4 Minutes of Cybersecurity Advice for CIOs in 2023

If you’re a CIO in 2023, you don’t need a lecture on why cybersecurity is so important to your business. You already know that one of your primary responsibilities is to ensure the security and integrity of your organization's data and systems. Countless pieces of evidence present themselves on what seems like a daily basis and the notion that any business isn’t a target for cybercriminals has been buried repeatedly.

Still, every business has its own unique challenges, priorities, budgets, and risks. There’s no proper “level” of security, despite what some frameworks and measuring tools may suggest. The right amount of security for most organizations is just enough. Enough to keep data protected and systems hardened. Enough to convince cybercriminals that you’re not an easy target. Enough to respond to incidents and limit or contain attacks. And enough to adhere to requirements set forth by the government and other regulatory bodies. Anything more is either a luxury, an inconvenience to your employees and customers, or both.

Still, there are some general rules that CIOs should follow while being responsible for cybersecurity. Perhaps better described as annual guiding principles and actions which set the stage for better decision-making and outcomes pertaining to the protection of your organization. The prioritization of these recommendations will depend on the state of your own security program.

Assess the State of Your Organization’s Cybersecurity

This includes identifying potential vulnerabilities in your business process, systems, and networks, as well as evaluating the effectiveness of your current security measures. Based on your assessment, you can then develop a plan to address any identified risks and improve your overall cybersecurity posture. Assessments are good tools not only for evaluating security risk prior to embarking on a new program, but also solid measurement sticks for where existing programs stand, both in strengths and weaknesses.

If your budget is limited, do yourself a favor and prioritize a risk assessment over a penetration test. A penetration test tells you where you stand from a technical perspective at that moment in time. A risk assessment uncovers the root of your security risk, missing controls, vulnerable processes, and potential gaps in your security strategy.

Separate Security and Technology Responsibilities ASAP

There is no denying just how capable many technology professionals are at managing foundational security controls. In fact, many experienced security professionals began their careers in some technical role prior. Still, the responsibilities of technology and cyber left unseparated will eventually lead to a pile of conflicts that may end up leaving the organization vulnerable. While it may be convenient to tag your technology director, CTO, or even systems administrator with security responsibilities, keep in mind there is a limit to how long they can perform well in both roles. Leaving a single department, leader, or administrator to prioritize one responsibility over the other on their own is a recipe for failure.

You’re better off hiring a cybersecurity leader or perhaps contracting a Virtual CISO that can work closely with your technology groups and business partners. Security is not only a technology program after all, and oftentimes involves business process, operations, and compliance.

Build a Culture of Cybersecurity within your Organization

A dedicated team or consultant whose responsibility is security control implementation isn’t enough. Cybersecurity needs to become part of the culture within your organization. Employees should be eager to help protect the business and operate safely, but they need to know why, when, and how. Security awareness training is good and often a mandatory requirement for regulatory purposes, but this isn’t the type of awareness that’s needed for culture. Every employee in your organization should know what their specific responsibility to security is. For some, it’s simple. For others, much more complex. Operating safely as a finance controller is much different from doing so as a developer or human resources manager.

Build a cybersecurity awareness and training strategy and program with a mission of reaching every employee and role within your business if you want true awareness. Think outside of the box and beyond annual training videos. Consider newsletters, new hire orientation, roadshows, performance evaluations, and more if you want to tap into building a workforce full of security advocates.

Understand your Legal and Regulatory Obligations

As CIOs, it's also important to keep in mind the regulatory and compliance landscape. With laws like GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, and more, organizations are required to protect sensitive information and adhere to specific security standards. This means that compliance is not an option, it's a requirement. Make sure you are aware of the legal obligations your organization must comply with, and that your security policies and procedures are aligned with those regulations.

When it comes to regulatory adherence, do yourself a favor and avoid assigning it as a stretch responsibility to someone within your organization that isn’t an expert on the matter. It’s cheaper to hire external consultants than to deal with the adverse outcomes of failing to meet requirements.

In conclusion, as a CIO, cybersecurity should be a top priority. A successful cybersecurity strategy requires a holistic approach, including regular risk assessments, employee education, the right tools and technologies, separation of duties, and compliance with relevant regulations. There’s no magic pill or three to five controls that are going to suddenly create a significantly increased level of security for your organization. Building a sustainable program is a marathon and even with great prioritization will take years to get to a decent level of maturity. By taking these steps, identifying the right leader or partner to run their program, and always being aware of the latest cybersecurity trends, CIOs can help keep their organizations safe and secure in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

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