From the Back Office to the Boardroom: The Changing Role of the Security Executive

HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS CHANGE AND SHIFT TO A RISK-CENTRIC APPROACH

CISOs and other security executives have long been perceived as the “no” people of the organization, shutting down new ideas, tools or proposals (often late in the process) due to concerns with compliance and risk.

But things are changing as executive boards are elevating information security to the forefront of their strategic planning. Rather than being the consistent voice that says “no,” security executives are being brought in earlier to report on the risk posture and have a voice in the business strategy.

This is a dramatic shift in roles. Once a back-office “doer,” the CISO or other similar security executive is now a communicator and influencer in the C-suite and boardroom. In this white paper, we’ll look at the forces driving the evolution of the security leadership role and offer concrete advice on the best way to make this shift.