Page 19 - Cyber Defense eMagazine August 2023

report to the CISO. The key to making this work lies in how the CISO perceives their role. Instead of
viewing themselves solely as security professionals operating at the executive level, they must embrace
the mindset of a business executive focused on enabling the business to achieve its core objectives
without taking on unnecessary risk.

This change in perspective enables the CISO to advocate for security from a unified standpoint. By
bridging the gap between IT, Engineering, and Security, the CISO can promote a culture of quality
throughout your organization, ensuring security considerations are integrated across corporate
processes and in every stage of the product development lifecycle. This strategy helps encourage better
collaboration between teams, reduces redundancies and associated costs, and enhances your
company’s overall security effectiveness.

Overcoming Challenges with Relationships

While the benefits of unifying IT and Security under the CISO are clear, challenges can arise when an
organization attempts to bring diverse teams together. Resistance to change, hesitation, and the need to
incorporate external talent can all pose difficulties. Clearing the runway of these organizational hurdles
requires a strategic—and empathetic—approach.

Building relationships is vital. Fundamental steps that need to be taken include:

• Encouraging open communication channels and fostering a culture of trust to overcome
resistance and hesitation
• Establishing forums for cross-functional collaboration, such as regular meetings and joint projects,
to help create shared goals and build stronger relationships between teams

It is crucial to emphasize that the goal is not to undermine existing roles but rather to leverage the
collective expertise to enhance the company’s security.

Additionally, you must strike a careful balance when integrating external talent. While fresh perspectives
and specialized skills can bring immense value–and are frequently a necessary component of
organizational transformation–you must be able to integrate these seamlessly into the existing team
structure. Your organization can create an inclusive culture that values diverse contributions by providing
mentorship, clearly defining roles and responsibilities, and actively promoting a growth-oriented
environment.

Structuring Teams for Optimal Results

Once IT and Security are united under a CISO's leadership, it’s essential to structure your teams in a
way that maximizes their potential. Crucial aspects of this process include adjusting role definitions and
creating growth opportunities.

For example, revisiting role definitions is necessary to ensure that your people are assigned to the right
roles based on their skill sets and expertise. Redefine your job descriptions to achieve alignment,

Cyber Defense eMagazine – August 2023 Edition 19
Copyright © 2023, Cyber Defense Magazine. All rights reserved worldwide.