CISO - A Visionary Leadership

 

Hello friends,

A CISO role is a role that changes color every year and sometimes even more.

There are quite a few people who wonder what the role of the CISO (Chief Information Officer) is. To Whom is CISO reporting? Is this a C-Level role? What makes a CISO great? And quite a few more questions.

Following my experience and additional research, I will make some order on the subject and distribute my answer clearly and fluently for each question.

I will focus on the three questions I mentioned as they are frequently asked.

 

A. What is the role of the CISO?

The primary responsibility of the CISO in the organization is: (Categories)

Security operations on the company's local assets and/or in the various clouds

1. Cyber ​​Risk and Intelligence
2. Detection and prevention of data loss and attempted fraud
3. Security architecture
4. Identity management and access to organizational systems
5. Management of annual plans and roadmap for at least three years
6. Event detection, investigation, and criminal identification
7. Governance, policy description, and processes that determine how organizations identify, prevent, and respond to cyber incidents
8. Risk survey and preliminary activity to reduce and avoid damage
9. Initiating and leading the implementation of standards/standards/laws in information security

 

The primary skills required from CISO are:

Risk and standardization management, extensive technical experience and knowledge, identity management, crisis management, application, and database security, data, and asset management, smartphone management and all remote connection equipment, disaster recovery planning, communications and firewall management, strategic management and execution tactics, recognition and knowledge of integrity / Laws / various standards in information security

Key leadership qualities expected of CISO are: (Categories)

1. Leading processes for execution and persuasiveness
2. Cooperation between organizations and in general
3. High personal communication
4. Management of objections
5. Transfer of targeted information to management
6. Has a flight and vision
7. Business thinking with a balance of strategic technological and technical thinking
8. Decision making

Key character traits expected from CISO are: (Categories)

1. Integrity
2. Curiosity and constant learning
3. Neat and organized
4. Time management and priorities
5. High interpersonal communication
6. Promotion, improvement, and streamlining
7. Independent

 

B. To whom the CISO is subject in the organizational hierarchy

 

Every organization is different, and there is no standard universal reporting system. Until a few years ago, it was customary for the CISO to report to the CIO (Chief Information Officer), but as the cyber world continues to evolve and its complexity increases and requirements only increase (threats, risks, constant awareness, regulations, and standards, etc.) then large organizations recommend the CISO be C -Level. (This is the answer to the third question, is CISO a C-Level role)

In light of the described and years of experience, there are Common Practices regarding CISO subordination in the organizational hierarchy, when each has its advantages and disadvantages. (Subordinates to CRO / CTO / COO / CFO etc.)

 

C. Is CISO a C-Level position?

Please take a look at my answer to question B.

 

D. What makes a great CISO? (Some examples)

 

1. Responsibility for making sure the board of the company and the CEO understand, and

are aware of security, knowing; what are the high-level threats and exposures, what could be the financial impact on the business, and putting together a strategic plan for cyber security to make sure that it's appropriately implemented across an organization and no surprises are waiting at the door.

1. Business enabler
2. Approach: Fact-based, holistic, and multilayered
3. Adopt Security on business changes & growth. Be creative in architecting a solution
4. Regularly Data-Driven Security Risk Awareness and prevention

 

 

I hope I was able to make some order on the subject 😊

 

I would appreciate any feedback, remarks, or clarifications.