Title of the presentation, your name, title (CISO), company name, and date.
• Executive Summary Slide: This is a brief overview of the critical points in the presentation, tailored for stakeholders who might only go through some slides in detail. It should summarize the most essential takeaways, including the current state of cybersecurity, recent events, key risks, and future plans. Given the board’s strategic focus, this section is crucial to ensure they understand the most critical aspects of your security posture without delving into the details.
  • A brief overview of the key points is critical for stakeholders who might only go through some slides in detail.
• Current State of Security Slide: This section describes the organization’s cybersecurity posture. It includes any recent changes, events, or upgrades to your security infrastructure. This is important for the board because it provides a snapshot of where the company stands regarding security and helps them understand if the organization is moving in the right direction. Highlighting recent improvements or investments can give the board confidence in your leadership.
  • Overview of your organization’s cybersecurity posture.
  • Are any recent changes or events worth noting?
• Risk Assessment & Threat Landscape Slide: Here, you discuss the organization’s key risks and the broader threat landscape. This includes cyberattacks, data breaches, insider threats, and other significant risks. Understanding the risks is essential for the board to assess the organization’s vulnerability and decide on strategic priorities. Be sure to emphasize the likelihood and potential impact of each risk and how they relate to the organization’s risk appetite.
  • Summary of the critical risks facing the organization.
  • Top threats include cyberattacks, data breaches, insider threats, etc.
• Compliance and Regulatory Environment Slide: This section addresses compliance with applicable regulations like HIPAA, GDPR, or CCPA. It also includes your current compliance status and any recent audits or assessments. Boards are keenly interested in regulatory compliance due to the potential legal and financial implications. Presenting a clear picture of compliance helps the board ensure that the organization is not at risk of regulatory penalties or reputational damage.
  • Overview of applicable regulations (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA).
  • Current compliance status and recent audits, if any.
• Incident Response and Management Slide: Outline your incident response plan, highlighting any recent incidents and how they were addressed. Describe the steps taken to mitigate these incidents and the lessons learned. The board needs to know that the organization has robust response mechanisms to minimize the impact of security incidents. This section builds confidence in your ability to handle crises effectively.
  • Outline the incident response plan and any recent incidents.
  • Actions taken to address and mitigate those incidents.
• Key Security Initiatives and Projects Slide: This section lists current and upcoming cybersecurity projects, explaining how they align with business objectives. It must demonstrate to the board that cybersecurity efforts are strategically aligned with broader business goals. This section can also serve as a basis for justifying budget requests for future initiatives.
  • Current and upcoming cybersecurity projects.
  • How these projects align with business objectives.
• Metrics and KPIs Slide: Include relevant security metrics such as the number of incidents, Mean Time to Detect/Respond/Resolve, and employee training completion rates. Show trends over time to provide context. This section helps the board gauge the effectiveness of your security program and make data-driven decisions. Metrics can also indicate where improvements are needed.
  • Relevant security metrics (e.g., number of incidents, Mean Time to Detect/Respond/Resolve, employee training completion).
  • Trends over time.
• Security Awareness and Training Slide: Outline your organization’s employee training programs and effectiveness. This is important for the board because human error is often a significant factor in security incidents. Demonstrating a solid security awareness program can help the board understand the organization’s commitment to building a security-conscious culture.
  • Overview of employee training programs.
  • Current completion rates and effectiveness.
• Third-Party Risk Management Slide: Discuss how you manage third-party risks, such as those from vendors or partners. The board must understand that many breaches originate from third parties. Describe your due diligence processes and ongoing monitoring of third-party security.
  • Overview of third-party risks and how you are managing them.
• Investment and Budget Slide: Provide an overview of the cybersecurity budget, including justification for current spending and future needs. Boards must ensure that budgets are being used effectively and aligned with risk. This section should demonstrate a clear link between budget and security outcomes.
  • Overview of the cybersecurity budget.
  • Justification for budget allocation or future budgetary needs.
• Challenges and Opportunities Slide: Identify critical challenges and propose potential solutions. Discuss opportunities for improving cybersecurity posture. This section helps the board understand where the organization is struggling and where there are chances to innovate or improve. You can show the board that cybersecurity is a dynamic and evolving field by highlighting opportunities.
  • Key challenges and potential solutions.
  • Opportunities for improving cybersecurity posture.
• Q&A Slide: Provide a space for questions and additional discussion points. Even if you aren’t presenting live, offering a way for the board to ask questions or seek clarification shows that you’re open to feedback and discussion.
  • Space for questions and additional discussion points (if applicable).

