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Too Many Chefs in the Cybersecurity Kitchen

By Itai Tomer
Chief Product Officer

What you will learn:

  • The pitfalls that arise when a global organization has multiple CISOs across different lines of business (LOBs) or regions.
  • Inconsistent planning methods among CISOs in the same organization can lead to a fragmented cybersecurity strategy.
  • The impact of ineffective communication, resource allocation, and regulatory compliance confusion in a multi-CISO structure.
  • How SAGE Cyber’s Multi-Line-of-Business Management feature streamlines cybersecurity management across complex enterprises.

The Complications of Multi-CISO Enterprises

In large international corporations, it’s becoming increasingly common for there to be more than one person with the title Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). This typically happens when an organization operates across multiple lines of business (LOBs), subsidiaries, or regions, each with unique cybersecurity needs. A complex, global organization might appoint a “global CISO” to oversee the entire enterprise while also having local CISOs responsible for specific LOBs, subsidiaries, divisions, or geographic areas.

This setup, while logical on paper, introduces a host of challenges for managing an organization’s cybersecurity. Each CISO must navigate their own Cyber Defense Plan (CDP) tailored to the specific threats, regulations, and operational needs of their domain. The global CISO is tasked with maintaining a unified cybersecurity strategy. Without a cohesive approach, the organization risks inconsistencies, inefficiencies, and potential security gaps. Local CISOs, on the other hand, might find themselves siloed, unable to see how their LOB’s security strategy fits into the broader organizational picture.

Depending on the organization, responsibility for preparing and adhering to a budget might lay with one of the CISOs or be shared among several of them.

These challenges go beyond operational complexity, touching on the fundamental need to protect an organization in an era where cybersecurity threats are increasingly sophisticated and diverse.

Understanding the pitfalls that come with having multiple CISOs is crucial for any organization looking to navigate the complexities of cybersecurity management effectively.

The Potential Pitfalls

  1. Lack of Unified Vision: When you have more than one CISO, there’s a real risk that each one will have a different vision for how to prioritize the organization’s cybersecurity strategy. Without a unified plan, these varying strategies can clash, leading to inconsistent practices across the enterprise. For example, the Global CISO may push for a standardized, company-wide approach, while a CISO in charge of a particular region may prioritize localized threats or unique regulatory compliance requirements. The result is a fragmented security posture that lacks coherence.
  2. Duplication of Efforts: Multiple CISOs often means multiple teams working on similar initiatives. While redundancy can sometimes be a safety net, in this context, it often leads to wasted resources and confusion. Imagine both the global and a regional CISO rolling out similar security programs independently. Not only does this waste time and money, but it also sends mixed messages to the teams who are supposed to implement these programs.
  3. Gaps in Security Coverage: Conversely, the presence of multiple CISOs can lead to gaps in security coverage. This typically happens when each CISO assumes the other is handling a particular aspect of security. For example, the Global CISO might assume the Regional CISO is managing local incident response protocols, while the Regional CISO believes it’s being handled at the global level. This kind of miscommunication can leave critical vulnerabilities unaddressed.
  4. Ineffective Communication: Effective communication is the backbone of any successful cybersecurity strategy, and it becomes even more crucial when multiple CISOs are involved. Unfortunately, having more than one CISO can lead to information silos, where critical data doesn’t flow as smoothly as it should between different parts of the organization. This not only slows down decision-making but also weakens the organization’s overall security posture.
  5. Incompatible Planning Methods and Frameworks: Multiple CISOs spread across different offices might adopt varying methods for developing their Cyber Defense Plans (CDPs). One might use paper and pen, another a spreadsheet, while a third implements a generic project management tool, and the fourth does it all in their head. These approaches are incompatible, making it nearly impossible to compare their plans side-by-side, detect overlaps or gaps, or create a unified CDP. When each CISO is effectively speaking a different language in terms of planning and execution, the result is a fragmented security strategy.   Additionally, CISOs may adhere to different cybersecurity frameworks—one might focus on NIST CSF 2.0, while another uses ISO 27001. These frameworks aren’t identical, and using multiple frameworks in the same organization can lead to strategic misalignments.
  6. The Blame Game During Breaches: When a security breach occurs, the presence of multiple CISOs can lead to “blame shifting” and complicate the incident response. If responsibilities aren’t clearly defined, there can be delays in addressing the breach as CISOs may disagree on who should take the lead. This not only hampers the organization’s ability to mitigate the threat but also fosters an environment of finger-pointing, which can erode trust and slow down recovery efforts.
  7. Regulatory Compliance Confusion: In industries like finance or healthcare, where regulatory compliance is paramount, having multiple CISOs can lead to confusion or even non-compliance. Each CISO might be focused on different regulatory requirements, and without clear communication and coordination, the organization could inadvertently fall short of compliance, risking severe penalties. A CISO operating in the UK might be more focused on GDPR regulations while their counterpart in the US might be more concerned with HIPAA, CCPA, or SOX.
  8. Budget Planning Chaos: Effective cybersecurity requires adequate funding, but coordinating budgets across multiple CISOs is no small task. Each CISO might have their own budget and financial priorities, which can lead to competition for resources. This is particularly challenging when the cybersecurity needs of one LOB or region differ significantly from another. Without a coordinated budgeting strategy, or a way to compare budgets side-by-side, the organization risks overspending in some areas while underfunding critical aspects of cybersecurity in others. The global CISO needs toensure that all LOBs are adequate, and the organization’s overall budget is used efficiently to optimize cybersecurity spend.

