Heights Consulting Group

Insights on cybersecurity leadership

Practical guidance on cybersecurity leadership, governance, risk and regulatory readiness, written to be useful whether you set the strategy, approve it or carry it out.

Written for
Anyone accountable for a security decision: executives, boards, counsel, compliance, IT and security teams.
Subjects
Governance, cyber risk, regulatory readiness and executive reporting.
Every article
Carries its author, its publication date and the date it was last substantively revised.

The archive

Every other article

Compliance and Governance
1
Governance
3
Governance & Compliance
2
Governance and Leadership
1
Risk Management
1
Published
8

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  1. Governance

    Identity and Access Management Strategy: What Changed and What Leadership Must Know

    Identity and access management has shifted from a technical implementation detail to a board-level governance question. This article explains what executives are now accountable for, who should own the strategy, and the practical decisions required to meet regulatory and operational expectations.
  2. Governance & Compliance

    What Current Regulation Requires Around Cloud Security Architecture and Governance

    U.S. organizations moving to cloud infrastructure face regulatory requirements that demand clear governance structures, defined security architectures and documented accountability. No single regulation prescribes cloud security architecture in detail, but sector-specific frameworks impose enforceable obligations around access controls, data protection, audit trails and vendor management. Leadership is accountable for establishing the governance function, even when technical execution is delegated. This article explains what compliance actually requires, who owns what inside the organization, and how to establish the executive control that regulators expect.
  3. Governance & Compliance

    What to Put in Place First for Regulatory and Framework Readiness

    Regulatory and framework readiness is the work of aligning your organization's cybersecurity practices with external requirements and recognized standards. Without clear executive ownership, this work stalls, accountability fragments, and leadership cannot measure progress toward outcomes that auditors, regulators and boards expect. This article explains what regulatory and framework readiness means in practical terms, why it matters to the business, who should own it, and what leadership should do next.
  4. Risk Management

    Cyber Risk Management: What Leadership Is Now Expected to Own

    Cyber risk management has moved from a technical IT function to an enterprise-level accountability that sits with senior leadership. This shift reflects changing regulatory expectations and the integration of cybersecurity into broader organizational risk management. For executives without a clear internal owner or roadmap, this article explains what is required, who should be accountable, and how to establish effective governance.
  5. Governance

    Vendor, MSP and Third-Party Oversight: What Leadership Must Decide

    Vendor and third-party oversight is now a regulatory and operational requirement that leaves executives accountable for outcomes they cannot see clearly. This article explains what the obligation entails, who should own it, and how to establish effective governance without replacing existing technical controls.
  6. Compliance and Governance

    What Assessors Look for in Security Policy, Standards and Awareness Programs

    Security policy, standards and awareness requirements appear in nearly every regulatory and compliance assessment. Assessors evaluate whether an organization has defined how it protects sensitive information, translated those rules into operational standards, and built understanding across the workforce. Many executives discover gaps only when an assessment deadline arrives. This article explains what assessors examine, who is accountable, and what constitutes adequate ownership.
  7. Governance

    What Current Regulation Requires Around Security Program Assessment

    Federal regulations mandate regular security assessments for organizations handling controlled unclassified information (CUI) and federal systems. Executives are accountable for demonstrating that security controls are implemented correctly and operating as intended, but many organizations lack clear ownership of the assessment process. This guide explains the regulatory requirements, what leadership must oversee, and how to establish accountability.