In today’s dynamic cyber landscape, reporting on security threats and incidents to senior management and the board is more important than ever. A well-prepared Cyber Security Threat Intelligence report doesn’t just inform—it drives strategic decisions, helps mitigate risks, and strengthens an organization’s overall security posture.
As a CIO, I’ve found that presenting a clear and actionable report is key to ensuring leadership understands not only the current cyber threat landscape, but proactive steps being taken to mitigate risk. In this guide, we’ll explore how to craft a comprehensive cyber security threat intelligence report and provide tips on delivering it effectively to your audience.
Why Regular Cyber Security Reporting is Crucial
The cyber threat environment is constantly evolving, making it essential for organisations to stay informed and proactive. Regular cyber security reports ensure that leadership, and even board members. are kept up to date on emerging risks and potential vulnerabilities that are relevant to the organisation, helping them to make informed decisions or to support strategic plans. The key is to structure the report in a way that balances highly technical adversary and attack detail with strategic insights, enabling stakeholders to grasp the bigger picture without become overwhelmed with technical jargon. Relevancy is key here.
Key Components of a Successful Cyber Security Report
1. Executive Summary
Every great report starts with a strong executive summary. This section should highlight the key findings, immediate risks, and any recommended actions. Keep it concise—focus on the most critical information and what needs attention. The goal here is to set the stage for the deeper insights that follow.
Example: “In Q2 2024, we identified a significant increase in phishing attempts targeting senior management. While no successful breaches occurred, the frequency of attacks suggests the need for additional security measures, such as stronger email filtering and further employee training.”
2. Threat Intelligence Updates
This section focuses on current and emerging cyber threats. Provide an overview of the global and industry-specific threat landscape, giving your leadership team a clear understanding of what’s happening outside the organisation (globally) and how it may impact them (industry-specific). You can use a wide variety of threat intelligence feeds, including Government initiatives such as the Australia Cyber Security Centre and their partner program.
The key here to ensure all threat intelligence updates are related directly to your organisation and the sector for which it serves. Doing this helps to maintain a level of relatable content that may support any stakeholder support you seeking. It is also a good idea to highlight global threat intelligence as a method of highlighting the vast array of attack vectors.
Example: “We’ve seen a rise in Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS), allowing attackers with minimal technical skills to outsource ransomware campaigns. This growing threat has been flagged in the Australian Cyber Security Centre's latest advisories, highlighting the need for enhanced ransomware defences.”
Where possible, tie this intelligence to actionable steps the organisation can take. Mentioning specific attacks or vulnerabilities that could impact your business makes the content more relatable. A brief overview of how you plan to mitigate such vulnerabilities may also be warranted, depending on the level of detail you need to go into.
3. Incident Analysis and Lessons Learned
This is where you detail any incidents that occurred during the reporting period, offering a clear breakdown of what happened, how it was handled, and what can be learned. Use this section to show not only what went wrong but how the organization can prevent similar issues in the future.
Example: “We experienced three notable incidents this quarter:
Incident 1: A stolen employee laptop from an offsite location. Fortunately, it was encrypted and had no access to corporate networks. The laptop has since been remotely wiped via out device management platforms.
Incident 2: A weak password on an third-party hosted platform account led to a compromise, resolved within 24 hours with no impact on the organisation however the users account was vulnerable to data exfil. The employee has since been notified and additional investigations are currently taking place with an update to follow in the coming days.
Incident 3: An employee mistakenly downloaded a malicious file from a online information source. The device was quarantined, and no further impact was detected. The security team are continuing to monitor the situation.
Lesson learned: The importance of enforcing multi-factor authentication and continuing to train staff on phishing awareness became evident following these incidents. However, we do need to update our conditional policies for employee login to platforms including enforcement of MFA on specific platforms."
4. Proactive Security Measures and Simulations
It's not just about reacting to incidents—your report should also showcase the proactive steps your organisation is taking to prevent future breaches. Planned Cyber Security related simulations help to prepare for actual incidents. Your report can include the outcomes of cyber security training, penetration testing, and phishing simulations. By demonstrating the organisation’s readiness and commitment to security, you reinforce confidence in your overall strategy.
