Translate the Technology. Lead With the Business.

In the Marines we said KISS: keep it simple. It works in the boardroom too.

Boards don't need to hear about firewalls. They need to understand risk to the business, and what you need from them.

Three questions every board briefing should answer

1. What could stop the business, and how likely is it?

2. What are we doing about it, and what does it cost?

3. What decision do you need from them today?

How to deliver it

• Lead with the business impact, not the tool.

• Use plain language and one page.

• Show progress over time, not a wall of metrics.

• End with a clear ask.

If you can answer those three questions in a few sentences, you'll get better decisions and a better budget conversation.

Views are my own. Dave Trader is a CISO, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and author of The Cybersecurity Endgame.