Freshworks Inc. - (FRSH)
10-K Filing Date: February 16, 2024
Item 1C. Cybersecurity
Risk management and strategy
We have implemented and maintain various information security processes designed to identify, assess and manage material risks from cybersecurity threats to our critical computer networks, third party hosted services, communications systems, hardware and software, and our critical data, including intellectual property, confidential information that is proprietary, strategic or competitive in nature, and data related to our customers and employees (Information Systems and Data).
Our Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), our information security team, and third-party service providers help identify, assess, and manage our cybersecurity threats and risks, including through the use of our cybersecurity risk assessment program. Our CISO along with this team, as applicable, identifies and assesses risks from cybersecurity threats by monitoring and evaluating our threat environment and our risk profile using various methods, including automated and manual tools, third-party threat feeds, internal audits, access control assessments, and evaluating threats reported to us by various third party enterprise threat reporting services.
Depending on the environment, we implement and maintain various technical, physical, and organizational measures, processes, standards, and policies designed to manage and mitigate material risks from cybersecurity threats to our Information Systems and Data, including, for example: dedicated cybersecurity staff, including a 24X7 security operations center monitoring for and responding to threat activity, incident response plans and processes, vulnerability management, secure software development, static and dynamic code scanning for vulnerabilities, open-source software scanning, internal and third-party penetration testing, a bug bounty program, internal audit and assurance of security controls, disaster recovery/business continuity plans, attainment and maintenance of industry-standard security certifications, identity and access management, asset management, tracking and disposal, encryption, access controls, third-party risk management, phish testing and reporting, employee security awareness training, and maintaining cybersecurity insurance.
Our assessment and management of material risks from cybersecurity threats are integrated into our overall risk management processes. For example, cybersecurity risks are considered a part of our overall business strategy, financial planning, and capital allocation.
We use third-party service providers to assist us from time to time to identify, assess, and manage material risks from cybersecurity threats. Our information security leadership inventories and prioritizes information security risks and evaluates material risks from cybersecurity threats, and reports those quarterly to the audit committee of our board of directors (Audit Committee), which evaluates our overall enterprise risk.
We use third-party service providers to perform a variety of security functions throughout our business, such as SaaS security providers, cloud-native application protection platforms, dark web monitoring, and software code scanning. We have a vendor management program to manage cybersecurity risks associated with our use of these providers. The program includes risk assessments and imposition of contractual obligations. Depending on the nature of the services provided, the sensitivity of the Information Systems and Data at issue, and the identity of the provider, our vendor management process may involve different levels of assessment designed to help identify cybersecurity risks associated with a provider, which may impose contractual obligations related to cybersecurity on the provider. For a description of the risks from cybersecurity threats that may materially affect us and how they may do so, see our risk factors under Part 1. Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including "If our information technology, systems, or those of third parties upon which we rely or our data are or were to be compromised, we could experience adverse consequences resulting from such compromise, including, but not limited to, regulatory investigations or actions, litigation, fines and penalties, disruptions of our business operations, reputational harm, loss of revenue or profits, and other adverse consequences."
Governance
Our board of directors addresses our cybersecurity risk management as part of its general oversight function. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing our cybersecurity risk management processes, including oversight and mitigation of risks from cybersecurity threats.
Our cybersecurity risk assessment and management processes are implemented and maintained by our CISO and our information security team. Our CISO has served in various roles in information technology and information security for more than 20 years, including serving as the Chief Information Security Officer at a publicly traded SaaS company and large e-commerce company. Our CISO works with our broader Information Technology team on IT security issues and also works with our product organization, finance, legal and internal controls teams.
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Our CISO is responsible for hiring appropriate personnel, helping to integrate cybersecurity risk considerations into our overall risk management strategy, and communicating key priorities to relevant personnel. Our CISO is responsible for overseeing our Information Security budget, helping prepare for cybersecurity incidents, approving cybersecurity processes, and reviewing security assessments and other security-related reports.
Our cybersecurity incident response process is designed to escalate certain cybersecurity incidents to members of management depending on the circumstances including our CISO, our Chief Financial Officer and our Chief Legal Officer. Upon consultation with our Chief Financial Officer and our Chief Legal Officer, our CISO works with our incident response team to help us mitigate and remediate cybersecurity incidents of which they are notified. In addition, our incident response process includes reporting to the Audit Committee for certain cybersecurity incidents.
The Audit Committee receives reports as part of its quarterly meetings from our CISO concerning our significant cybersecurity threats and risk and the processes we have implemented to address them. Our board also receives periodic reports (at least annually) from our CISO regarding the our overall cybersecurity landscape, including material related to cybersecurity threats, risk, and mitigation.