Why CISOs Need Financial Models, Not Just Security Metrics 

**Executive Summary:** This brief argues that security leaders should move beyond operational metrics and adopt financial risk modeling—using methods such as Annual Loss Expectancy (ALE) and ROI/value modeling—to quantify expected loss, prevention value, and return on security investments; it presents a practical four-step framework (quantify expected loss, model prevention impact, estimate ROI scenarios, align investment to risk reduction) and highlights modern tools that make scenario-based financial modeling feasible for CISOs seeking to justify budgets and communicate cybersecurity as enterprise risk.