CISOs' Crucial Role In Aligning Security Goals With Enterprise Expectations
HelpNet Security, Wednesday, January 17th, 2024
In this Help Net Security interview, Chris Mixter, Vice President, Analyst at Gartner, discusses the dynamic world of CISOs and how their roles have evolved significantly over the years. He outlines the critical skills for CISOs in 2024, addresses the challenges they face, and underscores the importance of aligning enterprise expectations with information protection demands.
How has the role of the CISO evolved in recent years, especially in steering through challenges and leading with vision?
Gartner observes four stages of evolution in CISOs at every organization: controls manager -> risk decision owner -> trusted facilitator -> and value creator. Each stage builds on the stage prior to it, so, we're not positioning any of these stages as 'bad' or 'immature,' but rather as pre-requisites for and contributors to performance at the next stage as well. We regularly benchmark CISO effectiveness and the majority of CISOs self-identify as being at the stages of 'risk decision owner' or 'trusted facilitator.' Most CISOs have evolved beyond merely being control managers and the role of 'value creator' is still rarified air.