What is a cybersecurity report?
A cybersecurity report presents critical information about cybersecurity threats, risks within a digital ecosystem, gaps in security controls, and the performance of security programs. Cybersecurity reports help to foster data-driven communication between boards, executives, security and risks leaders, and security practitioners to ensure that all parties are working together to enhance security programs and mitigate risk.
Essential elements of a cybersecurity report
The content in a cybersecurity report is determined by the audience. Boards and executives require high level metrics that provide an overview of security performance and flag significant risk exposure. Security and risk leaders require more detailed reports that help to identify the largest areas of risk and prioritize investment and resources. Security practitioners require data that can help to remediate specific issues and identify the optimal course of action to improve cybersecurity posture.
Protecting the organization with cybersecurity reports
As the volume and sophistication of cyberattacks continue to grow, risk-based security reporting has become an indispensable tool for security and risk management professionals. Effective communication between all levels of an organization – from security teams and risk managers to the C-suite and the board – is essential to managing risk, refining security programs, and protecting the organization. A risk-based cybersecurity report enables stakeholders to assess performance based on actual exposure to cyber threats while providing context, highlighting the success of security efforts, and ensuring that resources and investments are aligned with goals.
Bitsight Security Ratings provide concise data and meaningful context for risk-based reporting on security performance and third-party risk. Leveraging the objective, verifiable data provided by Bitsight, organizations can produce cybersecurity reports that allow stakeholders at all levels of an organization to focus on the most significant issues and work together to mitigate risk and defend against threats.
Risk-based cybersecurity report best practices
Risk-based cybersecurity reporting is distinct from compliance-based, incident-based, or comprehensive reporting. Risk-based cyber security reports are the type of communication that is best-suited to reduce an organization’s actual exposure to cyber threats. A risk-based approach to reporting ensures that everyone from the board to practitioners on security teams can stay focused on the most significant issues and the highest priority actions required to reduce exposure to cyber threats.
Risk-based cybersecurity reports are guided by several best practices:
Show risk first
Highest risk items should be front and center in the report to ensure they command the attention that they require.
Assign scores
Assigning a risk score to key findings or recommendations can help non-technical readers to interpret findings and compare priorities.
Provide context
Putting findings in context by comparing metrics to past performance, peers, and competitors helps everyone to focus on aligning resources with the highest priorities for risk mitigation.
Show ramifications
Framing risk in business terms can help executives and leaders understand the implications of findings.
Report often
Reporting on critical items frequently or implementing continuous reporting dashboards ensures that the items most in need of attention and resources will get them.
