The current surge in artificial intelligence (AI) investments is set to elevate cybersecurity risks across nearly all organizations, positioning the chief of cybersecurity as a CEO’s most crucial hire. Exceptional chief information security officers (CISOs)—who possess a mix of technical expertise, strategic insight, board-level communication abilities, and leadership skills—are highly sought after but scarce. As technology continually evolves, so too does the requisite skill set for effective cybersecurity management.
Outstanding CISOs are hard to find, so it’s important to choose carefully. Here are five strategies to ensure you’ve made the right selection.
Attracting the Best
How do CEOs, executive teams, and their HR partners attract top talent from the market? Here are some strategies they employ.
1. Level and structure the role appropriately:
If the security of your enterprise data, customer information, or even product-related data is crucial to your organization—where a single mishap could significantly affect revenue—it’s essential to empower the role appropriately. Avoid placing it under IT operations where you may attract more technologists than leaders. Opt for having the CISO report directly to either: 1) The Chief Information Officer (CIO), who ideally should have direct access and reportability towards what technology contributes importantly within businesses. 2)** Alternatively ** giving peer-level standing alongside other company executives. In situations with less severe risk considerations OR sufficiently trained CIOs such as those proficiently knowledgeable about system integrity issues then – positioning this responsibility lower might be practical! Identifying whether responsibilities lie pertaining exclusively on protecting: – Enterprise-wide / Product-specific secured measures; Ensuring understanding around organizational scale needs? Although enlisting capable individuals helps navigate complexities therein. The extent preparatory thought given does genuinely return dividends over time through implementation success..
2. Educate your board:
Public company boards are still grappling with understanding their role in cyber governance. They frequently mistake security as solely a matter of technology and tools. Then overlooking the crucial impact of human behavior on cyber incidents. While board members don’t need to be familiar with the latest technological advancements. They should have a clear grasp of what truly underlies these incidents and how they can effectively govern them. By ensuring that you have laid the groundwork and your CIO is actively educating the board about digital risks and returns, you’re demonstrating sophistication in tech matters at a leadership level. The market’s top CISOs view such informed boards as essential partners.
3. Think about both defensive and offensive tactics:
The top CISOs will expertly balance the defensive and offensive aspects of information security. They perceive their role in cybersecurity as both enabling business growth and protecting it from cyber threats. Demonstrate to these exceptional professionals that your board, executive committee, and CIO recognize technology as a strategic asset rather than just an expense. Are your IT discussions centered solely on costs? Or are your investments in technology thoughtfully aligned with your business value streams? Does your CEO highlight the significance of technology for company growth during meetings? The caliber of CISO you can attract is directly influenced by how you view the impact of technology on our business success.
4. Build and demonstrate a change management capability:
People often resist change, especially when they don’t see its value. Implementing security protocols within a large organization requires significant effort in adoption and change management. The more effectively your organization can encourage the right behaviors among employees, the stronger your security program will be. Highlight during candidate interviews how vital your change management team is and emphasize that both they and the executive committee recognize good security stems from culture, behavior modification, education, and adaptation to change. Indeed, “change management” is rapidly becoming an essential skill for any technology leader today—including CISOs.
5. Involve the board in the interview process:
Actions speak louder than words. So conducting a few board interviews will show your CISO finalist that both you and the board are genuinely committed to cybersecurity. Furthermore, it allows the CISO to evaluate their dynamic with the board. As the importance of the relationship between boards and CISOs continues to grow, understanding this connection early on is crucial for ensuring its success.
Every dollar we invest in AI introduces risk, and each new Internet of Things (IoT) product increases our cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, cyber adversaries are becoming increasingly sophisticated by the day. CEOs and their teams possess a powerful tool to combat these threats: recruiting the right Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Although most companies have someone leading security efforts, not all of these professionals offer equal value. Some focus solely on technology without considering interpersonal dynamics; others may excel in regulatory knowledge but lack strong influence skills. When you pinpoint candidates who demonstrate an ideal mix of technical expertise, communication prowess, and leadership abilities—and show them your commitment to robust cybersecurity—you can make hiring decisions that safeguard your organization effectively.
