Avoiding Cybersecurity Transformation Traps: Navigating Change From Within

The Stigmas of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs)

Introduction

Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) often face certain stigmas that can hinder their effectiveness within an organization. These stigmas include working in isolation, imposing controls without considering business impact, focusing on technical metrics with unclear value, and lacking listening skills and empathy. In order to address these stigmas and transform into effective advocates for cybersecurity, CISOs must embrace change and focus on input, empathy, and alignment. However, there are several obstacles that can hinder these efforts.

Obstacles to Transformation

Assigning Tasks to the Wrong Subject Matter Expert (SME)

CISOs are responsible for a wide range of tasks and frequently deal with high levels of stress. However, they sometimes fall into the trap of taking action themselves instead of leveraging the soft skills of subject matter experts (SMEs) to optimize resolution. To overcome this obstacle, CISOs must raise engagement between security and the enterprise as a whole. Building relationships with SMEs ensures that the right experts are assigned to the right issues, providing the necessary support. CISOs must trust the people around them to have a comprehensive understanding of what is happening within the organization. By creating pathways for information to flow freely and establishing contacts with external teams, CISOs can effectively ingest information and ensure the proper allocation of personnel and resources to address security concerns.

Failing to Tie Actions to Organizational and Business Goals

If CISOs fail to connect their work to broader organizational and business goals, the value of their actions may not be appreciated by non-IT managers and employees. While CISOs understand why certain controls and responses to threats are necessary, they cannot assume that others outside their team share this understanding. To bridge this credibility gap, it is important for CISOs to proactively communicate with department heads from various areas of the organization, such as finance, marketing, and sales. By learning about their roles, strategic goals, and challenges, CISOs can build trust and ensure that their security efforts align with the organization’s objectives. This helps stakeholders feel confident that threats, risks, and remediation are being approached with a holistic understanding of business goals.

Executing Without Making Broad Impact

CISOs should encourage their team members to consider whether they are implementing fixes that benefit people outside of their own team, or if they are solely focused on making their own lives easier. The goal should always be to think big and achieve a broad impact. The return on investment (ROI) for cybersecurity efforts is directly linked to the ability to sow seeds that will yield results in multiple seasons to come. Working in isolation within security silos can result in being unprepared for security issues and lacking the knowledge of how to handle them effectively. However, by proactively pursuing empathy and alignment as core values, CISOs can build trust, remove informational asymmetries, elevate the conversation across the organization, and lead strategically.

The Path to Effective Cybersecurity Advocacy

Embracing Change and Transformation

To overcome the stigmas often associated with CISOs, it is crucial for CISOs and their teams to embrace change and transformation. This means becoming ubiquitous advocates for cybersecurity and leading the transformation for everyone in the enterprise to become advocates as well. CISOs should focus on input, empathy, and alignment to identify and understand information asymmetries within the organization. By removing these asymmetries and facilitating optimal communications and awareness, CISOs can drive lasting success in cybersecurity efforts.

Editorial Perspective

The challenges faced by CISOs are significant, but the importance of cybersecurity in today’s digital landscape cannot be overstated. As organizations become more interconnected and reliant on technology, the role of the CISO becomes increasingly crucial. It is essential for CISOs to break free from the stigmas often associated with their position and become effective advocates for cybersecurity within their organizations. This requires a shift in mindset, from working in isolation to embracing collaboration and communication. CISOs must continually strive to understand the goals and challenges of other departments and align their cybersecurity efforts with the broader organizational objectives.

Advice for CISOs

For CISOs seeking to overcome the stigmas associated with their role, there are several key considerations to keep in mind. First, build strong relationships with subject matter experts and leverage their skills to optimize solutions. Trust in the expertise of those around you and create pathways for information to flow freely across the organization. Second, actively connect your cybersecurity efforts to the broader goals of the organization. Take the time to understand the roles and challenges of other departments and communicate how your actions contribute to their success. Finally, think beyond your immediate team and consider the broader impact of your actions. Seek to make a lasting impact and contribute to the overall growth of the organization. By embracing these principles and leading with empathy and alignment, CISOs can transform into effective advocates for cybersecurity and drive meaningful change within their organizations.