Many boards continue to communicate with their employees via unsecure communication channels. Diligent Corporation released a report which found that 56 percent board members use their personal emails to communicate with the board. Even senior executives and governance professionals also do this. This is a serious danger that must be addressed.

It is essential to get board members on board with the need for secure communications. This means educating them on why their current methods leave them vulnerable to data breaches, and assisting them to understand the costs of those breaches in terms of lost operational time, the expense of dealing with cyberattacks, and concerns about compliance violations.

Boards should be aware of the fact that they are attractive targets for cybercriminals. Cybercriminals often target high-profile people like board directors and C-level executives because they have access to sensitive information that is of importance to them. They are therefore a prime target for boardroomsolutions.org/best-secure-file-hosting-comparison-review/ ransomware attacks, where criminals threaten to release sensitive information unless they get paid.

To avoid this, the board should look into the adoption of a platform for governance that replaces text and email messages with a securing record system that relies on encrypted data transmission, as well as a specifically-designed mobile application. This eliminates the need to share sensitive or confidential information in unsecure documents or email accounts which are managed by the IT departments of the organization. It also provides an independent platform that allows boards to continue to lead during times of crisis.