The Golden Rule of vCSO Communication: Visibility

Does the executive team you work with understand the security measures you're taking on their behalf?

Maybe? Maybe not?

If executive communication is just an afterthought, a check-the-box task you push to the bottom of your to-do list, you’re putting your entire engagement at risk. 

Executive communication is your lifeline.  If you’re not regularly in front of the executive team, they’ll assume you’re not doing anything at all. And when budgets tighten or a competitor whispers in their ear, guess who’s first on the chopping block? 

It’s not that executives don’t care about security; it’s that they don’t see it. A staggering 91% of executives say they are highly concerned about cybersecurity threats, yet only 14% of them feel confident their organization is adequately protected. That gap? That’s your responsibility to close. 

How to Embed Executive Communication into Your vCSO Program  

Many vCSOs assume results speak for themselves. They don’t. In the absence of clear, ongoing communication, your contributions become invisible. And when the CFO or CEO doesn’t see value, they start looking elsewhere. Maybe they start looking at an outside auditor, a security vendor pitching a shiny new tool, or a compliance consultant questioning their cybersecurity posture.  

A security program without executive engagement is a security program at risk. From day one, you need a structured communication cadence to ensure cybersecurity remains a leadership priority. 

Set the cadence early and demonstrate the value: 

• Quarterly Updates: Show progress, highlight risks, and demonstrate ROI. 

• Bi-Annual Board Presentations: Cybersecurity is a board-level issue. You should be the go-to voice on risk and compliance. 

• Ad-Hoc Check-Ins: When cyber threats emerge, be the first to sound the alarm. 

Be Heard, Be Trusted: Turning Executive Meetings into Must-Attends 

Executives don’t want a technical deep dive. They want clarity, impact, and actionable insights. If your updates don’t answer these three questions, you’ve lost them: 

1. What’s our biggest security risk right now? 

2. What would a breach cost us? 

3. What do we need to do next? 
   

Here’s how to make your updates indispensable: 

• Leverage Your Primary Contact – Get a recurring time slot locked in. 

• Attach to Existing Meetings – Don’t ask for new time; carve out 15-20 minutes in an existing leadership meeting. 

• Make It Business-Relevant – Talk in terms of financial, legal, and operational risk—not tech jargon. 
  

Stick to 15 minutes. Cover these six essentials: 

1. Cybersecurity Status – A clear snapshot of the company’s security health. 

2. Recent Incidents & Lessons – Industry breaches and takeaways. 

3. Assessment Findings – Key vulnerabilities and remediation efforts. 

4. Security Projects – Progress on critical initiatives. 

5. Threat Intelligence – Major cyber threats specific to their industry. 

6. Open Discussion – Address executive concerns in plain business terms. 

Pro Tip: Make this the most valuable 15 minutes of their quarter. If they aren’t looking forward to your updates, you’re doing it wrong. 

Beyond the Meetings: Staying Visible Between Updates 

Cybersecurity isn’t a quarterly topic. It’s an ongoing priority. To keep executives engaged between meetings: 

1. Deliver Strategic Threat Intelligence 

2. Don’t spam them with every industry alert. 

3. Instead, send curated updates: “A competitor just suffered a breach due to X. Here’s why we’re protected.” 

4. Enforce Cyber Hygiene at the Top 

5. If executives ignore security protocols, employees will follow their lead. 

6. Reinforce their role in security awareness training and compliance. 

7. Show Measurable Progress 

8. Executives care about results. Use dashboards to show risk reduction, phishing simulation improvements, and compliance adherence. 

9. Cybersecurity is an investment. Make sure they see the ROI. 
   

Imagine this: 

 You’ve built a strong security program, mitigated risks, and ensured compliance. Then, an outside auditor walks in, points out “gaps” (some real, some irrelevant), and suddenly the executives are questioning everything. 

Why? 

Because they didn’t see your work. You failed to communicate your value before someone else cast doubt on it. 

This happens all the time. Not because vCSOs fail in execution, but because they fail in visibility. 

Cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls and phishing tests. It’s about business survival. The vCSOs who understand that the real battle is for executive mindshare are the ones who win. If you’re not in control of the cybersecurity conversation, someone else will be. Are you ready for that? 

Next Steps 

• Lock in your quarterly executive updates now. 

• Use business impact, not technical jargon, to drive urgency. 

• Stay visible between meetings with curated security updates. 

• Make cybersecurity a leadership priority at every level. 

Your role isn’t just about protecting their business. It’s about protecting yours. If executives don’t see your value, they won’t value you for long.