Customer Advisory Boards for
Information-Security Focused Companies

Unlock Exclusive Access to Your CISO Clients Through Customer Advisory Boards

Trying to reach out and engage CISOs is proving to be almost “mission impossible” for many security companies. CISOs and security decision makers have become increasingly out of reach, occupied with managing complex security threats, a limited security talent pool, and ever-changing regulations.

CISOs crave meaningful interactions with other CISOs in a real peer exchange environment. A well-run Customer Advisory Board (CAB) will create ongoing access to CISOs, enabling you to collaborate closely with your most important customers.

A CAB will keep you relevant and aligned with the ever-changing demands of the cyber security industry. You’ll give yourself a competitive advantage by having strategic discussions with decision-makers at key accounts, in your customer advisory board.

However, expertise and meticulous planning are essential for the creation and management of a successful CAB.

Customer Advisory Board Best Practices from Forcepoint

Leverage a Proven Customer Advisory Board Process to Engage Key Clients

Here at Ignite Advisory Group, we have created a proven process and platform for engaging 15 to 20 CISOs in your top client base through the creation and management of strategic customer advisory boards (CABs).

We have convened CISOs from Nike, Dell, Best Buy, Goldman Sachs, Electronic Arts, Bank of America, GE Capital, Honeywell, Koch Industries, and more.

Ignite’s proven methodology for managing and evolving customer advisory boards has been developed from completing over 300 engagements for leading B2B companies, including:
Amazon Web Services, CyberArk, Dell SecureWorks, Intel Security (McAfee), Arbor Networks (NETSCOUT), Forcepoint, NortonLifeLock, Sailpoint, Carbon Black (VMware), and Skybox Security.

Some clients that Ignite has helped create and manage
security-focused Customer Advisory Boards

amazon.com_web_services
Arbor
Carbon Black Customer Advisory Board
Cisco
Cyber Ark Customer Advisory Board
F5 Customer Advisory Board
amazon.com_web_services
McAfee by Intel
NETSPI Customer Advisory Board
Pindrop Customer Advisory Board
RiskIQ Customer Advisory Board
SailPoint CAB
Dell SecureWorks CAB
Skybox Security CAB
SolarWinds CAB
Tenable CAB
Veracode CAB
Vercara CAB

The Customer Advisory Boards we have helped are focused on key security industry topics, such as:

  • Enabling Security through AI
  • Cybercrime and Evolving Threats
  • The Business Case for Threat Detection
  • Big Data Infrastructure Management
  • Mobile Applications, Devices and the Internet of Things
  • Managing Remote Employees and Third Parties
  • Internal Security Policies, Training and Communication Best Practices
  • Information Security Hiring and Skills Gap
  • Gathering Executive Support
  • Privacy and Regulation
  • Exploring the Future of Next-Gen Antivirus
  • The Shift of Security into the Cloud
  • Predicting Blind Spots
  • The Fabric of a World-Class Security Ecosystem

Ignite Advisory Group is the Leading Global Authority on Customer Advisory Board Planning, Strategy, and Virtual Meeting Processes

Contact Us to Learn More

Customer Focus Drives Value

A well-designed and managed Customer Advisory Board enables B2B companies to:

  • Increase understanding of how the company’s products and services benefit customers
  • Increase understanding of how to best close product or service gaps and voids
  • Validate strategy and gain feedback for new ideas and product development
  • Gain internal alignment on customer perspective and go-to-market plans
  • Deepen relationships with top accounts
  • Increase market intelligence on competitor strategies
  • Strengthen customer advocates

The key to Ignite Advisory Group’s innovative and successful approach is structuring Customer Advisory Boards around common interests and concerns — so customers derive as much benefit from participation as the sponsoring company.

A tightly-focused and customer-driven client advisory board agenda that is aligned to your company’s strategic objectives, combined with a plan for ongoing engagement and actioning on insights from the board yields the greatest ROI.

Benefits and Strategic Impact of Customer Advisory Boards

 Business Dimension Functional Areas Typical Results
Strategy 
  • Plans and directions
  • Validation of thinking on business development, pricing, channels, sales force, marketing strategy, M&A, organizational culture
 Solutions
  • Overall service or product roadmap
  • Product introductions
  • Beta Customers 
  • Validate direction and approach, as well as feature set viability and functionality
  • Board member companies actively engage and preview product launches
  • Successful roll out of new offerings
Account Management
  • Key Account Management
  • Sales process and revenue 
  • Ensure business goal alignment for account managers
  • Orient sales process to real buying needs and cycles
  • Expand direct access to senior leadership
 Customer Satisfaction
  • Customer Loyalty
  • Increase executive engagement
  • Increase organic revenue
Marketing
  • Value propositions
  • Marketing spend and marketing mix
  • Thought Leadership
 
  • Clarify and distill relevant messaging
  • Revamp positioning and powerful branding
  • Optimize marketing ROI
  • Impact industry with effective subcommittee work products 
Customer Advisory Board Management Process

Customer Advisory Board Management Process

Watch our [Webinar On Demand] Create Engaging CAB Meeting Agendas

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Recent Blog Posts

CAB Agenda and Member Interview FAQs

CAB Agenda and Member Interview FAQs

During our webinars for customer advisory board (CAB) managers, we love learning about the issues they may be challenged with in running their own CAB programs. Through submitted questions, we gather insights into their struggles, where they are facing roadblocks or...

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