A Cyber Playbook for Non-Tech Executives

How to Lead Confidently Without Speaking Geek

You don’t need to be a CISO to lead your company’s cybersecurity strategy—but you do need a clear playbook. As a non-technical executive, your role in managing cyber risk is critical, especially as threats grow more complex and the legal, financial, and reputational stakes rise.

Whether you're a CEO, COO, CFO, board member, or managing partner, this guide is built to give you what you need: a plain-language framework for making smart decisions, holding your team accountable, and reducing liability without drowning in jargon.

Here’s your cybersecurity playbook—executive edition.

🔍 1. Ask for Business Risk Context, Not Tech Reports

Don’t settle for dashboards full of acronyms or vague “threat levels.” Ask your team:

• What are our most valuable systems and data?

• What would shut down our operations?

• Where are we most exposed right now?

• What’s our current cyber liability posture?

Why it matters:
Cyber risk is business risk. You don’t need to know how the firewall works—you need to know how long you’d be down if it failed.

📋 2. Insist on a Written, Living Security Plan

Every company should have a written cybersecurity program that includes:

• A risk assessment

• Clear policies and controls

• Roles and responsibilities

• A response plan for cyber incidents

• Evidence of training and enforcement

Your play: Ask your team:

“If a regulator, insurer, or client asked for proof of our cyber program, what would we send them?”

🔐 3. Ensure Critical Controls Are in Place—and Enforced

A defensible security program starts with the basics. As an executive, confirm these are implemented:

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) everywhere

• Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) on all devices

• Tested Backups, protected from ransomware

• Phishing-resistant email protections

• Patch management for systems and software

Why it matters:
Missing one of these could trigger an insurance claim denial, regulatory fine, or breach escalation.

📊 4. Get Regular, Plain-Language Updates

Cybersecurity shouldn’t be a mystery box. Request executive-ready summaries that cover:

• Key risks and what’s being done about them

• Upcoming audits or insurance deadlines

• Open gaps and their business impact

• Response time metrics and testing results

Your play: Make cyber a regular topic at leadership meetings—not just when something breaks.

🛡️ 5. Know the “Moment of Truth” Plan

If your company is breached or receives a ransom demand, who does what?

As a leader, know:

• Who runs point internally

• Who communicates with legal, law enforcement, and media

• What our policy is on paying ransoms

• Who’s backing up the response team

• How we notify customers or regulators (if needed)

Your play: Participate in a tabletop exercise annually. These simulations build confidence and surface gaps you don’t want to discover in a crisis.

💬 6. Align Security with Legal, Insurance, and Contracts

Cybersecurity isn’t just about technology—it intersects with:

• Cyber insurance (Are you really covered? Are your answers defensible?)

• Client contracts (Are we meeting their data protection expectations?)

• Regulations (FTC Safeguards, HIPAA, GLBA, SEC, state laws)

• Executive liability (You can be personally named in lawsuits for negligence)

Your play: Have your general counsel, risk manager, and security leader regularly sync—then report to the board or exec team in plain English.

🧠 7. Don’t Delegate. Drive.

You don’t need to be technical to lead effectively. But if you treat cybersecurity like “IT’s problem,” your organization is at risk.

Executives set:

• Priorities

• Budget

• Tone

• Accountability

If you drive cyber from the top, your teams will take it seriously—and your company will be stronger, safer, and more insurable.

🎯 Final Word: You Don’t Need to Speak Geek to Lead Cyber Well

At Bawn, we work with executive teams who want clarity—not complexity. We help you understand where your company stands, what matters most, and how to build a defensible cyber program that protects your business and your leadership.

→ Ready to take the next step? Schedule a Cyber Risk Briefing with Bawn—no jargon, no pressure, just clarity.