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Restoring Executive-Level Security Leadership for a Specialty Manufacturer

An external security audit revealed multiple gaps across technology, processes, and policies at a specialty manufacturer operating in highly regulated markets. While the organization had capable technical staff, it lacked executive-level ownership of cyber security as a strategic business function. The Board issued a six-month mandate to close the gaps or risk existing and future business.

 

The internal cyber security team, focused on day-to-day operations , could not meet the timeline alone. A Fractional Executive was engaged to provide leadership, translate audit findings into a business-aligned security strategy, and drive execution across teams. This effort included establishing governance, prioritization, training, and communications to elevate security from an operational concern to an executive-managed discipline.

Challenge

The client manufactures specialty materials used in the mining and aerospace industries, where proprietary manufacturing recipes and public safety considerations demand rigorous security and compliance standards. Annual third-party audits are required to maintain customer trust and regulatory standing.

 

While the organization employed a competent cyber security team, there was no executive-level ownership for aligning security efforts with business risk, regulatory expectations, and board-level priorities. The audit identified several critical and numerous lower-level deficiencies, exposing both proprietary formulas and public safety risks. Without executive ownership to prioritize and coordinate remediation, the organization faced material business and reputational risk.

The Solution

The client engaged a Fractional Leader to establish executive accountability for cyber security and lead a focused remediation effort from strategy through execution. Acting as the de facto security executive, the Fractional Leader provided governance, prioritization, and cross-functional alignment, including:

  • Analyzing audit findings and mapping gaps to recognized security frameworks such as NIST and CES

  • Establishing executive-level prioritization and a sequenced remediation roadmap aligned to business risk

  • Creating and formalizing a comprehensive Cyber Security policy and governance model

  • Coordinating across IT, operations, and business teams to close technical gaps and secure ownership and timelines

  • Partnering with Training and Communications to deploy a company-wide security awareness program

  • Assisting in obtaining required certifications for conducting business with the Federal government

 

This approach ensured security initiatives were driven by business risk and regulatory need—not just technical urgency.

Results

After completing the project, all security deficiencies were resolved and security policies and procedures were completely revamped. This enabled the manufacturer to present themselves to their board and customers as being compliant and positioned them to meet additional standards as they expand into new businesses.

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