Leadership Culture: The Cornerstone of Effective Cybersecurity

As we step into Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it's a timely reminder of the crucial role cybersecurity plays in our increasingly digital world. Beyond technical defenses, a key area that is often overlooked is the culture of leadership within organizations. In previous articles, we referenced this as “getting the board on board.” Fostering a cybersecurity-aware leadership culture is paramount to effectively managing the risks that threaten businesses today.

To help address this business challenge, we are offering three Cy-Bear-security Essentials:

CyBear Essential #1: Integrate Cybersecurity into Business Strategy

To ensure cybersecurity is truly effective, it must be woven into the fabric of the overall business strategy. Security decisions should not be confined to IT departments but should be considered at the highest levels of business planning. By integrating cybersecurity strategically, it becomes a core business priority, aligned with the organization’s goals and resources. Companies that successfully embed cybersecurity into their strategy are more resilient, able to respond swiftly to emerging threats, and better positioned to safeguard their assets and reputation.

Cybersecurity plays an integral part in every industry, including those that serve our four-legged friends. We reached out to Sonja Hammond, chief information security officer with NVA General Practice (NVA GP), for her insights on this topic. For those of you unfamiliar with NVA GP, they are a leading provider of pet care, with 1,000 veterinary hospitals across the United States and Canada. Their more than 20,000 team members and more than 5,000 veterinarians care for more than eight million animals each year by delivering the highest quality medicine and services. Hammond is known for her ability to translate complex security challenges into actionable business strategies. Under her leadership, NVA GP has significantly enhanced its cybersecurity by integrating robust security measures into its business practices. She emphasizes that cybersecurity is often misunderstood, yet the consequences of neglecting it have started to resonate with many, particularly those who have experienced data breaches firsthand.

“The growing awareness of high-profile breaches—such as those at Target, Equifax, and the Colonial Pipeline—has shifted the narrative from cybersecurity being an IT-only concern to a critical business issue,” Hammond said. 

She notes that this shift in perspective is due to increased leadership involvement, which has led to better funding and visibility for cybersecurity efforts.

Today, with most executives being familiar with major data breaches and vulnerabilities, it's becoming clear that businesses must take cybersecurity seriously. 

“The move towards a top-down approach, where leadership is active proponents, is driving more visibility into cyber protections,” Hammond said. 

Hammond’s approach integrates cybersecurity into every facet of the NVA GP business strategy. This includes not only technological defenses but also fostering a company-wide culture of security awareness. The results have been tangible: stronger defenses, a more resilient business model, and enhanced trust from clients and partners.

CyBear Essential #2: Implement Proactive Risk Management

Proactive risk management is essential in today's ever-changing threat landscape. Proactive risk management is a business decision and essential in today's ever-changing threat landscape. Regular security assessments, penetration testing, and the use of advanced tools are necessary to identify and mitigate potential risks before they can be exploited. By adopting a proactive approach, organizations can stay ahead of cyber threats, reducing their vulnerability and enhancing their overall security posture. 

The decision to prioritize begins with leadership. Investing in regular assessments can help identify proactive measures to reduce risk. Traditional methods often relied on “something” or “someone” to dictate action. An example of “something” would be a response to a compliance requirement, and an example of “someone” would be a response to an incident. Implementing a proactive approach enables visibility and planning, helping support decision-making aligned with business goals and objectives.

CyBear Essential #3: Be BearAware

You might be wondering, what exactly is BearAware? At Baylor, “BearAware” is the catchy slogan aimed at boosting cybersecurity awareness. With Cybersecurity Awareness Month approaching, organizations are looking for ways to drive awareness and keep employees engaged. Employees are the first line of defense in cybersecurity, making their awareness and training vital. Often, the importance of awareness is underestimated and assumed to be covered in training. In previous articles, we have highlighted the need to “get the board on board,” and employee awareness directly reflects the organization’s culture. Just like proactive risk management, a security-aware culture starts with leadership buy-in and commitment. 

Hammond emphasizes that a company-wide culture of security awareness goes beyond training—it’s about continuous communication and ensuring every employee understands and accepts their role in protecting the organization and its customers. The aim is for everyone to take pride in this effort, driving accountability and a relentless pursuit of protection.

Testing employee awareness is another key strategy to foster a security-aware culture. Ongoing education and simulation exercises, like phishing tests, are crucial for keeping employees informed and vigilant against evolving threats. A well-trained workforce can significantly reduce the risk of security breaches by becoming more adept at recognizing and responding to potential threats.

Summing it up

By leveraging these three CyBear Essentials—integrating cybersecurity into the business strategy, implementing proactive risk management, and making everyone BearAware —businesses can build a robust defense against the ever-evolving threats. In today’s dynamic cybersecurity environment, staying ahead of threats requires vigilance, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Leadership, culture, and proactive strategies are the keys to protecting your business and securing its future. We hope you enjoyed this quarter’s edition of CyBear Essentials, and we look forward to one more to close out 2024!