Personality Profile: Cyber Risk Leadership and CISOs
In partnership for our May Blog Series, we have joined forces with Cyber SC! Every Wednesday, in an effort to learn more and speak more on the topic of Cyber-Security, we will be sharing a blog from their archives. As experts on the topic, we thought it would be a great opportunity and focus as we head away from COVID-19 and back to some semblance of reality. With things at a vulnerable state, the topic is more important than ever, so, we hope you enjoy! And, a huge thank you to Dominic Vogel and his team at Cyber SC for making this possible!
The following is written by Cyber SC
The typical Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has a unique set of skills and experiences that allow them to adapt to almost any corporate culture. In order to get the most out of your relationship with your CISO, it will be helpful for you to understand what makes them tick.
MENTALITY AND SKILL-SETS
CISO’s are usually good communicators with strong analytical capabilities. They can creatively think outside the box, systematically implement cyber security controls and assess the most dangerous cyber threats. They offer organizations a big-picture perspective of the most current threats across multiple industries. As subject matter experts, experienced CISOs are driven by continuous learning and improvement. They are also team players and excel at building teams to solve problems and achieve collaborative wins.
BACKGROUNDS AND CAREER PATHS
A well-rounded cyber security leader speaks the languages of risk, business, and technology. They have to speak in terms that resonate with, and are understood by, the C-suite and board of directors. They can generally adapt and adjust to a wide range of business environments and cultures. The typical career path of a CISO is unlike most traditional careers. CISOs come from a variety of backgrounds including: Enterprise risk, IT, Law Enforcement, Privacy, and the military.
WORK PREFERENCES
When selecting your CISO, you should look for someone who is not only productive, but who is also flexible and able to adapt to difficult situations. Flexibility and independence are important to CISO’s and they prefer to have a variety of locations and environments to work in. Security is a business function that touches everyone and everything in the company. At the end of the day, the CISO is responsible for making things work and accountable to the organization to do what needs to be done.
If you can show your CISO that you understand their unique makeup and mentality, they will be deeply appreciative and effective in their role in your organization. If you can provide them with the right conditions to flourish, they will be a tremendous asset for you.
Not every organization will be able to find or afford to pay a full-time CISO. That is very virtual CISO services are handy! Especially for small and midsize organizations that cannot afford to have a full-time CISO on payroll. Tapping into a virtual CISO service allows your organization to leverage top-notch expertise and leadership at a fraction of the cost.
Regardless if you pay for an in-house CISO or rely on a virtual CISO it is imperative that your organization have cyber risk leadership. This is a critical business risk that demands proper oversight and guidance.