Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue. For boards and investors, it’s a matter of business continuity, valuation, and trust. The boardroom cannot delegate security blindly — it must ask the right questions and demand clear answers.
Here are five essential questions every board should ask management at least once a quarter:
1. What is our current risk level — and how has it changed?
Not just a list of vulnerabilities. The board needs a business-level view:
- Overall risk score or trend.
- Key incidents or near-misses.
- Whether risk is rising or declining.
2. What are our top three critical assets — and how are they protected?
Boards should know:
- Which systems or data are mission-critical.
- How these assets are monitored and defended.
- Whether contingency plans exist in case they fail.
3. How exposed are we to third-party risks?
Supply chain and vendor breaches are among the fastest-growing threats.
The board should ask:
- Which external partners have access to our systems or data.
- How those risks are being managed and reviewed.
4. How prepared are we for an incident in the next 24 hours?
Boards must test reality:
- Has the company run incident response simulations?
- Do we know who makes decisions under pressure?
- How fast can we restore operations after an attack?
5. Are we investing enough — and in the right areas?
Spending on cybersecurity isn’t about “how much,” but how smart:
- Are funds going to prevention, detection, or recovery?
- How does our investment compare to peers?
- Do we have measurable returns in reduced risk?
Final thought
Boards don’t need to understand every technical detail. But they must ask the right questions and insist on clear, business-focused answers. Because when a cyber incident hits, accountability doesn’t stop at the server room — it reaches the boardroom.
