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Strategic leadership: CISOs play a fundamental role in the security ecosystem of any organization. Cyber threats are advancing at a rapid pace, becoming increasingly sophisticated and dangerous. This is largely due to the fast evolution of technology, the growing complexity of cyber attackers, and the expansion of attack surfaces through interconnected systems and devices. In this context, security leaders must shift their focus from tactical defense to a more robust strategic leadership.

 

Growing budgets? Strategic leadership must drive the change!

Despite 71% of companies reporting that their cybersecurity budgets will increase in 2024, security strategies and investments are not necessarily keeping pace with the growing threats. Security leaders must be the strategic guides who ensure that investments align with the severity of the threats, not just reactive responses.

 

The AI threat:

A challenge security leaders cannot ignore 95% of IT and security professionals believe cyber threats will become even more dangerous due to artificial intelligence. However, nearly one-third of them still lack a documented strategy to address the risks posed by generative AI. In this scenario, they must take on a decisive role and develop clear strategic plans within their strategic leadership to mitigate the risks associated with AI.

 

Do non-technical leaders really understand cybersecurity? The security leader as a bridge between areas

There is a significant gap in cybersecurity understanding between security leaders and non-IT leaders. While 60% of leaders outside of IT claim to have high or extreme confidence in their organization’s ability to prevent or stop a damaging security incident in the next 12 months, only 46% of IT professionals share that level of confidence. This disconnect highlights the need for security leaders to educate executives and non-IT leaders about the true risks organizations face.

 

Vulnerability management: Is it being understood by leaders?

Strategic leadership must be the teacher! 55% of IT and security professionals report that non-IT leaders do not fully understand vulnerability management. Additionally, 47% of non-IT leaders admit to not having a deep knowledge of this critical area. This lack of understanding can lead to poor decisions, meaning that security leaders must bridge this gap and ensure that leadership priorities do not compromise the organization’s security.

 

Perspective differences: Security vs. non-technical leaders

Another point of tension between security professionals and non-IT executives is how they perceive the impact of cyber risks. Executive leaders tend to focus more on the financial, legal, and reputational consequences of cyberattacks, while security leaders focus more on the operational and technical aspects of damage. For example, 24% of executive leaders rate the reputational impact of cyber risks as high, compared to just 15% of security professionals. It is crucial that strategic leadership in cybersecurity translates technical language into terms that executives can understand and value.

 

Cybersecurity as a strategic topic:

Security leaders at the center of decisions 86% of organizations state that cyber risk management is now discussed at the board level, and 84% report that security leaders are regularly invited to high-level strategic meetings. This highlights the growing relevance of cybersecurity in business decisions, beyond the technical aspect.

 

The role of strategic leadership in risk communication

Mike Riemer, field CISO at Ivanti, emphasizes that the role of the security leader is to effectively communicate the true risk the organization faces and understand how different security incidents can impact the company as a whole. As the threat landscape becomes more volatile and unpredictable, security leaders must balance employee productivity with security, ensuring that the entire organization is aligned.

 

Security leaders as strategic leaders

Success is no longer just about protecting systems; it is now critical to the overall success of the organization. Security leaders must be seen not only as guardians of cybersecurity but also as key players in strategic leadership who influence the future and resilience of the business. The time for action for cybersecurity leadership is now!