Governing for enterprise security means viewing adequate security as a non-negotiable requirement of being in business. If an organization's management does not establish and reinforce the business need for effective enterprise security, the organization's desired state of security will not be articulated, achieved, or sustained. To achieve a sustainable capability, organizations must make enterprise security the responsibility of leaders at a governance level, not of other organizational roles that lack the authority, accountability, and resources to act and enforce compliance.

This implementation guide builds upon prior publications by providing prescriptive guidance for creating and sustaining an enterprise security governance program. It is geared for senior leaders, including those who serve on boards of directors or the equivalent. Throughout the implementation guide, we describe the elements of an enterprise security program (ESP) and suggest how leaders can oversee, direct, and control it, and thereby exercise appropriate governance.

Elevating security to a governance-level concern fosters attentive, security-conscious leaders who are better positioned to protect an organization's digital assets, operations, market position, and reputation. This document presents a roadmap and practical guidance that will help business leaders implement an effective security governance program.