How to Gain Executive Support for Cybersecurity Programs

Despite companies investing billions in cybersecurity technologies every year, the human factor remains the Achilles' heel. In fact, between 60% and 68% of data breaches are linked to human error, and 94% of cyberattacks start with something as mundane as an email.

At TecnetOne, we've observed how threats evolve faster than many defense strategies. Attackers no longer limit themselves to email—they now exploit collaboration platforms like Slack, Teams, Zoom, SharePoint, and OneDrive, expanding the attack surface and leaving many organizations exposed without even realizing it.

The impact is significant. Last year, 78% of companies experienced at least one security incident, and insider threats (the most costly ones) averaged $15 million in losses. Yet many security awareness programs still measure only the basics: who completed the course and how much they remember, without tying these metrics to actual risk reduction.

Additionally, many organizations operate with siloed tools that don’t provide full visibility into human behavior across critical environments like email, chats, or file sharing. To reduce these blind spots, security teams need integrated, automated solutions based on real data.

Human Risk Management (HRM): A Necessary Evolution in Security

The most advanced organizations are already moving away from traditional training programs—those that simply check boxes without driving real change. Instead, they are adopting a much more modern and effective approach: Human Risk Management (HRM).

This approach focuses directly on people’s behavior within the organization. Rather than offering the same training to everyone, HRM identifies, assesses, and reduces individual risks based on real data: the user’s role, behavior patterns, and even how often they are targeted by attacks.

Personalized, Not Generic, Security

Unlike traditional security awareness methods, HRM platforms personalize controls and training based on each user’s risk profile. This means a developer, a member of the finance team, and a high-level executive will receive training and security measures tailored to their actual exposure to risk.

The most modern HRM solutions integrate multiple cybersecurity technologies to create a comprehensive picture of human risk. For example:

1. Correlate email data with endpoint protection solutions

2. Incorporate DLP (data loss prevention) insights

3. Run automated phishing simulations

This allows organizations to identify their most vulnerable users and proactively apply automatic protection measures, such as:

1. Advanced phishing scanning

2. Access restrictions to critical systems

3. Forced password resets

4. Device isolation in extreme cases

Intelligence That Adapts in Real Time

What makes HRM platforms so powerful is their ability to respond dynamically to behavior and emerging threats, without constant manual intervention. Key capabilities include:

1. Cross-platform intelligence: Correlates data from email, endpoints, sensitive data handling, and training results to build comprehensive risk profiles for each user across all channels.

2. Automated risk assessment: Continuously monitors user behavior patterns, detecting changes or anomalies that may indicate rising risk.

3. Tiered containment: Responds with proportional measures based on the risk level. For example, if a corporate email compromise attempt is detected, it can trigger a deeper scan or even isolate the affected device.

4. Real-time policy adjustments: Security teams can instantly modify controls based on user behavior or emerging attack patterns.

Human Risk Management is not just a new trend in cybersecurity. It’s a realistic and necessary response to the fact that today’s attacks are aimed directly at people—not just machines.

Organizations that proactively identify high-risk users, adapt security responses in real time, and automate protection based on behavior will have a clear edge against modern threats.

And if you're looking for a solution to take that next step, TecnetOne can help you implement an HRM strategy tailored to your environment, your risks, and your business goals.

Read more: Cybersecurity Awareness: Why One Annual Talk Isn’t Enough

Key Tactics to Secure Executive Buy-In for Cybersecurity

Getting executive leaders to support initiatives like Human Risk Management (HRM) might seem challenging, but with the right approach, it’s absolutely achievable. Here are three practical and effective tactics to speak their language, demonstrate impact, and get the “yes” you need.

1. Translate Risk into Money: Quantify the Financial Impact

If there’s one thing executives respond to, it’s numbers. That’s why the best way to capture their attention is to turn the concept of “human risk” into concrete figures. What happens if we do nothing? How much would an incident cost?

Start by quantifying your organization’s current exposure to security breaches, insider threats, and potential fines for regulatory non-compliance. Use industry statistics as benchmarks:

1. The average insider incident costs $15 million

2. Regulatory fines continue to rise, especially in sectors like healthcare, banking, and fintech

3. 8% of users are typically responsible for 80% of incidents, making targeted programs highly cost-effective

Another key tactic? Connect regulatory requirements to the investment needed. For instance, recent updates to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework emphasize user awareness and identity controls. That gives you a solid case to justify HRM budget requests.