Some Suggestions

Use Visuals Like Charts and Graphs to Make Data Easier to Understand

• Why Visuals Matter: Visual elements like charts, graphs, and infographics can help distill complex data into more understandable and engaging formats. This is especially useful for a board of directors who may need to be more familiar with technical details but need to grasp key concepts quickly.
• Types of Visuals: Consider using bar charts to show trends over time, pie charts to represent proportions, line graphs for showing changes, and infographics to illustrate processes or workflows. Diagrams can also be used to explain security architectures or data flows.
• Examples:
  • For “Metrics and KPIs,” use a line graph to show incident trends over time.
  • In “Risk Assessment & Threat Landscape,” use a pie chart to show the breakdown of different types of risks or threats.
  • In “Security Awareness and Training,” a bar chart can illustrate training completion rates across different departments.
• Design Tips: Ensure visuals are straightforward, with appropriate labeling and legends. Use color wisely to highlight essential elements without confusing.

Keep Text Concise, Focusing on Bullet Points Rather Than Long Paragraphs

• Importance of Conciseness: Board members typically have limited time to review materials, so brevity is key. Bullet points are easier to scan quickly than paragraphs.
• How to Implement:
  • Limit each slide to 3-5 bullet points, each with a concise statement or question.
  • Avoid lengthy explanations; use keywords and key phrases that capture the main ideas.
  • Use short, simple sentences to maintain clarity.
• Examples:
  • In “Compliance and Regulatory Environment,” use bullet points to list key regulations and your current compliance status.
  • In “Incident Response and Management,” outline the key steps in your incident response process in bullet points.
  • In “Challenges and Opportunities,” list the main challenges and potential solutions briefly.

Use Consistent Formatting and Design for a Professional Look

• Why Consistency Matters: Consistent formatting helps maintain a professional appearance and makes the presentation easier to follow. It reduces distractions caused by varying styles and keeps the focus on content.
• Best Practices:
  • Use a consistent color scheme throughout the deck. This might align with your company’s branding or use neutral colors for a formal look.
  • Maintain uniform font styles and sizes. Typically, slide headings are larger (e.g., 28-32 pt), while body text is smaller (e.g., 18-24 pt).
  • Ensure consistent alignment and spacing. Use slide layout templates to keep elements in order.
  • Keep a consistent structure for each section. For example, start each section with a heading slide followed by detailed content slides.
• Examples:
  • If using bullet points, ensure the same bullet style and indentation are used throughout.
  • If using visuals, maintain a consistent color scheme for all charts and graphs.
  • Align text and images in a way that is visually appealing and doesn’t look cluttered.

Include Contact Information for Follow-Up Questions or Further Discussions

• Why Contact Information Is Important: Providing contact information shows that you’re open to further discussions and allows board members to follow up with additional questions. It fosters a sense of transparency and approachability.
• What to Include:
  • Your name, title, and company email address.
  • Consider including a phone number or other preferred method of contact.
  • If relevant, provide contact information for key team members who might also be involved in addressing board inquiries.
• Where to Place Contact Information:
  • Include it on the title slide for immediate reference.
  • Add it to the final slide, especially if it’s a Q&A slide or conclusion.
  • You might also consider adding contact information in the footer of each slide for consistent visibility.

