Why CIOs and CISOs Need to Become Business Partners
Darrel Raynor of Heartland AEA on Common Goals of IT and Security
In the past, the role of a CIO or CISO was limited to managing technology or security infrastructure within an organization. However, in today’s scenario, their responsibilities have transcended predefined roles. CIOs and CISOs are now expected to act as strategic partners to the leadership team and the board of directors, moving beyond the boundaries of technology and actively participating in shaping overall business strategy.
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To gain the attention and support of the board, it is crucial for CIOs and CISOs to adopt the board's mindset. They need to understand that the existence of IT or cybersecurity is rooted in their shared goal of serving the business. Unfortunately, executives sometimes lose sight of this and create silos.
"It is essential for CIOs and CISOs to effectively communicate the value they bring to the organization internally. By demonstrating how their efforts contribute to creating business value, they can win the hearts and minds of the people," said Darrel Raynor, senior director of technology and cybersecurity at Heartland AEA.
In a video interview with Information Security Media Group, Raynor discussed:
- Challenges of attention span and budgets;
- Importance of communicating the business value of IT and security;
- Making cybersecurity part of employees’ annual review plan.
Raynor is a result-oriented, visionary technology leader with over 30 years of C-suite, board, strategy, transformation and reorganization experience. He collaborates with improvement and change-receptive CEOs, boards and owners on operations, strategy and cybersecurity.
