In this Life of a CISO episode, Dr. Eric Cole defines that a CISO’s primary responsibility is to identify, categorize, and present the risks and costs of cybersecurity issues to executives. They must understand the balance between functionality and security and find the sweet spot that works for their company. The law of cybersecurity states that every time you add functionality, you decrease security. Therefore, CISOs must identify and minimize risks associated with new functionalities.
CISOs should be transparent with their executives and present the risks and costs of cybersecurity issues. They must provide a categorized list of unacceptable risks, the impact, and the cost to fix them. They should also be able to identify the likelihood of the risks occurring and the cost to fix them. In conclusion, a CISO’s job is to balance functionality and security, minimize risks associated with new functionalities, and be transparent with executives about cybersecurity risks and costs.
