Many boards still communicate sensitive internal messages via unsecure channels for communication. A recent report by Diligent Corporation found that 56 percent of directors use personal email accounts for communication with the board. And even governance professionals and C-level executives also do this. This is a significant risk that must be addressed.
It is crucial to ensure that board members are onboard with the necessity of secure communication. This involves educating them about the reasons their current practices leave them vulnerable to data breaches, and helping them understand the costs of such breaches in terms of lost operational time, the cost of defending against an attack from cyberspace, and the concern over compliance violations.
Cyber criminals are attracted to boards because they have access to sensitive information that is valuable to them. The hackers often target prominent individuals like board directors and C-level executives because they have access to sensitive information that is of significance to them. They are therefore prime targets for ransomware, where criminals threaten to release sensitive information unless they receive a payment.
In order to prevent this from happening, it’s essential that the board think about adopting a governance platform that replaces email and text messages with a secured system of record, which uses encrypted his explanation data delivery and a specially-designed mobile application. This eliminates the need to share confidential or sensitive information with unsecure document systems or email accounts which are controlled by the organization’s IT teams and offers a separate platform that will enable boards to continue to lead during times of crisis.