C-Suite Confusion Over Data Governance Prompts Urgent Advisory Engagement to Strengthen Cyber Oversight
The Challenge
Northern Apex Enterprises is a national management firm with several clients and subsidiaries. During a quarterly strategy meeting, executives realized no one was formally accountable for data governance or cybersecurity oversight. Core documents — data retention rules, access control reports, and breach escalation procedures — had not been reviewed or updated in more than two years.
When an external auditor requested proof of PIPEDA compliance, the absence of centralized documentation became clear. Sensitive client records were stored on shared drives without consistent approval workflows. The board did not receive structured cyber risk reports, and critical issues rarely reached directors in a timely way.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner flagged incomplete evidence of data handling controls. Investors and clients raised concerns. The board concluded the failure was not a technical breakdown but a governance gap at the executive level. The deeper problem was cultural. Leaders still viewed cybersecurity as an IT issue instead of a business risk that requires C-suite ownership and regular board oversight.
Our Solution
We launched an Executive Cyber Governance Advisory Engagement to restore clarity and accountability.
- Ran a leadership governance audit with structured interviews to map who decides, who approves, and who is accountable for cyber and privacy risk.
- Drafted a Cyber Governance Charter that assigns responsibilities to the CEO, CIO, General Counsel, and business unit leaders, with clear RACI mapping.
- Implemented a board-level reporting framework that converts technical metrics into concise business insights and risk appetite indicators.
- Formed a Cross-Functional Cyber Risk Committee to coordinate IT, legal, compliance, and operations, and to manage incident escalation.
- Delivered targeted executive training on PIPEDA accountability, incident communications, and regulator engagement.
- Established a recurring review cycle that aligns quarterly board updates with annual governance audits.
The Value
Within three months, Northern Apex realized measurable improvements: The organization now treats cybersecurity governance as a shared leadership duty. Decisions are clearer, reporting is consistent, and oversight is active.
- Full alignment with PIPEDA accountability principles and complete audit evidence on file.
- 82% improvement in post-training executive awareness scores, indicating stronger literacy in governance and privacy obligations.
- A live cyber risk dashboard in the board pack that supports faster, better decisions.
- Restored stakeholder confidence, reflected in renewed investor interest and firmer third-party relationships.
Implementation Roadmap
Phase 1: Assessment (Weeks 1–2). Conduct executive interviews, review documents, and identify accountability gaps.
Phase 2: Framework Development (Weeks 3–5). Build the Governance Charter, reporting templates, KPIs, and escalation routes.
Phase 3: Integration (Weeks 6–8). Stand up the Cyber Risk Committee and align IT, legal, and compliance under unified oversight.
Phase 4: Executive Enablement (Weeks 9–10). Provide PIPEDA-focused training and finalize incident communications playbooks.
Phase 5: Validation (Ongoing). Hold quarterly board reviews and annual governance audits, and track improvement against KPIs.
