The Cybersecurity Power Play
A Boardroom Guide to Digital Defense
Acknowledging that digital threats to companies are prevalent, the leadership guide The Cybersecurity Power Play includes detailed insights to render challenges manageable for company boards.
Krishna Rajagopal’s informative boardroom handbook The Cybersecurity Power Play is about establishing proactive cybersecurity strategies.
With business climates reliant on digital networks and online presence, corporate strategies must include cybersecurity governance programs, the book asserts. It also argues that businesses must work to integrate “robust defenses” against malicious cyber actors. Geared toward senior business leaders, the book addresses the criticality of strong cybersecurity strategies, outlines threats and mitigation techniques, and shares specific questions board members should ask to create effective governance plans.
Comprising a panoramic workplace review, the book imparts its wisdom through generalized technical knowledge for maximum impact. Balancing broad strategic insights with operational advice, it argues for proactive cybersecurity policies and strategies that align with company objectives. Just as financial reports are reviewed with regularity, it says, so should evaluations and assessments of cyber postures become routine.
Drawing on industry examples from the retail, hospitality, banking, and finance fields, the book covers both negative impacts within companies that did not recognize cybersecurity threats and notable successes, as when an airline discovered a communication gap when running simulations of its incident response plans. Such examples and case studies are pervasive and complement the book’s arguments. The 2017 Equifax breach and exposure of personal data of 147 million people, for instance, resulted in years of investment and changes in company priorities to rebuild its reputation. Further, a section on mergers and acquisitions highlights distinct liabilities, as with Marriott International’s 2016 acquisition of Starwood and a breach not discovered until 2018.
Quick, descriptive snapshots of network vulnerabilities and possible mitigation tactics are introduced, and the guide builds in depth as it progresses. It starts with foundational concepts like malware, phishing, AI-driven attacks, and deepfake threats before turning to key strategic issues. Helpful guidance abounds, as with an easy-to-follow graph that assesses threat likelihood versus impact in order to establish a risk framework; elsewhere, real-time dashboards are suggested for incorporating cybersecurity metrics evaluation into board meetings. And despite the vast technical aspects to cybersecurity, the human factor is given particular attention, with intentional focus on employee training and retention programs for a smart workforce that becomes an internal and integral line of defense against cyber threats.
The book uses memorable acronyms to complement its advice, as with METRICS for gathering metrics, RESPOND for tactics for crisis management and incident response, and BUDGET for setting cybersecurity budgets. Black-and-white drawings depict some scenarios, and a glossary of technical terms is included to keep the text accessible. In all, the book accomplishes a straightforward articulation of cybersecurity concerns and suggestions for preparation.
The Cybersecurity Power Play is a discerning and comprehensive business playbook with clear strategies for defending against cyber threats.
Reviewed by
Katy Keffer
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
