Security News > 2022 > April > The CISO as brand enabler, customer advocate, and product visionary
Where should the CISO report for maximum effect? How does the CISO gain that valuable seat at the executive table, and a regularly scheduled time slot every quarter in front of the board? Is it possible that broad technical competency may be superior to deep technical expertise for this C-level role? And if you are the CISO who thought you signed up for an IT-centric, inward-facing role, I have a few nation-state and cybercriminal actors to introduce to you.
It's clear that your organization's brand is as much an asset as the devices and networks that the CISO is charged with protecting - in fact, the brand may be your organization's largest single asset.
Is your CISO considered and leveraged as an extended member of your customer-facing teams? There is often nothing more compelling to a prospect or a customer than the opportunity to hear from a true CISO practitioner about her experiences in the industry around a common challenge.
Another way to bring the CISO closer into the customer orbit: you have some customers who due to their size or potential are at the very top of your essential, must-not-lose list.
For bonus points, if you are that CISO of today or the aspirational CISO of tomorrow, don't settle for approaching your job solely in pursuit of how to best secure your organization - ask yourself how you can make your own customers more secure.
Whether you are the CISO or are a colleague of the CISO, think outside the box.