What makes this situation especially challenging is that, at the end of the day, CISOs are still held accountable for failure. When a breach or vulnerability is revealed, it is the CISO who bears the brunt. They are expected to manage and prevent these incidents, but without the authority to enforce the necessary measures, they are destined to fail.
It’s a situation few other leaders in the C-suite experience: the CEO, for example, controls decisions regarding the company’s strategic direction and resources, but CISOs are expected to prevent breaches without the same level of control. They have accountability without command, a model that doesn’t set anyone up for success.
This lack of command not only affects organizational security; it also affects the CISO’s relationships, both internally and externally. CISOs often need to communicate with board members, peers, and stakeholders to explain security measures, address potential threats, and discuss risk mitigation strategies.
Source link