In today’s dynamic and ever-changing cybersecurity landscape, the work of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or Cybersecurity Leader is both critical and hard. CISOs are expected to navigate a difficult terrain of technical complexities, emerging threats, and regulatory requirements. However, even the most seasoned CISOs can fall into typical errors that impede their efficacy and jeopardise their organization’s risk profile.
Let’s take a look at some of the most prevalent blunders that any CISO and cybersecurity professional should avoid.
- Not asking for help
One of the most common but crucial mistakes that CISOs make is failing to seek assistance or direction when confronted with ambiguity or difficult circumstances. While CISOs are supposed to be cybersecurity experts, it’s important to recognise that no one can know everything in this fast changing sector.
Some CISOs may feel obligated to portray themselves as all-knowing in their field. This can result in hasty decisions and missed opportunities to learn from others.
For example, a CISO experiences a new, sophisticated sort of cyberattack but is hesitant to seek assistance because they do not want to appear inexperienced. As a result, they miss out on consulting with experts who may have provided valuable insights and answers.
CISOs should embrace the idea that by requesting assistance, they may leverage the knowledge and experience of their team, external specialists, or industry peers to innovate and solve challenging problems.
- Modifying What Currently Works
It can be tempting for a CISO to make drastic changes as soon as they take on the position. However, one typical mistake is modifying existing security policies and processes without fully comprehending their purpose and potential business impact.CISOs who make changes without first understanding the current security measures risk disrupting the organization’s day-to-day operations.
For example, a CISO may decide to deploy a new, strict firewall rule without realising that the previous rule was designed to support a crucial business function. The modification disrupts operations and causes financial losses.
Before implementing any significant changes, the CISO must consult with important stakeholders, such as business leaders, IT teams, and cybersecurity professionals. Understand why current controls and processes were designed in the way they are.
- Over-reliance on technical skills: The work of a CISO is multidimensional.
While technical competence is unquestionably important, CISOs frequently fall into the trap of over-relying on it, often at the expense of other equally important components of their job. CISOs with strong technical backgrounds may become unduly focused on the technical nitty-gritty of cybersecurity. While technical knowledge is vital, it might lead to a lack of focus on the role’s strategic and leadership components.
For example, a CISO may spend a significant amount of time installing firewalls, antivirus systems, and intrusion detection, but fail to build a holistic cybersecurity plan that is aligned with the organization’s business goals. This entails developing a vision, successfully expressing it, and gaining the backing of the C-suite and the Board.
- Not making the best use of “People”
Educating people, integrating them in security programs, and actively engaging them in risk assessment are all important ways for helping organisations establish solid risk management and control systems. Employees who do not receive regular cybersecurity training and awareness programs may lack the knowledge and skills required to recognise and respond to security risks effectively.
Employees are frequently the first to notice weaknesses or strange behaviour within the organisation. Not including them in risk assessment means missing out on vital information. A security-conscious culture, in which everyone is responsible for cybersecurity, can greatly improve an organization’s security posture.
5. Failure to manage risks across the data lifecycle.
One of the most common yet essential mistakes in cybersecurity is failing to assess and mitigate risks across the data lifecycle. From data capture to data deletion, CISOs must ensure that risks are identified, evaluated, and managed effectively. Failure in this area can result in hefty regulatory penalties and security breaches.
An example may be Insufficient safe data erasure procedures can leave residual data on storage devices, increasing the risk of data leakage or noncompliance with data protection standards. Risk assessments should be performed at all stages of the data lifecycle, including collecting, storage, processing, sharing, and destruction.
Regulatory agencies, such as GDPR in Europe and the CCPA in California, require organisations to manage data risks throughout its lifecycle. Noncompliance may result in significant fines.
6. Not collaborating with business teams.
Cybersecurity is not just an IT or technical issue; it is also a commercial challenge. One typical mistake CISOs make is not devoting enough time to collaborating with business teams to understand their processes and identify possibilities for cybersecurity integration. The modern CISO must acknowledge that C-level executives are actively involved in cybersecurity issues.
CISOs that operate independently of business units risk missing opportunities to link security measures with the organization’s overall goals and plans.
Without input from business teams, CISOs may fail to conduct a thorough risk assessment that takes into consideration the complexities and potential consequences of diverse business processes.
Conclusion
In the ever-changing world of cybersecurity, the CISO’s responsibility remains critical. By recognising and avoiding the typical mistakes described in this article, CISOs may improve their cybersecurity leadership, foster stronger security cultures, and better protect the organisations they represent. CISOs may protect their organisations in an increasingly interconnected and digital environment by taking a proactive approach, continuing to learn, and working together.