# Executive Security Communication Template

- **PURPOSE:** Provides a structured format for communicating security risks, initiatives, and status updates in business-relevant terms that executives can quickly understand and act upon.
- **WHEN TO USE:**For board presentations, executive briefings, quarterly updates, or whenever security issues need to be communicated to senior leadership.

## 1. STRATEGIC OVERVIEW

### Business Context: 

[Brief statement connecting security status to current business priorities]

### Key Risk Indicators:

- [KRI 1] - [Current status] | [Trend] | [Threshold]
- [KRI 2] - [Current status] | [Trend] | [Threshold]
- [KRI 3] - [Current status] | [Trend] | [Threshold]

## 2. PRIORITY RISK REVIEW

| Risk | Business Impact | Current Status | Action Plan | Business Owner | Security Owner |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Risk 1] | [Financial/operational/strategic impact] | [Exposure level with context] | [Key mitigation steps with timeline] | [Business exec responsible] | [Security lead] |
| [Risk 2] | [Financial/operational/strategic impact] | [Exposure level with context] | [Key mitigation steps with timeline] | [Business exec responsible] | [Security lead] |
| [Risk 3] | [Financial/operational/strategic impact] | [Exposure level with context] | [Key mitigation steps with timeline] | [Business exec responsible] | [Security lead] |

Table 1: Priority Risk Review

## 3. INVESTMENT IMPACT ANALYSIS

| Initiative | Business Value | Investment | Status | Key Metrics | Realized Benefits |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Initiative 1] | [Business outcome supported] | [$X / resources] | [On track/delayed/complete] | [Success metrics] | [Quantifiable benefits] |
| [Initiative 2] | [Business outcome supported] | [$X / resources] | [On track/delayed/complete] | [Success metrics] | [Quantifiable benefits] |

Table 2: Investment Impact Analysis

## 4. INDUSTRY CONTEXT

External Factors: [Brief overview of relevant threats, regulatory changes, or industry trends]

Benchmark Comparison: [How our security posture compares to industry peers/standards]

## 5. DECISION REQUESTS

| Decision Needed | Business Context | Options | Recommendation | Required By |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Decision 1] | [Why this matters to the business] | [Options with pros/cons] | [Clear recommendation] | [Deadline] |
| [Decision 2] | [Why this matters to the business] | [Options with pros/cons] | [Clear recommendation] | [Deadline] |

Table 3: Decision Requests

## IMPLEMENTATION TIPS:

- Limit the briefing to 5-7 pages maximum with an executive summary of key points
- Use business metrics and financial figures whenever possible instead of technical measures
- Include trend indicators to show whether risks are increasing, stable, or decreasing
- Ensure every security item connects directly to a business objective or outcome

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(c)[Kayne McGladrey](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/) - [Get the full book](https://www.routledge.com/Cyber-Risk-is-a-Myth-A-Business-Approach-to-Integrated-Risk-Management/McGladrey/p/book/9781041249054)