Today, the problem of cybersecurity has turned into a top issue for organisations in various industries. As the cyber landscape changes rapidly and cybercriminals continually develop sophisticated methods of attack, the leaders in the corporate departments have a responsibility to establish a common language in cyber security matters to protect their organisations more effectively (Jan 2018). A common language that fits this purpose would thus provide the basis for coordinating, collaborating, and promoting cybersecurity culture. A lack of common understanding of cybersecurity terminology, risks, and best security practices may make it difficult for business leaders to make the right decisions and deliver the correct security measures to mitigate cyber threats.
To ensure uniform communication about cybersecurity, the leaders can start by introducing education and training programs. Leaders can ensure the full participation of all the organization’s stakeholders, from the C-suite to the frontline workers, and make sure that everyone has the basics of cyber security principles by providing full-scope training programs. Such education must include basic topics such as risk factors, risk management strategies, and the benefits of observing cybersecurity policies and procedures. Also, leaders should set the tone through their actions and personal communications that show commitment to cybersecurity and influence others to do the same.
Leaders must also set a precedent for communication in interdepartmental and inter-stakeholder relationships in cybersecurity, leading to a systematic approach. Through establishing communication channels and reporting mechanisms, responsible leaders can update the employees about cybersecurity, share their findings and experiences, and recommend the best practices within the organization (Hughes et al., 2020). The partnership creates a culture where every employee is involved in the various aspects of security; thus, identified and addressed cyber threats are managed as a collective responsibility. Ultimately, education, communication, and collaboration can be the foundation for cybersecurity leaders to develop in their organisations. Thus, they will become extremely capable of handling the cybersecurity landscape fairly and with lots of confidence.
Verizon’s CEO’s approach to work
Verizon’s CEO, Hans Vestberg, shows the practical and future-oriented conduct of work, concentrating on strategic innovation and cost-effective implementation to ensure business success. One of the things that defines his leadership style is his doctrine of investing heavily in new technologies and infrastructure in the areas of 5G and digital transformation (Pearlson et al., 2022). With this strategy, Vestberg guarantees that Verizon will always stay ahead of technological progress, meaning the company can offer its customers the highest-quality innovative solutions. Furthermore, Vestberg can create a collaborative culture and effective accountability in the company, which empowers the employees to own their work and creates positive outcomes. Vestberg’s strategic vision, technological investments, and the underlying team culture make him a very important part of the company’s pursuit of long-term success in a highly competitive market.
As the CEO of TisTok, the top of my agenda would be to improve the company’s cybersecurity. First, I would perform a detailed cybersecurity risk assessment that would enable me to identify the potential vulnerabilities and threats within the organization’s systems and network infrastructure (Hughes et al., 2020). The evaluation will inform us about the most dangerous cybersecurity risks the company faces, which will also help us prioritize our risk mitigation in terms of urgency. Also, I would launch an organization-wide cybersecurity awareness and training programme to educate the employees on common cybersecurity threats, best practices, and why they should stick to the security policies and procedures. Employees can be empowered through knowledge and tools; thus, cyberattacks can be greatly mitigated. Finally, I would develop many strong cybersecurity policies and procedures with technologies like multi-factor authentication, software updates, and data encryption to protect our system from cyberattacks and meet industry regulations and standards. Through these preemptive measures, I aim to establish a culture of cybersecurity resilience and protect our assets, reputation, and the trust of our customers.
References
Hughes, J., Aycock, S., Caines, A., Buttery, P., & Hutchings, A. (2020). Detecting Trending Terms in Cybersecurity Forum Discussions. Www.repository.cam.ac.uk. https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/items/5bab5643-4812-4797-ab24-6ad3e1eab0f1
Jan. (2018). Cybersecurity for Everyone. Springer EBooks, 571–583. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-21655-9_40
Pearlson, K. et al. (2022). ‘How Verizon media built a Cybersecurity Culture,’ MIS Quarterly Executive, pp. 165–183. doi:10.17705/2msqe.00064.