Cyber Risk in Real Time: Lessons from the Front Lines

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Alan and Kip Boyle, founder and chief information security officer at Cyber Risk Opportunities, discuss how organizations can rethink cybersecurity in terms of measurable risk rather than endless checklists and compliance frameworks.

Boyle, a longtime cybersecurity leader and author, argues that most organizations still treat cyber risk as a technical issue instead of a strategic one. The result is a reactive posture—patching, scanning, and reporting—without a clear understanding of which threats actually matter to the business. He urges leaders to bring cybersecurity into the same decision-making frameworks that govern finance, operations, and reputation.
Boyle emphasizes translating security into business language: probabilities, impacts, and risk tolerances. This shift not only helps executives make informed trade-offs, but also improves collaboration between technical and non-technical teams. He notes that security professionals too often communicate in terms of vulnerabilities and CVEs, while boards want to understand potential loss scenarios and cost avoidance.
The two also discuss the cultural and leadership challenges of sustaining resilience in the face of burnout, resource constraints, and the growing complexity of hybrid IT environments. Boyle advocates for smaller, repeatable wins—incremental improvements that build momentum toward lasting change.
Ultimately, Boyle believes that successful security programs are those that integrate risk thinking into every business process. Technology alone can’t solve the problem; it’s the people and governance frameworks behind it that determine how resilient an organization truly is.
The takeaway: cybersecurity isn’t about chasing the next tool or buzzword—it’s about understanding, quantifying, and managing the risks that matter most to your mission.

About Author

AndyC

Andy Curtis is an award-winning security consultant, researcher and public speaker. He has been working in the computer security industry since the early 1990s, having been employed by state and federal government, leading healthcare and banking providers across three continents. He has given talks about computer security for some of the world’s largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and is a regular voice on TV and radio explaining IT security threats.

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