In a recent press release from SANTA CLARA, Calif., on June 25, 2024, Netskope, a leading Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) provider, unveiled new global research shedding light on the changing landscape of cyber threats and its impact on Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) worldwide.
The research, based on a survey of over 1,000 CISOs, delved into how the evolving cyber threats are shaping CISOs’ risk appetite and relationships with their CEOs and other C-suite members. A staggering 92% of CISOs acknowledged that these shifts were creating tensions with their corporate leadership, with two-thirds (66%) feeling like they were “walking a tightrope” between meeting business demands and upholding security standards.
Contrary to conventional perceptions of CISOs as inherently risk-averse, only 16% of respondents classified their risk appetite as low. Interestingly, CISOs perceive their CEOs as even more risk-averse, with 32% believing that their CEOs have a low-risk appetite. This highlights a disconnect in risk perceptions between CISOs and their executive counterparts.
Further insights from the research unveil a changing role for CISOs in today’s digital landscape:
– More than half of the surveyed CISOs (57%) noted an increase in their risk appetite over the past five years, potentially influenced by firsthand experiences of cyber incidents.
– The top reason for this shift in risk appetite was attributed to better access to data and analytics, cited by 76% of respondents.
– A significant 65% of CISOs now view their responsibility as focused on enhancing business resilience rather than solely managing cyber risks.
– However, 23% of CISOs expressed frustration at the lack of recognition from other C-suite members regarding the innovative potential of the CISO role.
The research also outlines the emergence of the progressive CISO, with 65% of respondents believing that the CISO role is rapidly evolving towards a more proactive and forward-thinking stance. This transition is fueled by advancements in technology that offer new avenues for driving innovation and business impact.
Among the notable shifts in the CISO role are:
– Only 36% of CISOs see themselves as protectors solely focused on defense, while 59% consider themselves as business enablers with a desire to play a more active role.
– A significant 66% of CISOs expressed a wish to align more closely with business objectives.
James Robinson, Netskope’s CISO, emphasized the importance of aligning security strategies with business goals to enhance collaboration across the C-suite. Steve Riley, Field CTO at Netskope, underscored the need for CISOs to engage their colleagues in understanding the evolving security landscape and its implications for business transformation.
The research, conducted by Censuswide, involved interviews with 1,031 CISOs globally across various sectors. For more insights into industry trends and CISO perspectives, the full report can be accessed here.
Netskope, a leading SASE provider, enables organizations to leverage zero trust principles and AI/ML innovations to safeguard data and combat cyber threats effectively. With a focus on security, visibility, and performance optimization, Netskope empowers customers to navigate the digital realm securely and efficiently. Learn more about Netskope and its solutions at netskope.com.