In Part 1 of this 3-part series on RISC (Risk), we explore why cyber risk management is not just a technical tool but a critical element of business strategy.

In this episode, we dive into: - Why risk management is fundamental to business success, particularly in a profit-driven environment. - How cyber risk can be a powerful business enabler, but is often misunderstood or underutilized. - The role of risk in decision-making and strategy development, and why it should be standardized for clarity and impact.

Key Takeaways: - Risk is integral to all business operations, and understanding cyber risk is essential to protect your company while driving value. - Successful cyber risk management translates complex threats into actionable insights that leadership can understand and act upon. - Aligning your risk reports with standardized formats—like heat maps—ensures your board gets the right information in a way that empowers them to make smarter, data-driven decisions.

In this episode, we set the stage for the deeper technical discussions coming up in Parts 2 and 3, focusing on RISC assessments and business impact analysis.

Don't miss the next episode where we deep dive into how to effectively conduct and implement RISC assessments in real-world environments.

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🎙️ Host: Sean, Director & Founder of Nemstar, an Information Security Specialist Company in Belfast, UK.

🚀 Episode Summary:

Penetration testing (pen testing) is a hot topic in cybersecurity, but here's the truth – doing it right requires more than just letting your IT team loose. In this episode, Sean explores the critical role of senior leadership in pen testing, why it's not just a technical task, and how to ensure that pen testing doesn't unintentionally open your business to greater risks.

We break down:

1️⃣ What Pen Testing Is – A closer look at ethical hacking and how it helps you identify vulnerabilities before they're exploited.

2️⃣ Why IT Alone Can't Do It – Understanding the risks of letting your IT team conduct pen tests without proper oversight and why leadership must be involved.

3️⃣ What You Need to Do – The critical steps senior leaders must take to ensure pen testing is done safely, legally, and effectively.

💡 Key Takeaways:

✔️ Pen testing is essential for identifying vulnerabilities, but it's not just an IT job—senior leadership must be involved.

✔️ Without proper oversight, pen testing can expose your business to more risk than it mitigates.

✔️ Ensure pen testing is aligned with your business strategy, compliance, and incident response planning.

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✅ Comment below: How does your organisation approach pen testing—IT-led or leadership-driven?

🎧 Thanks for tuning in—see you in the next session.

🎙️ Host: Sean, Director & Founder of Nemstar, an Information Security Specialist Company in Belfast, UK.

🚀 Episode Summary:

Ransomware is one of the biggest cybersecurity threats today, but here's the reality - you can't prevent it completely. In this episode, Sean explains why it's impossible to fully eliminate ransomware risk but highlights practical solutions to protect your business and recover swiftly when the worst happens.

We break down:

1️⃣ What is Ransomware? – A deep dive into how hackers use encryption to lock you out of your data.

2️⃣ Why You Can't Prevent It – Understanding human error, vulnerabilities, and why no system is fully immune.

3️⃣ What You Can Do About It – The steps you need to take to minimise damage, including incident response, backup strategies, and disaster recovery plans.

💡 Key Takeaways:

✔️ Ransomware relies on encryption, but it can be mitigated with the right preparation.

✔️ Prevention is impossible, but reducing risk through awareness and planning is crucial.

✔️ The key to recovery is a tested disaster recovery plan and timely detection.

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✅ Comment below: How prepared is your organisation for a ransomware attack?

🎧 Thanks for tuning in—see you in the next session!

Host: Sean Hanna, Director & Founder of Nemstar, an Information Security Specialist Company in Belfast, UK.

Episode Summary: Should cybersecurity be about protection or value? It's one of the toughest questions facing senior leaders today. On one side, you've got your IT team—obsessed with security and blue LEDs. On the other, your managers—focused on flexibility, speed, and profit. As a leader, you're caught in the middle—balancing security measures with business agility without tipping the scales too far either way.

In this episode, I'll explain why the business prevention mentality of IT can strangle innovation, while overly flexible management can leave your organisation exposed. We'll dive into finding the Goldilocks zone where your cybersecurity measures are neither too restrictive nor too lax—maximising value while maintaining protection.

1. Why IT Loves Blue LEDs - How the technical mindset gravitates towards maximum control, and why that can kill business agility.

2. Why Managers Crave Flexibility - Why minimal security measures appeal to managers who are focused on profit and growth.

