Our Tip this week focuses on some key, interesting findings in the Ponemon Institute’s “2009 Annual Study: Cost of a Data Breach.” If you haven’t read the report already, you can find it here on the web (and elsewhere). It’s sponsored by PGP.

According to the report, the leadership of a CISO or equivalent position substantially reduces the overall cost of data breaches (page 4). The study indicates that companies who have an experienced “point person” to manage the response to a data breach experienced an astounding 50 percent reduction in data breach cost.

Who you have on your team could make a difference of millions of dollars in a single breach incident. Leadership in high-pressure or at least high-stakes circumstances is priceless. Just ask any major pro sports team.

Consider ahead of time what your business will do in the unfortunate event that you find yourself saddled with a data breach. Who will be in charge? What authority will he have? What experience in dealing with such cases does she have? What resources can he command?

Just as we continually beat the drum of “preparedness” from a technology standpoint, to avoid a breach altogether, we also must trumpet the tune of “preparedness” for a data breach response. And that begins with key leadership in that time of need.

Do you have it?