Five Amazing Character Traits of the World’s Top CISOs
With the increasing value of business security, enterprises have adopted the chief information security officer (CISO) to secure the firm’s technology. An ideal CISO possesses technical and soft skills, effectively serving as the link between the tech team and the board. Different security leaders bring unique skills to the table. From the adrenaline-driven to the technical guys and the C-suite enthusiasts, CISOs come in all shapes. Here are five critical traits you’re likely to find in most seasoned CISOs.
Know their Assets
Top CISOs know what matters most to their business. From client information to sensitive data, they create programs that keep these assets secure. They don’t rely on outside consultants to find the most vulnerable assets and give adversaries a hard time getting close to their crown jewels. Ideally, the technical savviness of a CISO should make them stand out. Understanding network security architecture and firewall protocols increase your stakes for landing a CISO job. CISOs have little trouble formulating incidence response plans to handle any security breaches.
Prioritize security basics
Many security organizations pay little attention to security fundamentals. Security leaders can easily fall into the trap of focusing on new security products while failing to segment their networks and implementing critical security controls. Top CISOs know how to stress their systems to measure how well they perform in the wake of cyberattacks. With a baseline performance criterion, they try to identify flaws, blind spots, and weak links. They also remain abreast of unique compliance requirements and emerging technologies. As malicious hackers raise security stakes, top CISOs appreciate the value of improving their security skills and knowledge.
Deft communication
A good CISO understands the need for deft dexterities in making communications among ICT professionals. Besides handling fellow C-level experts, CISOs need top diplomatic skills to manage diverse shareholders within the company. Keeping in mind that the board won’t understand all the technical jargon, the CISO takes up the role of communicating the company’s security needs. From giving progress reports and requesting financial aids to enlighten the board on new approaches, the best CISOs handle vital security communication to the board. Top communication skills come in handy, especially during a security crisis. The CISO needs to keep different teams, including the board, IT, security team, C-suite and HR, in the loop to ensure that the business gets through the
Understand failure
Formidable CISOs often focus on risk reduction and resilience rather than fixing all bugs. They assess the likelihood of failure and determine the acceptable levels of failure while evaluating bugs’ business impact before running into action. Bugs that are too expensive are best monitored unless security breaches on such systems can have dire consequences.
Gaining access to valuable assets is close to impossible when you go up against top CISO.
Business Acumen
While it is easier to focus on stopping clever attacks, the best CISOs keep an eye on the business as a whole. Their decisions are business-oriented as they strive to bridge the gap between technology and business. The goal is to optimize business value. They learn how to trade off cost and security while finding the best outcomes. Ultimately, they’ll opt for less expensive controls while reducing risks for potential breaches. If they fail to meet the business needs and lose trust or productivity, the locked systems and networks may easily cause more harm than good. While their position doesn’t require them to direct the business, they need to ensure that all business operations run securely. From risk assessment to their management approach, and project requirements, impressive CISOs should perform security planning efficiently. Their contributions become significant when they see the big picture.
The best CISOs take time to understand what they need to protect and its overall value to their company. They use this information to make informed decisions with regards to security. They prioritize security fundamentals and help business leaders find the actual risks to their security systems. With these skills anyone dealing with the board and C-suite should have an easier time tailoring their messages and work to fit in the organization’s needs.