Cybersecurity is a Boardroom Issue, Not Just an IT Problem

Welcome to the sixth edition of Once More Into the Breach, Certes’ newsletter exploring the challenges shaping information security and the solutions driving resilience.

For years, cybersecurity has been treated as an IT issue, something for security teams to manage while leadership focuses on growth, operations, and strategy. Regulatory bodies make it clear that protecting customer data is a business-wide responsibility, and executives are personally accountable when things go wrong.

Yet, many service providers, financial institutions, and enterprises still operate under the illusion that traditional network perimeter security controls are enough. 

They’re not. 

Data breaches go far beyond exposing sensitive information – the legal, financial, and reputational consequences can be catastrophic. And the risk isn’t limited to IT departments. CEOs, CISOs, and board members face real consequences, including fines, lawsuits, and even criminal liability. 

So what if there was a way to remove the liability of data exposure entirely? 

Regulatory Risk: A Threat to More Than Just IT

Governments and regulators worldwide are clear on the facts: if your business handles customer data, you are responsible for protecting it – no excuses.

• Under DORA, NIS2, and GDPR, non-compliance can lead to significant fines. Up to 4% of global turnover in the case of GDPR.
• Executives face personal liability – as seen in regulatory enforcement where CEOs and CISOs have been held accountable for data breaches. For example: 
• Service providers are increasingly held responsible for securing customer data – even if they don’t intentionally access it. 

For Managed Service Providers (MSPs), cloud providers, and financial services handling vast amounts of sensitive information, this creates enormous exposure. What happens if your systems are breached? Or if a cybercriminal exploits your infrastructure to steal client data? Even if you never access that data yourself, you’re still liable. 

And if you think those terms of service agreements you’ve signed will protect you, think again. Contracts are meaningless to the regulators – you can’t mitigate the law through contracts. 

Understanding the Personal Consequences of the C-Suite

Executives can no longer claim "I didn’t know" when it comes to data security. Regulatory bodies expect proactive security measures that go beyond network defense. Yet, many C-suite leaders fail to grasp the scale of their own exposure:

• If customer data is compromised, board members may face criminal negligence charges.
• Regulatory investigations can lead to suspensions, fines, and personal lawsuits.
• Investors and shareholders rightly demand accountability on cybersecurity risks, forcing leadership teams to prove they take security seriously.

Ignoring these risks is a direct threat to personal careers and corporate stability. Yet many businesses accept these risks as a cost of doing business – it doesn’t have to be this way. 

What If Service Providers Could Deliver Services Without Seeing Customer Data?

What if a control existed that allowed service providers to remove their ability to access customer data – without affecting service delivery?

Service providers must manage and transport customer data, but they don’t need to see it.

This is exactly where Certes’ Data Protection and Risk Mitigation (DPRM) solution changes the game.

• Encrypt data in transit – ensuring that even if service providers handle it, they can’t see it.
• Enforce strict key ownership policies – giving full control to the customer, not the provider.
• Ensure regulatory compliance – by proving that sensitive data remains protected at all times.

With Certes DPRM, service providers no longer have to assume the liability of customer data exposure. Instead, they can securely transport and manage encrypted data without ever having access – eliminating risk, ensuring compliance, and protecting both their customers and their executives.

The Boardroom Wake-Up Call

Cybersecurity is a board-level crisis waiting to happen. The question isn’t if service providers and businesses will be held accountable for failing to secure data – it’s when.

Executives can’t afford to be reactive. It’s time to change the way organizations think about data security, shifting from network perimeter protection to ensuring that data itself remains untouchable.

If your security strategy still relies on outdated perimeter defenses, it’s not just your business at risk – it’s your career.

Want to know how Certes DPRM can remove your data liability while ensuring compliance?

Let’s talk. Drop us a message or email the team today at info@certes.ai   

Don’t forget to subscribe and stay tuned for the next edition of Once More into the Breach as we continue to explore the strategies, technologies, and best practices shaping the future of cybersecurity.