We have been attending some recent meetings. At one event, one person was discussing that “cyber” seemed daunting. In about 10 minutes later, they had a better understanding of what cyber is more about. We are not expecting all the C-level staff to understand the ins and outs of cyber, so what is it about really?
We went through some quick examples, rephrased what it meant to the business and I asked, “if you were the CEO what would be your decision”, and they responded in a reasonable and logical decision that I would expect about something that was initially “cyber”.
Cybersecurity Is Not About “Cyber”—It’s About Managing Data Risk
What I find most is that when people hear the word “cybersecurity,” they often think of firewalls, antivirus software, and hackers in dark rooms. While technology plays a role, true cybersecurity is not about “cyber” at all!
We do not buy a phone, put in a long passcode, lock down what is displayed, lockdown tracking and any other relevant security features because IT says so. We put it on, to help protect the world’s most valuable asset – data. I want to protect the business data, I want to protect my photos etc.
Specifically, it is about managing the risks associated with having that data.
We run a course about cyber security, and one of the very first things we cover is the CIA… and some basic examples of failed controls.
Confidential: Who has access to it, what happens if it falls into the wrong hands (such as you did not protect the data in transmission).
Integrity: Maintaining the correctness of that data. What happens if it is not correct. (such as the programming code was wrong, or one part of the database was deleted).
Availability: Keeping it available so systems and users have access to it. What happens if it is not available (such as the power system broke).
So… this is not a technology problem!
The Cybersecurity Illusion: It’s Not Just About Tech
Many organisations approach cybersecurity as an IT issue, expecting their technical teams to “handle it.” But security failures often stem from poor risk management, not just weak technology.
Consider these scenarios:
A company invests in expensive security software but fails to train employees on phishing attacks, leading to a data breach.
A healthcare provider encrypts patient records but grants excessive access privileges, allowing an insider threat to go undetected.
A retailer focuses on preventing network intrusions but ignores compliance requirements like PCI DSS, leaving them legally and financially exposed.
In each case, the real issue is not just cyber—it’s how data is managed, who is responsible, and what risks are being overlooked.
Cybersecurity = Data Risk Management
So what is cyber security?
For us, cyber security is just a subset of data security, which is a falls underneath overall risk management.
At its core, cybersecurity is about understanding, assessing, and mitigating risks related to data. This means:
✅ Identifying critical assets: What data do you collect, process, and store? How valuable is it?
✅ Assessing threats: Who might want to steal, alter, or destroy your data? (Hackers, insiders, competitors?).
✅ Evaluating vulnerabilities: Where are your weak spots? (Poor password policies, unpatched systems, human errors, weak power system?)
✅ Applying controls: What measures can reduce the risks? (Encryption, access control, monitoring, training?)
✅ Ensuring compliance: What regulations and industry standards must be met? (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS?)
The Mindset Shift: Cybersecurity as a Business Priority
For executives, business owners, and security leaders, this shift in perspective is critical. Cybersecurity should not be an IT department afterthought—it should be a core part of business risk management which will influence your internal policies.
🔹 CFOs think about financial risk—so why shouldn’t they also consider cybersecurity risks that could lead to financial losses (or loss of potential revenue by not demonstrating to potential customers you meet good security standards)?
🔹 CEOs manage reputational risk—a data breach can destroy customer trust overnight.
🔹 Compliance teams mitigate legal risk—failure to secure data can lead to regulatory fines and lawsuits.
So again… this is not a technology problem!
Final Thoughts…
Organisations that treat cybersecurity as data risk management (not just an IT issue) are far better equipped to protect themselves. Investing in technology is important, but building a risk-aware culture is essential.
Security could be seen with little return on investment. The truth is that security not only helps you stay in business and minimise loss to maximise your bottom line, but can help you win new business when you can demonstrate security maturity.
🔐 Are you managing cybersecurity as part of your risk strategy? If not, it’s time to start. Contact us if we can help.