CISO's perspective from the frontlines

So, you want to be a CISO

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Having spent a few years in information security, you’re likely drawn to its challenges, the fascinating tech, and the noble mission. Perhaps you’ve even dreamt of climbing the ladder to become a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) one day. But what if the opportunity landed in your lap unexpectedly, with someone tapping your shoulder and asking if you’d be interested in taking the reins? So, what do you do?

Like everything else, there are pros and cons you will need to consider before making that decision and if there is one piece of advice I can provide you it will be: “Know what you get yourself into, and do it for the right reasons!” … well maybe these are two pieces.

The wrong reasons for taking the role

Whenever someone tells me they want to be a CISO, I always ask them why. Unfortunately, some are seeking this role for all the wrong reasons.

  1. Title and Prestige
    Sure, the title sounds impressive, but in most companies, the CISO isn’t actually a full-fledged C-level executive. Some people think flaunting their title will make everyone listen and obey their CISO decrees, but that almost never works.
  2. High Compensation
    The high salary may be tempting, but many quickly realize the pressure outweighs the compensation. Trust me, it is not as high as one thinks.
  3. The desire to “show them how it’s done
    Security pros, fueled by a hunger for change, vow to rewrite the cybersecurity playbook as a CISO. Bad news: The people lack of buy-in or support usually has nothing to do with your title, so don’t get cocky! If you think that you will come in and “show them”, you will find that pretty quickly they will show you the door.
  4. The desire to be the technical master
    Strong technical skills are crucial for security leaders, but they alone won’t cut it. As a CISO your role is not to be the Chief Architect, instead as a security leader you must be able to help the business navigate, take and balance risk.
  5. Wanting to do it all or being the smartest person on the team
    I came across security practitioners that felt they are the only ones who know how things should be done and tried to challenge and micro manage their team. One even dreamt of the top job as a ticket to fun work and dumping the rest.
    As a leader, it’s your job to empower your team, clear their path, and give them the support they need to focus on their goals.

The right reasons for taking the role

Choosing to become a CISO can be a fulfilling and impactful career move. Here are five compelling reasons why someone might choose to pursue the role of a CISO:

  1. Leadership and Strategic Impact
    The CISO role provides an opportunity to lead strategically in the realm of cybersecurity. As a CISO, you have the chance to shape the organization’s security posture, align cybersecurity initiatives with overall business goals, and contribute to the strategic decision-making process.
  2. Protecting Critical Assets
    CISOs take on the critical responsibility of protecting an organization’s vital assets, including sensitive information, intellectual property, and customer data. If you are passionate about protecting valuable assets from cyber threats and breaches, the CISO role allows you to have a direct impact on organizational security.
  3. Building and Leading High-Performing Teams
    The CISO assembles and leads a team of cybersecurity professionals. If you are passionate mentorship and inspiring a talented group of individuals, the CISO role offers that opportunity.
  4. Innovation in Cybersecurity Practices
    The dynamic nature of cybersecurity requires continual innovation to stay ahead of evolving threats as well as the evolvement of the business. As CISO, you’ll constantly engage with and utilize emerging technologies to improve security practices and devise innovative solutions for cybersecurity challenges.
  5. Strategic Influence on Organizational Culture
    CISOs have the opportunity to influence and shape the organization’s cybersecurity culture. If you are passionate about creating a security-aware culture where every employee understands their role in protecting information, becoming a CISO allows you to instill a proactive security mindset throughout the organization.

THe best part about being a CISO

There are so many great reasons of why to be a CISO. It’s about doing something meaningful and important, it’s about always learning and never getting bored, it’s about being part of something that is greater than yourself, but If I had to choose one thing and one thing only, hands down it would be THE PEOPLE! Not only you will get an opportunity to partner, collaborate and help people but there is an amazing community of CISOs and other security professionals that are always happy to engage and support. You will be part of one big amazing and supportive family.

The bad part about being a CISO

I won’t lie to you, it is not only rainbows and unicorns. The role is very demanding and can be very stressful. You and your team will always be swamped with work, and there’s no such thing as “finished” in this role..

CISOs need to strike a delicate balance between implementing adequate security measures and enabling the business to function efficiently. This can be tricky, as security measures can sometimes slow down business processes. There are many tradeoffs that you need to make, and even despite your best efforts you may be blamed for a security compromise.

Conclusion

The decision to become a CISO should align with your passion for the craft , commitment to enable the business, manage risk, and the desire to make a strategic impact on the organization’s mission. The role offers a unique blend of leadership, people skills, technical expertise, and the opportunity to contribute significantly to the overall success of the organization in the digital age.

In future posts, I will delve deeper into essential skills of the role.

About the author

yaron

Yaron is a seasoned multi-industry Cyber Security Leader. He is 2x CISO, Research Fellow for the Cloud Security Alliance, Security Tinkerer, Advisory Board Member for several cyber security startups and venture firms, and a Mentor to other CISOs and members of the security community.

By yaron
CISO's perspective from the frontlines

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