Creating a Security Awareness Program for Your C-Suite

Tailored Security Awareness for the C-Suite: Why Executives and Managers Need It

A recent UK Government Cyber Security Breaches Survey (2024) revealed that 75% of UK businesses now regard cyber security as a high priority for senior management, with 63% of charities saying the same. However, only 30% of organisations have a board member with explicit responsibility for cyber security.

This highlights a crucial gap: while awareness at board level is improving, many leaders still lack the practical understanding needed to champion cyber resilience. As the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) notes, it’s vital that directors and executives “set the tone at the top and develop the right culture to build cyber resilience.”

The C-Suite must not only recognise cyber risk but also take ownership of it. Tailored security awareness training ensures executives can make informed decisions, model secure behaviours, and strengthen their organisation’s overall defence posture.

Why Train the C-Suite?

C-Suite executives wield significant influence — both strategically and culturally. Their behaviour sets the tone for the entire organisation. When leadership visibly supports cyber security, employees follow suit.

According to research by Ivanti (2024), 86% of organisations discuss cyber risk at board level, yet fewer than half translate that discussion into ongoing training or practical policy. Training the C-Suite bridges that gap, transforming awareness into meaningful, measurable action.

Building a Targeted Security Awareness Programme for the C-Suite

1. Build the Tension with Risk

Executives juggle multiple priorities, but cyber threats can undermine every one of them — from customer trust to financial stability. Highlighting the potential impact of a breach helps secure buy-in for a structured training programme. The IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report (2024) revealed that UK organisations now face average losses of over £3.8 million per incident — a powerful case for proactive prevention.

2. Deliver Role-Based Executive Training

Cybercriminals target senior leaders through Business Email Compromise (BEC) and CEO impersonation scams, which exploit authority and trust. Role-based awareness training helps executives recognise and respond to these threats. According to the Verizon 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report, social engineering remains one of the top causes of corporate breaches.

3. Raise Awareness of Social Engineering

Modern cybercriminals use advanced psychological manipulation — often supported by AI tools — to exploit executive influence. A deepfake audio attack in 2023, for instance, successfully tricked a UK firm’s finance director into transferring hundreds of thousands of pounds. Awareness training should include real-world examples like this to reinforce vigilance and scepticism.

4. Simulate Realistic Phishing Attacks

C-Suite members are frequent phishing targets due to their access and authority. Simulated phishing campaigns that mirror real-world threats are highly effective. Advanced platforms can deliver “point-of-need” learning, providing instant feedback when a simulated phishing email is clicked — turning mistakes into meaningful lessons.

5. Use Metrics to Measure Success

Security awareness without measurement is guesswork. Track performance metrics such as phishing simulation results, engagement rates, and behavioural improvements among executives. These insights enable targeted reinforcement where it’s most needed.

6. Drive Cyber Culture from the Top

Executives are powerful internal influencers. When they model secure digital behaviour — using multi-factor authentication, questioning suspicious messages, and completing regular training — they signal to staff that cyber security matters. This “tone from the top” creates a ripple effect across the organisation, driving a culture of accountability and vigilance.

Strengthen Cyber Resilience at the Executive Level

The C-Suite’s understanding of cyber risk defines an organisation’s overall resilience. By empowering executives with the knowledge to identify, assess, and mitigate threats, you create a stronger defence against today’s complex digital risks.

To strengthen your leadership team’s cyber awareness and resilience, explore MetaCompliance’s Human Risk Management platform, offering automated security awareness and advanced phishing simulation to protect your C-Suite against phishing and other social engineering attacks.