Risks faced by a modern Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in the corporate world. The role of the CISO is challenging, and they face various threats and pressures that contribute to high turnover in the position:
- Rapidly Evolving Threat Landscape: Cyber threats evolve rapidly, with new vulnerabilities, malware, and attack techniques emerging constantly. Staying abreast of these changes and ensuring an organization remains protected is a significant challenge undermined by rapid advances in AI / LLMs. Making matters worse, no one can train users quickly and well enough anymore. (Not that they were before).
2. Regulatory & Compliance Pressures: Numerous global regulations, such as Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), dictate how we must be protected. Failing to comply can lead to significant penalties, both financial and reputational. And who is the most visible target???
3. Board and Executive Pressure: CISOs often need to justify budgets and articulate complex security risks to boards and executive teams, which may not always be technologically inclined. And let’s face it. It’s not their job to know and understand security. BUT! It is their job to listen to experts and respond accordingly. Here is the rub. Boards treat security as a risk management model with the adverse effect of shifting liability away from them and onto a role in the company — the CISO. Don’t redline what you do not understand.
4. Limited Resources: Many CISOs face budget constraints and a shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals to hire — a global problem.
5. Integration with Digital Transformation: As companies rapidly integrate new technologies and systems into their operations, CISOs must ensure these are secure without hampering innovation. Let’s break that down: CTO defines. CISO checks. CTO wins, and CISO sucks it up.
6. Vendor Risks: The security of third-party vendors and the supply chain has become a significant concern, especially after high-profile breaches sourced back to a vendor. Intel anyone? The core technology, you have little to no choice in creating these issues — still your fault.
7. Incident Response Pressure: When a security incident occurs, the CISO is under immense pressure to respond effectively, mitigate damage, and communicate with stakeholders. Legal says not to report until a formal assessment is completed. Three letter agencies say you do it now.
8. Job Fatigue: The relentless nature of cyber threats, and this list, can lead to job fatigue and burnout, with many CISOs feeling they are always “on.” Imagine a Fireman that randomly has faulty trucks from the manufacturer and gasoline vs. water in the pipes — then holding the fireman accountable for not checking before a response.
9. Reputation Stakes: In the event of a breach or security incident, the reputation of the CISO is often on the line. This public scrutiny can be stressful. The corporation gets a PR agency, and the CISO receives the shaft.
10. Expectation Management: Sometimes, business units or leaders may have unrealistic expectations about what security can achieve or the speed at which initiatives should be deployed, which then flow down into budgets and process choices. We often hear, “I saw this in a flight magazine. Do we do/have that?”
11. Lack of Alignment with Business Goals: CISOs sometimes struggle to align security initiatives with broader business goals, leading to friction and a perception that security is a roadblock. When security is not designed in, everything is a roadblock through change orders. Design security in!
12. Skillset Evolution: The role of the CISO is no longer just about understanding technology and threats; it’s also about communication, leadership, business acumen, and more. Ultimately it should be a critical executive role, not a subordinate role, primarily since personal liability is assigned to the position now.
So why the high turnover?
All the challenges listed in this article for one example.
High Stress: Constant threats, high stakes, and the relentless pace of the role can lead to burnout.
Scapegoating: In the aftermath of a breach, companies might seek to place blame, and the CISO can become a convenient target. Why not. It’s not a role that gets to determine its budget in most cases while unable to set out risk and mitigation strategies executed in other chains of command.
Career Advancement: Given the demand for experienced security professionals, CISOs might find more lucrative or less stressful opportunities elsewhere.
Mismatched Expectations: If companies don’t understand the complexity and challenges of modern cybersecurity, it can lead to frustrations and a lack of support for the CISO.
The modern CISO faces a landscape filled with evolving threats, immense pressures, and a need to adapt continuously. The weight of these responsibilities, combined with various organizational challenges, contributes to the high turnover rate in this role.
A more equitable answer? MSP and MSSPs with an external CISO. Outsource the pain and blame what will always come. Or, make it a legitimate and equal partner in the enterprise and improve the life of everyone.
