Cyber Defense eMagazine July Edition for 2022

Why Cybersecurity Is Critical for ESG
Cyber-Awareness Can Help Companies Meet Esg Obligtions
By Sean McAlmont, CEO, NINJIO
One of the most important trends in the private sector—primarily among publicly traded companies, but
increasingly among small and independent firms as well—is the analysis of business practices through
the lens of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. Beyond just the “bottom line,”
companies are being asked to open the aperture of success metrics to include how their everyday
activities either positively or negatively impact life beyond their four walls. Consumers are becoming
increasingly concerned about whether companies align with their best interests, while other key
stakeholders (from investors to the leaders of communities where firms operate) want to see a greater
emphasis on the public good.
Cybersecurity is a critical component of any company’s ESG strategy, specifically in terms of product
governance. From the protection of sensitive customer information to the adherence to laws and
regulations around data privacy, a robust cybersecurity platform is indispensable to meeting basic ESG
criteria. While many companies believe cybersecurity is all about IT teams, firewalls, and digital
infrastructure, a well-trained workforce is actually a company’s most significant cybersecurity asset. This
is because the vast majority of cyberattacks rely on social engineering: the deception and manipulation
of human beings to infiltrate an organization.
At a time when ESG is a major area of focus and reporting for the world’s largest organizations and
consumers are worried about how their personal data is being used, awareness with regard to various
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