Expansion into Business Strategy and Risk Management
As a former CISO and currently a Virtual CISO (vCISO), leading cybersecurity for an organization has become increasingly tied to business strategy and enterprise risk management (ERM). After reviewing many studies, papers, and articles, I found that we are increasingly called to make strategic decisions. Deloitte did a survey that said 73% of organizations are now calling on the CISO to participate in strategy discussions. Looking at these changes, one must understand that the role is morphing from a single function to a core pot of corporate planning. Corporate risk committees are sometimes even chaired by the CISO. This change is good as it helps corporations align cyber risk directly with their business risk. InformationWeek notes that the CISO role now, “Encompasses more strategic leadership, risk management and compliance.”
Aligning cybersecurity at the corporate level means that information security risks are considered in various company actions, which wasn’t the case previously. Cyber security concerns are considered in product road maps, M&A, supply chain, and purchasing. As the SEC has raised information security concerns to a reportable event, the importance of cyber threats has changed for business leaders. Now, cyber risks are a top-tier business risk, and PWC reports. Further, the CISO no longer owns the problem alone as they have become enterprise-wide issues. The CISO has become a key stakeholder in ERM, which helps maintain growth and resilience.
The Rise of the Virtual CISO (vCISO) and Advisory Services
Now we look at the rise of the virtual CISO in the small and medium enterprise arena. Cynomi reported a marked increase in the demand for vCISOs and other fractional roles to help meet new regulatory requirements, rising information security threats, and strategic management needs.
A Cynomi report forecasts a significant increase in demand for Virtual CISOs (vCISOs) by 2025 due to escalating cyber threats, stricter compliance requirements, and the necessity for strategic risk management. Unlike traditional full-time CISOs, vCISOs offer flexible, advisory-based leadership to organizations that may not require or afford an in-house CISO.
Key responsibilities of vCISOs are evolving to include:
- Advisory roles in AI security strategy to mitigate risks from generative AI and automation.
- Comprehensive attack surface management to help businesses proactively identify vulnerabilities.
- Incident response planning and regulatory compliance guidance, particularly for small-to-mid-sized organizations without dedicated security teams.
Goliath Cyber Security Group also offers Executive Cyber Advisory Services, providing businesses with on-demand access to experienced security executives. These services help organizations:
- Design, implement, and oversee cybersecurity programs without hiring a full-time CISO.
- Securely integrate new acquisitions, reducing inherited risk.
- Modernize security strategies and select appropriate security technologies.
The vCISO and advisory model highlights how cybersecurity leadership is shifting toward flexible, outsourced executive security guidance for organizations that may not need full-time leadership but require governance, compliance, and security program development expertise.
AI and Digital Transformation’s Impact on Cybersecurity Leadership
The wave of digital transformation and AI adoption profoundly influences the CISO’s role. As organizations digitize operations and embrace technologies like cloud and artificial intelligence, CISOs are tasked with securing these new environments and leveraging them for defense.
Deloitte observes that the rapid push to exploit generative AI’s business value has elevated cybersecurity’s strategic importance, as the safety of data fueling AI is vital to its success. Additionally, AI brings new threats that heighten the CISO’s visibility. Deepfake phishing, AI-powered malware, and automated reconnaissance attacks are making traditional defenses less effective, requiring proactive, AI-assisted security strategies.
Human-Centric Security and Emerging Threats
A SeekMaro report highlights that 68% of all breaches involve a human element, reinforcing the need for security strategies that address employee behavior alongside technological defenses. Maro identifies several challenges modern CISOs face:
- Resource Constraints: Post-pandemic productivity expectations have driven rapid technology adoption, often outpacing security teams’ ability to secure new tools.
- Advanced Phishing Tactics: Attackers leverage generative AI to craft highly sophisticated phishing attempts, making traditional training methods less effective.
- Compliance-Driven Security: A strict focus on compliance can lead to checkbox exercises that hinder security adaptation to evolving threats.
- Limited Focus on Employee Behavior: Many security vendors emphasize technology vulnerabilities over human vulnerabilities despite the latter being a significant attack vector.
To address these issues, SeekMaro advocates for a collaborative security approach where CISOs work alongside employees to embed security into daily operations rather than relying solely on static policies and annual training. Modern CISOs must:
- Prioritize Human-Centric Security by addressing risks tied to employee actions.
- Adapt to Emerging Threats by staying ahead of AI-generated cyberattacks.
- Balance Compliance and Practical Security to ensure compliance efforts strengthen, rather than hinder, security effectiveness.
The Changing CISO Job Market: Challenges and High Competition
Despite rising cybersecurity threats, many CISOs are struggling to find work. Job postings for CISO roles attract hundreds of applicants within hours. Industry research points to several reasons:
- Economic Uncertainty & Budget Constraints: Many organizations are cutting costs, leading to reduced hiring or reliance on vCISOs instead of full-time CISOs.
- Burnout and Stress: High-pressure environments, regulatory scrutiny, and personal legal risks drive some CISOs to exit the profession.
- Evolving Skill Requirements: CISOs who don’t keep pace with AI, cloud, and compliance regulations may struggle to remain competitive.
- Applicant Bots & Automation Tools: Platforms like LinkedIn attract mass applications, some of which are generated by tools like LazyApply and LoopCV, which apply to jobs en masse with minimal applicant effort.
- Increased Accountability & Legal Risks: High-profile breaches have led to CISOs facing personal liability, making the role less attractive.
Additionally, many organizations prefer to fill CISO positions through internal promotions or referrals, reducing opportunities for external applicants.
Addressing Cybersecurity Costs for SMBs
Goliath Cyber Security Group also sheds light on the financial burdens of cybersecurity for small and midsized businesses (SMBs). According to their research:
- The average cost of a data breach for SMBs exceeds $200,000.
- Only 14% of SMBs have adequate cybersecurity tools and resources to prevent breaches.
To address these challenges, managed security services are becoming a viable alternative for SMBs, offering comprehensive security oversight without requiring significant IT investments. The increasing reliance on outsourced cybersecurity teams indicates how the CISO role is evolving beyond traditional full-time employment structures.