Some Recommendations

Know Your Audience

• Understanding Your Audience: The Audit Committee typically consists of board members with varied backgrounds, often with a focus on governance, compliance, and financial oversight. It’s essential to gauge their technical expertise to tailor your presentation accordingly. Avoid overloading them with technical jargon, but provide enough detail to convey the necessary information.
• How to Implement:
  • Use simple language to explain complex concepts.
  • Consider the backgrounds and roles of your audience members. If they have finance or legal expertise, frame cybersecurity in terms of risk and compliance. If they have technical backgrounds, you can delve deeper into specific security measures.
  • Be prepared to answer questions that might require further explanation, and have additional details available if needed.

Focus on Risks and Solutions

• Why This Is Important: Boards are responsible for ensuring the organization’s stability and success, and understanding risks is a crucial part of their role. However, boards don’t just want to know about problems; they want to see that there are effective solutions.
• How to Implement:
  • In the “Risk Assessment & Threat Landscape” section, list the key risks, but also outline your risk mitigation strategies.
  • Use real-world examples or case studies to illustrate how similar risks have been effectively managed.
  • Highlight ongoing security initiatives aimed at reducing risks and improving security posture.
• Examples:
  • If a risk is a potential data breach, explain the security measures in place, like encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular security audits.
  • For insider threats, discuss your monitoring systems and employee training programs.

Be Transparent

• Why Transparency Matters: Boards value honesty and openness. If there have been weaknesses or recent incidents, acknowledging them fosters trust and demonstrates accountability.
• How to Implement:
  • Address incidents and weaknesses in the “Incident Response and Management” section. Explain what happened, how it was resolved, and what measures have been taken to prevent recurrence.
  • If there are areas where your security posture is still developing, be upfront about them, but also share your plans to address those gaps.
  • Avoid sugarcoating or minimizing serious issues. It’s better to be honest and show a clear path toward improvement.
• Examples:
  • If there was a data breach, explain how it was detected, what immediate actions were taken, and how you communicated with affected stakeholders.
  • If there is a compliance gap, describe your roadmap for achieving compliance and any interim measures to reduce risk.

Practice Conciseness

• Why Conciseness Is Key: Boards often have packed agendas, so they appreciate presentations that are concise and to the point. This is especially crucial if the deck is meant to be read without you there to explain it.
• How to Implement:
  • Limit each slide to a few key points, avoiding information overload.
  • Use bullet points or short sentences instead of long paragraphs.
  • Ensure that the deck flows logically, with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
  • If additional details are needed, consider including an appendix or supplementary materials.
• Examples:
  • Instead of a long explanation of a security initiative, use a bullet-point list to summarize its key objectives, benefits, and expected outcomes.
  • For compliance updates, provide a simple status overview rather than detailed reports.

Use Visuals

• Why Visuals Are Effective: Visuals can break up text-heavy slides, making information more engaging and easier to understand. They are particularly useful when presenting complex data or trends.
• How to Implement:
  • Use charts, graphs, and infographics to illustrate key points.
  • Ensure visuals are clear, with appropriate labeling and legends.
  • Avoid cluttering slides with too many visuals. Keep a balance between text and graphics.
• Examples:
  • Use a bar chart to show the trend of security incidents over time.
  • An infographic can be used to depict the incident response process.
  • A pie chart can show the distribution of different types of risks.

Include Contact Information

• Why Contact Information Is Important: Providing contact information allows board members to reach out with follow-up questions or requests for further information. It reinforces your openness to ongoing communication.
• How to Implement:
  • Include your name, title, company email address, and phone number.
  • If relevant, add contact information for key team members, such as those responsible for specific security initiatives or compliance.
  • Place contact information on the title slide and the final slide for easy access.
• Examples:
  • Include your contact information on the Q&A slide to encourage further dialogue.
  • Add a footer with your email address on each slide for consistent visibility.

