Cybersecurity white papers provide a straightforward way to add value and build trust with customers.
Consider the following scenario:
You are rolling out a new product to go with your existing product line. This new software will add highly-requested new functionality but requires a greater level of access to your existing customers’ systems. Some have expressed reluctance to pay for this additional functionality because they aren’t sure how secure your new design is. To build trust with your customers, you choose to write a cybersecurity white paper about your new service.
We’ll cover the what, why, and how behind cybersecurity white papers, along with examples so you can see their structure and the potential benefits of using white papers (if you aren’t already).
What Is a Cybersecurity White Paper?
A cybersecurity white paper is a document published by an organization that details the security features of a product or service line. Or, in some cases, a broader cybersecurity strategy.
These documents are meant to be detailed, informative, and authoritative, communicating the technical and security capabilities of your offerings.
Cybersecurity white papers consist of a few key characteristics, including:
A strong central argument or main point
An authoritative, objective tone
Comprehensive analysis of security features
Technical details, diagrams, flowcharts, and tables
Claims that are backed by evidence
White papers are also tailored to reach a specific audience, whether it’s stakeholders, potential customers, or future partners. Since the goal is to reach these audiences, it’s important to keep the information and presentation relevant to them and not so technical that it’s lost on your audience.
How Do Cybersecurity White Papers Help Your Business?
Cybersecurity white papers serve several purposes, but the main benefits are that they educate your audience and address security queries, which can be especially important if you’re on your way to compliance.
Educates Your Audience & Builds Trust
White papers are a detailed, highly transparent look into a specific offering. They educate the customer with technical and security information that is the result of careful analysis and evidence-based claims.
This helps establish your security credibility and authority. In turn, this building of trust and confidence means customers are more likely to close a sale.
Addresses Security Questions in a Compliance Gap
Cybersecurity white papers cover security offerings in depth, which means they address security-related queries in the form of an easy-to-share, published document. Sometimes, the right white paper could be an acceptable substitute for formal compliance documentation (depending on the customer).
For example, let’s say you are SOC 2 compliant . If your last SOC 2 report was months ago, but you’ve recently added a new service, a white paper could help bridge the gap until your next SOC 2 report! With a cybersecurity white paper, you’re providing a detailed explanation of your service, security measures, evidence, and analysis. As such, you’re demonstrating, let’s call it, strong evidence of “yet-to-be-official” compliance and the added bonus of a forward-thinking commitment to security.
How Do You Create Valuable Cybersecurity White Papers?
Cybersecurity white papers are more than a piece of marketing material, as we’ve established. If you’re ready to add them to your repertoire, here’s the general approach to how they’re typically written.
1. Expert Cybersecurity Analysis
Security experts conduct a thorough analysis of your product, service, or feature (we’ll use “product” going forward). They’ll do a deep dive into technical details, features, strengths and weaknesses, vulnerabilities, differentiators, etc.
This is a crucial first step for ensuring that the final version of the white paper is comprehensive, accurate, and authoritative.
2. Interviews with Key Designers
Interviews with designers or developers can provide valuable insights into the process of creating the product from start to finish. This process can help answer questions like the concept or goal behind the project, the steps to design and implement the product, the unseen challenges along the way, and how the finished product works to achieve said goal.
It’s also a great opportunity to highlight the team’s expertise and innovative thinking behind your product.
3. Detailed Security Descriptions
Next, you’ll take the findings from the previous steps to draft a preliminary description. The goal here is to include as much relevant information as possible, as well as presenting it clearly and comprehensively in a way that flows logically.
It’s important to keep the audience in mind since the information will need to be accessible to them rather than overly technical. In this step, you’ll also add diagrams, tables, graphs (and other graphics) that help visualize important details and simplify intricate security concepts.
4. Fact-Checking and Approval
Of course, any information will need to be fact-checked rigorously. Every piece of data needs to be correct, checked through cross-referencing, verifying technical accuracy, and ensuring that any statement made is backed by clear evidence.
Once the fact-checking process is complete, the cybersecurity white paper will be reviewed by all relevant parties, including development, cybersecurity teams , and marketing. This ensures that the document is technically correct and aligns with the company’s brand and marketing goals.
Who Should Write Your Cybersecurity White Papers?
While you could handle this process internally, not every company has the resources and time to complete such a thorough process. Especially if you’ve just spent a significant amount of time and energy adding a new security feature to your business.
Here are two more reasons why you should consider using a third party to write your white papers:
Enhanced Trust
Using a third-party cybersecurity firm to write your white papers adds an extra layer of credibility. After all, third parties with a reputation are not quick to stamp their name on something they don’t believe in. When you choose a cybersecurity consultant to write the white paper, customers will have added assurance that the white paper is thorough, accurate, and trustworthy.
Independent Evaluation
Another key benefit is that you’ll get feedback from a reputable third-party cybersecurity expert in the process of extensively reviewing your new product. This is a great opportunity to get a fresh perspective on your product, including potential suggestions for improvements or other changes to improve your overall security posture.
Case Study: How a Virtual CISO Saved CTO Hours While Achieving SOC 2
What Are Some Examples of Cybersecurity White Papers?
As far as what cybersecurity white papers actually look like, here are examples from two major companies:
Introduction to AWS Security
This white paper, prepared by Amazon Web Services , details its security measures as a very complex, large business offering a host of services. It’s a great example because it introduces cybersecurity without being overly complicated or inaccessible.
Hubspot Security Overview
Hubspot is a huge player in marketing, offering another solid example of how security can be discussed in easy-to-understand terms that are accessible to any customer in their intended audience.
What Next?
If you are considering adding white papers to your toolbox to establish credibility, educate customers, and build trust, this guide should prove to be a helpful introduction.
But if you’re ready to move forward and are looking for a reputable third party to help produce your cybersecurity white papers, at Fractional CISO , we can help. We have written multiple cybersecurity white papers for our clients, helping them to win additional business from existing and new customers.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you extend your reach and build customer trust through cybersecurity and compliance, please reach out to us today . We are always happy to help.