2. Show ROI with Real Data and Operational Benefits

Talking about return on investment (ROI) alone isn’t enough. Today’s executives want to see concrete results backed by real data—not just promises.

Fortunately, independent studies already show the financial impact of investing in human-centric cybersecurity. Some organizations have reported over 250% ROI and more than $1.5 million in net value within just three years of implementing solutions focused on reducing human risk.

Beyond financial return, operational benefits are also substantial:

1. 24% less time spent by the Security Operations Center (SOC) investigating email threats

2. 50% less operational load managing platforms

3. More time for strategic initiatives and less reactive work

It also improves the employee experience: fewer spam emails mean fewer distractions and better focus.

But the most meaningful outcome is behavior change. With a well-implemented Human Risk Management strategy, many organizations have seen up to a 36% reduction in the sharing of sensitive or risky information.

3. Speak in Business Terms, Not Just Security

If you want leadership to back a security initiative, you have to position it as a business enabler—not a barrier or compliance checkbox.

Frame Human Risk Management as part of the critical infrastructure that helps the business move forward:

1. Accelerates digital transformation

2. Reduces operational friction

3. Improves time-to-market for products and services

4. Strengthens customer and partner trust

Draw a direct line between security investment and business outcomes. How does this help the company sell more, move faster, or stand out from the competition? That’s the kind of conversation that opens doors.

Read more: Why Integrating Backup and Security is Key for Your IT Team

How to Turn Human Risk into a Real Competitive Advantage

1. Make the Invisible Visible: Human Risk from an Executive Perspective

One of the keys to securing senior leadership support is translating security data into business-relevant insights. Executives don’t need more technical charts—they need clear intelligence tied to real goals.

How do you achieve this? Start by implementing dynamic dashboards and reports that show:

1. Behavioral changes over time

2. Direct links between risks and business areas

3. Clearly defined, actionable risk thresholds

When you can demonstrate, for example, that specific interventions have reduced high-risk behaviors in a department, or that compliance has improved thanks to a particular action, the value of the program becomes clear and undeniable.

Even better: if you link this information to measurable savings, fewer incidents, and audit-ready compliance, you're enabling secure, sustainable decision-making based on real data.

2. Security Built for the Future, Not the Past

Threats evolve constantly. What worked six months ago may no longer be enough. That’s why your strategy must shift from reactive to proactive and adaptable.

The key is to build flexible security controls that evolve alongside attacker tactics and integrate seamlessly with your existing infrastructure—identity, email, endpoints, SIEM/SOAR, etc.

This enables you to:

1. Detect threats faster

2. Automate responses before damage occurs

3. Leverage existing tools, reducing total cost of ownership

Instead of adding more layers and complexity, the goal is to orchestrate what you already have—but in a smarter way.

3. From Cost Center to Value Driver: When Security Fuels Business Growth

Too often, security is viewed as a necessary cost. But when managed well, it can become a revenue driver.

How? By strengthening human behavior around security, you not only reduce risk, but also:

1. Better protect customer data

2. Minimize friction in sales cycles

3. Reinforce trust in regulated markets

In industries like fintech, healthcare, or banking (where compliance and reputation are everything) a strong awareness and behavior-based security strategy can be a key differentiator and driver of customer retention. In other words: human security is no longer just about defense—it’s about brand and growth.

4. The Final Message: Change Starts with People

No technology, no matter how advanced, can close the human security gap on its own. True transformation happens when people are empowered as active defenders—not seen as passive risks.

Human Risk Management (HRM) enables exactly that: reducing risk in a measurable, sustainable way while protecting what truly drives business—innovation, trust, and agility.

But to win executive buy-in, you must speak the language of business:

1. Quantify exposure

2. Prove ROI with hard facts

3. Link every security action to a financial outcome

This turns security awareness from a “must-do” into a real competitive advantage.

Because the companies investing today in reducing human risk will stay one step ahead. Those that delay are leaving the door open to increasingly sophisticated attackers—who know exactly where to strike: the people.

Where to Start

If you're looking for a solution that goes beyond traditional courses and helps drive real behavior change, TecnetOne can help.

Through our risk-based cybersecurity awareness programs, we offer an effective combination of technology, personalized content, and actionable metrics to reduce human exposure to risk. It’s not just about training—it’s about transforming your security culture from the inside out.