What about autonomy and transparency?
When preparing a presentation for a board of directors, CISOs often face the challenge of navigating multiple stakeholders with varying opinions and priorities. When everyone wants to edit your presentation, it can impact your autonomy and potentially dilute your message. Here are some suggestions on how to manage this situation while maintaining control over your presentation’s content and integrity:

1. Establish Clear Ownership

Make it clear from the start that the presentation is your responsibility, and you are accountable for its accuracy and relevance. This can help set boundaries around who has the final say in what goes into the deck.

2. Seek Early Input

Engage key stakeholders early in the process to gather their input and understand their expectations. This proactive approach can reduce the need for significant changes later on, minimizing the risk of last-minute edits.

3. Define the Scope

Outline the presentation’s goals and scope upfront, emphasizing that the content should focus on cybersecurity-related topics. This helps prevent unrelated or irrelevant suggestions from making their way into the deck.

4. Create a Feedback Process

Establish a structured feedback process with clear timelines. For example, allow a specific time window for stakeholders to submit suggestions or questions, then review and incorporate them as appropriate. This approach keeps the feedback manageable and prevents a free-for-all editing scenario.

5. Prioritize Critical Feedback

Differentiate between critical feedback (e.g., factual accuracy, compliance issues) and subjective feedback (e.g., style preferences, minor wording changes). Give priority to feedback that affects the core content or could lead to board confusion or misunderstanding.

6. Communicate the Rationale

Explain your choices and the rationale behind them to stakeholders. If they understand why you’ve structured the presentation a certain way or included specific points, they may be less likely to push for unnecessary changes.

7. Build Relationships

Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders, such as the CIO, CFO, or internal auditors. When they trust your expertise and judgment, they are more likely to respect your autonomy and defer to your decisions.

8. Negotiate Diplomatically

If someone insists on edits that you believe are inappropriate or out of scope, negotiate diplomatically. Offer alternative solutions or explain the risks of incorporating their suggestions. Maintain a cooperative attitude while standing your ground on critical points.

9. Document Changes

Keep track of all changes made to the presentation and document why they were implemented. This can be useful for reference later if questions arise about specific content or decisions.

10. Seek Executive Support

If you encounter persistent challenges with autonomy, seek support from a senior executive, such as the CEO or a board member. They can help mediate disagreements and reinforce your role as the CISO responsible for cybersecurity content.

By implementing these suggestions, you can maintain autonomy over your presentation while balancing the need for stakeholder input and collaboration. This approach allows you to deliver a compelling presentation that aligns with your goals and meets the expectations of the board.

Conclusion

As you prepare to present cybersecurity insights to your board of directors, remember that clarity, transparency, and relevance are your guiding principles. A well-structured deck not only informs but also builds trust with board members who rely on your expertise to understand the complexities of cybersecurity. By focusing on the critical components outlined in this guide, you can deliver a presentation that resonates with the board and drives informed decision-making.

The key to success is tailoring your presentation to your audience. Board members come from diverse backgrounds, so keep your language simple and avoid jargon. Highlight the risks but also present the solutions. This approach reassures the board that you are aware of potential threats and proactively addressing them. By demonstrating that your security initiatives are aligned with business goals, you underscore the strategic importance of cybersecurity in supporting the organization’s broader objectives.

Visuals play a crucial role in making complex data accessible. Use charts, graphs, and infographics to convey trends, risks, and performance metrics. This keeps the presentation engaging and allows board members to grasp key information quickly. Conciseness is essential, as board meetings are often packed with agenda items. Focus on bullet points, short sentences, and straightforward explanations to maintain clarity and ensure your deck can stand alone if needed.

In conclusion, the success of your presentation hinges on effective communication, transparency, and a focus on solutions. Be open about challenges but show a clear path to overcoming them. Consistency in formatting and contact information fosters a professional appearance and allows board members to reach out with questions or follow-up discussions. By following these guidelines, you can create a compelling presentation that meets the board’s expectations and helps advance your organization’s cybersecurity goals.