3. How to Find the Sweet Spot - Balancing cybersecurity and business value without creating a business prevention team.

- Balance Is Key - Too much security kills business value, while too little leaves you exposed. - Binary Thinking Doesn't Work - IT sees things as fixed or broken, but security is about managing risk in a balanced way. - Lead from the Middle - Your job as a leader is to navigate the tension between IT's desire for control and management's need for agility.

✅ Like, subscribe, and follow for more practical cybersecurity insights. ✅ Share this episode with your network—help your peers find the balance! ✅ Comment below: Does your organisation struggle to balance security and business value? Let me know your thoughts!

NIS2: The New EU Cybersecurity Directive Explained

🎙️ Host: Sean, Director & Founder of Nemstar, an Information Security Specialist Company in Belfast, UK.

🚀 Episode Summary: The NIS2 Directive is here, and it's bigger, broader, and stricter than previous cybersecurity regulations. If you're thinking, "It doesn't apply to me," think again. Whether you're a European business, a supplier to the EU, or even a supplier to a supplier—you may be impacted.

In this session, we break down: 1️⃣ What NIS2 is – How it differs from ISO 27001 and previous regulations. 2️⃣ Who it applies to – Essential vs. important sectors (hint: it's more than you think). 3️⃣ How to get compliant – The steps you need to take to avoid fines and disruptions.

💡 Key Takeaways: ✔️ NIS2 goes beyond traditional cybersecurity standards – This isn't just another ISO 27001 checklist. ✔️ It applies to businesses worldwide – If you're in the supply chain of an EU-based company, this could affect you. ✔️ Governance & reporting are key – NIS2 mandates board-level involvement, SOC implementation, and stricter incident reporting.

📢 Enjoyed the session? ✅ Like, subscribe, and follow for more cybersecurity insights ✅ Share this episode with your network ✅ Comment below: How is your organisation preparing for NIS2?🎧

Thanks for tuning in—see you in the next session!

Why Cybersecurity Starts with CEOs

Host: Sean, Director & Founder of Nemstar, an Information Security Specialist Company in Belfast, UK.

Episode Summary: You've built a strong cyber compliance programme over the years—so why is it still doomed to fail? In this session, I'll explain why compliance alone is the wrong culture, why you need real charter to succeed, and why cybersecurity should be a business enabler, not just a regulatory checkbox.

We'll cover three critical insights: Why you won't win without charter – How leadership buy-in makes or breaks security efforts. Why compliance programmes always fail – The dangers of a "tick-box" approach to cybersecurity. Why should do is better than must do – How shifting cybersecurity from compliance to value creation benefits the entire business.

Key Takeaways: ✔️ Compliance ≠ Security – Treating cybersecurity as a checklist leads to weak protection and wasted resources. ✔️ Charter is Everything – Without executive buy-in, cybersecurity efforts will always fall short. ✔️ Security Should Enable Business Growth – When cybersecurity is embedded into business strategy, it becomes a competitive advantage.

📢 Enjoyed the session? ✅ Like, subscribe, and follow for more cybersecurity insights ✅ Share this episode with your network ✅ Comment below: How does your organisation approach cybersecurity—compliance or culture?

Will these Cyber threats sink CEOs in 2025?

🎙️ Host: Sean, Director & Founder of Nemstar, an Information Security Specialist Company in Belfast, UK.

🚀 Episode Summary: In this session, we're going beyond the obvious cyber risks like AI, quantum computing, and supplier risk. Instead, we're diving into three overlooked cyber risks that CEOs and business leaders cannot afford to ignore in 2025:

Symbiotic Consultancy – The hidden costs of long-term external consultants and how to regain control over your cybersecurity strategy. Lack of Momentum – Why cybersecurity awareness training stagnates and how to reinvigorate engagement across your organisation. Dysfunctional Governance – How poor leadership structures create cyber vulnerabilities and what you can do to fix them.

💡 Key Takeaways: ✔️ Are you too reliant on external consultants? It's time to build internal expertise and reduce dependency. ✔️ Cybersecurity training needs to be engaging, evolving, and impactful – are you still using the same awareness programme from last year? ✔️ Governance isn't just an IT problem – CEOs and boards must take ownership to drive cybersecurity success.

📢 Enjoyed the session? ✅ Like, subscribe, and follow us for more cybersecurity insights ✅ Share this episode with your network ✅ Let us know your thoughts in the comments – what cyber risks are you tackling this year?