"But we're secure, right?"
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard this question from business executives—often right after recommending additional security measures. The assumption goes something like this: “We pay you a monthly fee, so you’ve got all the risk covered.”
As much as I’d love to wave a magic wand and make every cyber risk disappear for our clients, security doesn’t work that way.
Security Is a Business Risk—Not Just an IT Problem
While preparing for my CISSP certification, I’ve been revisiting the guidance from ISC2—the International Information System Security Certification Consortium. As one of the most respected organizations in the world for setting standards in information security, their principles form the backbone of many frameworks that businesses rely on today.
One of their most important points? Ultimate accountability for security always rests with senior leadership—the CEO, business owner, and/or board of directors. That’s because cybersecurity isn’t just a technical problem—it’s a business risk.
Responsibility Doesn’t Stop at the Top
Here’s the part that often gets overlooked: responsibility for security is shared across the entire organization. Every employee—from the front desk receptionist to every executive in the C-suite—has a role in protecting company assets.
Security isn’t a “set it and forget it” service you can completely outsource. Yes, your MSP or IT team can:
- Implement tools
- Monitor systems
- Respond to threats
But they can’t control human behavior, daily processes, or strategic priorities. Those come from within your organization, and they’re often the deciding factor in whether your security strategy succeeds or fails.
The Four Pillars of Strong Security Programs
The most effective security strategies combine:
- Leadership Accountability
- Setting the tone at the top
- Approving budgets for security initiatives
- Prioritizing cybersecurity as a core business function
- Value Protection and Enablement
- Safeguarding trust, intellectual property, and operational continuity
- Enabling growth and innovation without introducing unnecessary risk
- Employee Responsibility
- Following best practices
- Staying vigilant
- Understanding their role in reducing risk
- Partner Support
- Leveraging expert guidance, proactive monitoring, and incident response
- Staying ahead of evolving cyber threats
Security Is a Team Sport
Technology is powerful—but it’s only as strong as the people and processes behind it. True security comes from a partnership between leadership, employees, and technology providers.
When everyone plays their part, security is bigger than a box you check—it becomes a competitive advantage.
