A business professional in a blue shirt stopping a row of falling dominoes with their hand, with wooden blocks spelling "RISK" in the center—symbolizing proactive risk management in cybersecurity.

You’re a CEO, CFO, or executive, so you’re already on high alert. Every day, a new text pops up from an unknown number: 

“When will you get here?” 

“Your FedEx package is stuck in customs—click this link to resolve the issue.” 

You’re smart enough not to fall for it. You don’t click. You don’t respond. You’re playing defense like a pro. 

But here’s the truth most leaders miss: avoiding phishing scams isn’t your most important job when it comes to cybersecurity. 

There’s something even bigger at stake. 

The Real Job: Defining Your Organization’s Risk Appetite 

Let’s get real for a second. 

You’re not just responsible for protecting your inbox—you’re responsible for defining your company’s risk tolerance (or what I like to call your risk appetite). That means figuring out: 

  • What data matters the most
  • How much risk your business can stomach
  • How you’ll communicate those risks to your security team

And here’s the kicker: Most businesses never think about this. 

My team performs over 2,000 cyber security assessments a month lately, and the same problem keeps showing up. 

Nobody knows what their most critical data assets are. 

Even worse? They’re treating everything like it’s equally important—spreading their security resources too thin and leaving the stuff that really matters wide open. 

What’s at Stake: Your Data’s Confidentiality, Availability, and Integrity 

Let me paint you a picture. 

Imagine you run a law firm. What’s your most sensitive data? 

  • Confidential client records
  • Pending case files
  • Settlement agreements
  • Trust account information

Now, let’s break down what happens if you don’t lock that data down properly: 

  1. Confidentiality – A hacker gains access to your client records and leaks details of a high-profile case. Suddenly, you’re dealing with broken trust, ruined reputations, and an avalanche of lawsuits.
  2. Availability – Your firm gets hit with ransomware, locking you out of your files for days. Deadlines get missed. Clients leave. Your competitors start circling like vultures.
  3. Integrity – An attacker alters key case files without anyone noticing. You walk into court thinking your evidence is solid—until the opposing counsel tears your case apart with discrepancies you didn’t know existed.

In all three scenarios, the result is the same: You lose clients, money, and credibility. 

What Should You Do Next? 

Here’s your move: 

  1. Identify Your Crown Jewels
  • Ask yourself: What’s the most important information we store?
  • What data would destroy us if it was leaked, corrupted, or erased?
  • Make a list—and be brutally honest about the consequences if it were compromised.
  1. Assess How That Data Is Protected
  • Remember, security has three pillars:
  • Availability – Can your team access it when they need it?
  • Confidentiality – Can outsiders steal it or leak it?
  • Integrity – Can anyone alter it without your knowledge?
  1. Work with Your Security Team
  • Run a risk assessment focused on these critical assets.
  • Adjust your security program to reflect your company’s true risk appetite.
  1. Stop Securing Everything the Same Way
  • Prioritize the data that would cause the most damage if compromised.
  • Shift your security resources toward what matters most.

The Bottom Line 

You’re not just a target—you’re the one who sets the rules for how your organization responds when the attack inevitably comes. 

If you’re only focused on not clicking bad links, you’re thinking too small. 

The real danger isn’t in your inbox—it’s in the gaps you haven’t identified yet. 

Figure out what matters most. Secure it like your business depends on it. 

Because it does.