Example: “We conducted a phishing simulation where 89% of employees recognised a suspicious email, while 11% clicked the link. Follow-up training is being provided to those who failed the simulation. Additionally, two major vendors passed our security assessments this quarter, with no issues identified.”
5. System Health and Continuous Improvements
Senior leadership want to know how well the organisation’s Systems are performing. Provide metrics on system uptime, vulnerability management, and any improvements or projects that are in progress to enhance the overall System. This reassures stakeholders that the organisation is not only defending itself against threats but continuously improving its defences and operational capabilities.
Example: “Our system uptime for Q2 2024 was 99.5%, with minor issues at remote sites due to environmental factors. out of our control We’ve initiated projects including the SSO integration for better security management and enhanced data-loss-prevention controls to detect potential sensitive information leak."
6. Compliance and Vendor Security Assessments
Compliance is often a key focus for the board, particularly in industries with strict regulatory requirements. In this section, provide updates on progress toward compliance with standards such as ISO 27001 and detail the security status of third-party vendors, who can often introduce risk to the organisation.
Example: “Compliance with updating to ISO 27001:2022 is 75% complete, with the goal of full certification by Q4. Additionally, four vendor security assessments were reviewed and approved this quarter, with all vendors passing our stringent security requirements.”
Executing the Cyber Security Report Presentation
Now that your report is complete, the next step is ensuring that it’s presented effectively. Even the most comprehensive report won’t make an impact if it isn’t delivered in a way that engages your audience.
1. Tailor the Language to Your Audience
While the content of your report may include technical information, the delivery should focus on clarity and remain relatable. Senior managers and board members often won’t have deep technical backgrounds, so avoid overloading the presentation with jargon. Instead, focus on how the cyber risks and threats impact business operations, customer trust, and revenue.
Tip: Instead of saying, “We detected a polymorphic malware variant that indicates lateral movement across the System,” simplify it: “We identified a sophisticated malware attack designed to bypass traditional defences and move across the network. Fortunately, it was identified and mitigated before any damage occurred.”
2. Use Visuals and Keep it Engaging
Use visuals such as charts, graphs, or even short video clips to make your points clearer and more engaging. A well-designed info-graphic or simple chart can explain incident types far better than a block of text, and a quick video on emerging threats can add context to your report especially when being presented from a reputable source.
Tip: Keep the presentation short and focused—30 minutes, with 5 minutes for questions at the end. This ensures you respect everyone’s time while keeping the discussion on point.
3. Tie the Report to Business Goals and Industry-Specific Threats
To make your report more impactful, ensure the content is relevant to the organisation’s specific goals and industry. If your company operates in the healthcare sector, for instance, emphasise the risks of data breaches on sensitive health information and the impact to privacy, reputation and beyond.
4. Record and Document the Meeting
If your organisation operates under compliance requirements where, make sure to document the meeting. Taking minutes ensures that the decisions made, as well as any action items, are formally recorded. This documentation can be crucial for audits and demonstrates accountability especially when you fall under compliance mandates such as ISO27001 and beyond.
Conclusion: Turning Reports into Action
An effective cyber security report is not just about sharing information—it’s about driving action whilst demonstrating both continuous improvement and a proactive commitment to Cyber Security. By following a structured approach, tailored to your audience, you can ensure that your leadership team is well-informed, proactive, and ready to address the challenges of an evolving cyber threat landscape.
As cyber risks grow more complex, the importance of clear, concise, and actionable reporting will only increase. I hope this guide serves as a helpful framework for creating and delivering impactful reports that not only inform but also inspire change. Consider it a framework to build upon.
Final Thoughts: Cyber security is a shared responsibility, and the way we communicate it plays a big role in keeping organisations safe. I encourage anyone involved in cyber security reporting to continuously refine their approach and keep adapting to the needs of their audience. If you have any questions or would like to discuss reporting strategies, feel free to reach out—I’m always eager to share ideas and best practices.
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