Many boards still communicate sensitive internal messages via unsecure channels for communication. Diligent Corporation released a report that found that 56 percent board members use their personal emails to communicate with the board. Even the top executives and governance professionals also do this. This is a major risk that needs to be addressed.

It is essential to convince board members of the importance of secure communication. This involves educating them about the reasons why their current practices make vulnerable to data breaches and making them aware of the cost of those breaches in terms of lost operational time, the cost of defending against an attack from cyberspace, and the concern over compliance violations.

Boards need to be aware of the fact that they are the most attractive targets for cybercriminals. The hackers target high-profile individuals like board directors and executives because they can access sensitive information of value to them. They are therefore prime targets for ransomware, which is a type of malware that allows criminals to threat to release sensitive data removing malware android unless they get paid.

To prevent this, the board could consider adopting a platform for governance that replaces email and text messages with a fortified record system that makes use of encrypted data transmission as well as a specially-designed mobile application. This eliminates the necessity to share confidential or private information in unsecure email or document management systems managed by organization’s IT teams. It also provides a separate platform which will allow boards to continue to lead during times of crises.