When presenting a critical security risk to a non-technical executive, clarity and relevance are key. Here’s how to make the urgency understood: 1️⃣ Focus on Business Impact: Explain the risk in terms of potential outcomes—data breaches, financial losses, or reputational damage. Avoid technical jargon. 2️⃣ Quantify the Threat: Use metrics like cost estimates, downtime projections, or regulatory fines to highlight the risk's significance. 3️⃣ Propose Solutions: Present clear, actionable steps to mitigate the risk, including resource requirements and timelines. 4️⃣ Highlight Precedents: Reference similar incidents in the industry to underscore the risk’s relevance. Effective communication ensures informed decision-making and swift action.

Gosto da abordagem com storytelling, utilizando analogias de forma a contornar sutilmente os jargões técnicos. Importante apresentar a visão de probabilidade e impacto, sendo este em tecnologia mas também financeiro, operacional, legal e, eventualmente, reputacional. Sempre que possível, agregar perdas esperadas em termos financeiros, conectando com a linguagem de executivos. Muitas vezes, riscos quando materializados podem levar a sanções regulatórias, especialmente em setores mais fortemente regulados e também nos casos de leis de proteção de dados pessoais. Fundamental apresentar a estratégia indicada para mitigar tal risco, inclusive com a relação de investimento necessário x perda esperada, demonstrando as vantagens dessa escolha.

When presenting a critical security risk to a non-technical executive, focus on the business impact. Avoid technical jargon and explain how the risk could lead to issues like financial loss, operational downtime, or reputational damage. Use relatable examples or comparisons to make the problem clear. Provide a concise risk assessment with potential costs and consequences, and emphasize the urgency. Suggest clear, actionable steps to address the issue, demonstrating that you have a proactive plan. This approach ensures understanding and supports prompt decision-making.

Even if they're non-technical, they understand business impact. I explain the risk in terms of business logic—how not fixing it could lead to downtime, financial loss, or damage to the company's reputation through bad reviews.

Start with the Business Impact: Explain how the security risk could affect the business. For example, mention potential financial losses, reputational damage, legal implications, or operational disruptions Briefly explain how the risk was discovered and why it is critical. This helps the executive understand the seriousness of the situation. Emphasize why immediate action is necessary. Use specific timeframes to convey the urgency. Offer to provide regular updates and be available to answer any questions they might have.

🚨 During a board meeting, Priya, a cybersecurity expert, calmly told the CEO, "Imagine locking our office at night but leaving the main vault wide open—this is what this vulnerability does to our data." 🔓 Her analogy hit hard, prompting immediate action. 📊 Clear communication bridges the gap between tech risks and business priorities, ensuring swift and decisive responses. 💡

Quando descubro um risco de segurança, minha prioridade é traduzir a complexidade técnica em uma mensagem clara, concisa e orientada para o impacto nos negócios. Começo destacando o que está em jogo, utilizando termos que o executivo compreenda, como reputação, continuidade das operações, confiança dos clientes e implicações financeiras. Por exemplo, em vez de descrever vulnerabilidades técnicas, eu explico que “há uma brecha que pode permitir acesso não autorizado aos dados sensíveis dos clientes, o que pode resultar em multas significativas sob a LGPD e em perda de confiança no mercado”. Assim, conecto o problema diretamente aos objetivos e prioridades estratégicas da empresa.

Para transmitir la urgencia de un riesgo de seguridad crítico a un ejecutivo no técnico, enfoque su comunicación en el impacto directo al negocio. Utilice un lenguaje claro, evitando tecnicismos, y explique cómo el riesgo puede afectar aspectos clave como la reputación, las finanzas o la continuidad operativa. Presente un ejemplo concreto o un caso reciente que resalte las consecuencias de no actuar. Proponga soluciones prácticas con costos y beneficios, enfatizando el retorno en términos de mitigación del riesgo. Finalmente, subraye la necesidad de actuar con rapidez para proteger los intereses estratégicos de la organización, posicionándose como un aliado para la toma de decisiones.

When explaining a critical security risk to a non-technical executive, focus on impact and urgency in business terms. Use clear, relatable language: “This vulnerability could expose sensitive data, leading to financial losses, regulatory fines, or reputational damage.” Quantify the risk if possible, such as the potential cost of a breach or downtime. Highlight immediate actions needed: “We must patch this within 24 hours to prevent exploitation.” Keep the message concise, emphasize the importance of swift action, and reassure them with a clear plan to mitigate the risk. This approach ensures understanding and prompt decision-making.

In my experience, the key to bridging the technical-executive gap is to align the risk with the organization's goals and priorities. I often start by framing the issue in terms of business impact—such as revenue loss, regulatory fines, or reputational harm—while avoiding unnecessary technical jargon. Visual aids like charts or concise analogies can illustrate the risk vividly. Additionally, proposing clear, prioritized mitigation steps shows you’re not just raising alarms but also driving solutions. This combination builds trust and prompts swift action. Always conclude with a call for immediate measures, emphasizing that delays could magnify costs or damage.