When you’re standing up a cybersecurity program from scratch, one of the most critical (and often underestimated) steps is securing executive sponsorship. Not just once, at the kickoff meeting, but continuously — in a way that lasts beyond the first phishing report or compliance deadline.
You need a champion at the top. Someone who will vouch for you in budget meetings, translate your concerns in strategy sessions, and fight for security initiatives when other priorities start crowding the table.
Here’s what I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) about how to earn that sponsorship — and how to keep it alive:
🗣 Speak Their Language — Risk, Not Tech
The fastest way to lose an executive’s attention? Start the conversation with acronyms and packet captures.
When I first started building programs, I thought being “technical” made me credible. And sure, sometimes it helps. But credibility with leadership isn’t built on jargon. It’s built on trust, relevance, and business alignment.
Frame your message in terms they understand:
- What would this vulnerability mean for revenue?
- How could this risk slow down operations?
- Are we at risk of non-compliance penalties or customer churn?
A good rule of thumb: If the CFO wouldn’t bring it up at a board meeting, reframe it. You’re not just securing endpoints. You’re protecting product delivery, customer trust, and the company’s reputation.
Some execs will surprise you — they pick up on risks quickly once the business impact is clear. So meet them where they are. Speak their language, not yours.
📊 Report Value, Not Activity
It’s tempting to rattle off numbers like how many systems were patched last month or how many phishing emails you blocked — and that’s fine, but only if you tie it to impact.
Here’s something I heard at a conference once that stuck:
“100 critical assets patched in 30 days” is a stat.
“We reduced the window where attackers could hit our crown jewels by a month or less, beating our industry benchmarks by 15 days!” is a story.
Executives care about outcomes. Instead of saying “we ran a vulnerability scan,” say “we eliminated an avenue for ransomware to halt production.”
Instead of “we implemented MFA,” say “we reduced the chance of unauthorized access to payroll data by over 90%.”
Focus on the so what. That’s what lands.
👀 Stay Visible
Security is easy to ignore when it’s quiet. But that’s a dangerous place to be.
I’ve seen teams that work hard behind the scenes but end up sidelined because nobody knows what they’re doing. Eventually, someone else defines the narrative — and often it’s “security slows things down” or “we haven’t had an incident, so we’re fine.”
Regular, digestible updates are key. Think:
- Monthly threat briefings (lightweight but informative)
- Dashboards that show progress against risks
- Executive “state of the union” briefs on what the threat landscape looks like
Don’t just show the wins. Show the journey. Show the landscape changing. Show how you’re adapting. When a threat actor knocks on your door, your leadership team should already know the locks you’ve reinforced.
And yes, sprinkle in a story or two — “Here’s how a threat group targeted our sector last week” lands better than “APT29 exists.”
🤝 Make Them Part of the Story
Here’s the secret sauce: make security their win.
When product launches securely, celebrate with product.
When HR improves onboarding to include phishing training, shout them out.
When IT upgrades legacy systems to reduce risk, that’s a security win — for them, too.
I used to think success was when my team did something great. But over time, I realized success is when everyone around me succeeds because of shared security goals.
Bring people along. Tie your wins to leadership’s goals. Show how security helps sales land big deals, how it builds customer trust, how it aligns with the company’s vision.
One of the best leaders I ever worked for used to say, “You get extra credit for cross-functional work.” In security? That’s how you win long-term.
Final Thoughts
Executive sponsorship isn’t a checkbox — it’s a relationship. Nurture it. Educate your leadership, invite them into the narrative, and keep showing them how security makes the business stronger.
This isn’t about fear, uncertainty, and doubt. It’s about trust, alignment, and momentum.
Let’s build that together — one conversation at a time.
