CISOs are facing increasing pressure to strengthen compliance with a unified risk management strategy, as failure to do so could result in significant consequences. According to Michael Fanning, CISO at Splunk, CISOs are at the forefront of ensuring compliance within their organizations and must work closely with CIOs and general counsel to develop and implement effective policies and programs.
Fanning emphasizes the importance of collaboration among CISOs, CIOs, and general counsels in developing a unified risk management strategy. This includes forming cross-functional task forces to monitor regulatory changes, assess impacts, and make necessary adjustments. Additionally, Fanning highlights the need for close coordination on investment strategies, infrastructure decisions, and vendor selection to ensure compliance with data storage regulations.
Successful partnerships between CISOs, CIOs, and general counsels will rely on shared dashboards and reporting tools to keep everyone informed and facilitate quick responses to new governance issues. By working together, these stakeholders can stay ahead of compliance requirements and avoid potential penalties for noncompliance.
In addition to compliance efforts, CISOs are also tasked with establishing asset visibility and strong cloud governance. Jim Broome, CTO at DirectDefense, points out that this has been a significant challenge for CISOs in recent years. Achieving comprehensive asset visibility and effective cloud governance is essential for ensuring the security and integrity of an organization’s data and systems.
To address this challenge, CISOs need to implement robust cloud governance frameworks and invest in tools and technologies that provide visibility into all assets across the organization. This includes cloud-based assets, which are increasingly becoming a target for cyber attacks. By establishing strong cloud governance practices, CISOs can better protect sensitive data and mitigate risks associated with cloud-based services.
Overall, CISOs face a complex and evolving landscape of compliance and security challenges. By prioritizing collaboration, communication, and strategic investments in risk management and cloud governance, CISOs can lead their organizations towards a more secure and compliant future. Failure to address these challenges could result in significant consequences for both the organization and the CISO personally.