Why would I want to be a CISO in this environment?!?

⚠️ Cybersecurity friends and fellow CISOs ⚠️
The SolarWinds news has been a wake-up call for many of us. It’s prompted a lot of coffee-fueled and late-night reflections. “Could that have been me?” “Am I doing enough?” “Why would I want to be a CISO in this environment?!?”

In light of this, here’s where my head’s at and some advice I’ve shared with some other business leaders:

1️⃣ Board Sync-Ups: Risk isn’t just a tech issue; it’s a business issue. Ensure you have regular touchpoints with the board, ensuring they’re in the loop. It’s crucial they understand the nuances and gravity of your cybersecurity stance. 📊

2️⃣ Dive Deep into the ISMS: Managing an Information Security Management System (ISMS) is more than just a routine. It’s the backbone of our security posture. I’ve been focusing on making sure it’s not just compliant on paper but robust and resilient in practice. ⚙️

3️⃣ Zero Trust Framework: This isn’t just industry jargon. Doubling down on implementing a genuine Zero Trust environment is something we’re passionate about at Emantra. It’s all about validating every request as if it originates from an open network. 🔒

4️⃣ Continuous Compliance Checks: Compliance isn’t a one-off. Ticking boxes isn’t enough. I’ve been pushing my team to test our compliance measures regularly for effectiveness, not just existence. 🔄

5️⃣ Cultivate a Culture of Security: From interns to executives, everyone plays a part. I recently completed the Foundation of Company Directors course with Australian Institute of Company Directors and was pleased to see that Directors are being taught risk management principles including awareness of cyber-risk🛡️

We’re in one of the toughest roles out there, but it’s also one of the most crucial. Let’s remember that and lean on each other, share our learnings, and elevate our game.

Sending strength and solidarity to all my fellow CISOs out there. 💪
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