One Platform to Unite Them All

Recognizing the need for a more efficient way to manage the complex needs of multiple CISOs in enterprise organizations, SAGE Cyber has introduced a new feature in our latest release, version 1.10, out now.

The feature, Multi-Line-of-Business Management is designed for enterprises with multiple CISOs, enabling the global CISO to oversee and manage all LOBs within a single account through a master workspace called “Multi-Account.” Local CISOs can focus on managing their specific plans, while the global CISO maintains visibility and control over the entire organization. This centralized approach also simplifies budget coordination, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently across all lines of business.

Key Features of SAGE’s Multi-Line-of-Business Management:

  • Multi-Account Type: This new account type consolidates several LOB accounts under one main account. The global CISO can now view and manage all LOBs from a single, unified dashboard, eliminating the need to log in and out of different accounts.
  • Easy Navigation: SAGE makes it simple to switch between LOBs using a streamlined list view. Dashboards and tables are automatically filtered according to the selected LOB, allowing for quick and easy access to relevant data.
  • Unified Dashboard: The global CISO gains access to a combined view of all LOBs, complete with widgets and mini maps that provide a clear and comprehensive overview. This unified dashboard ensures that no critical information is missed, facilitating more informed decision-making.
  • CDP Visibility: The global CISO can view all Cyber Defense Plans across the organization, while local CISOs maintain visibility only over their respective LOB’s plans. This ensures that the global CISO has the big-picture perspective needed to coordinate and optimize security efforts across the board.

By centralizing and streamlining the management of multiple LOBs, SAGE’s Multi-Line-of-Business Management feature empowers CISOs to take a more strategic, cohesive approach to cybersecurity. No longer do CISOs need to worry about conflicting priorities or misaligned strategies.  With this new feature, the entire organization’s cybersecurity efforts can be seamlessly integrated, ensuring that every LOB is not only secure but also aligned with the organization’s overarching goals.

Simplifying Cybersecurity Management Across the Enterprise

Cybersecurity threats are increasingly sophisticated, and the ability to manage multiple LOBs efficiently is more critical than ever. SAGE’s Multi-Line-of-Business Management feature offers a powerful solution for CISOs who need to oversee complex, multi-layered organizations. By providing a unified view and streamlined management tools, The SAGE Platform enables CISOs to optimize their cybersecurity strategies, ensuring that their organization remains resilient in the face of ever-evolving challenges.

This innovative feature represents a significant step forward in the way cybersecurity leadership can be structured and executed, transforming what was once a chaotic and fragmented process into a cohesive, strategic operation.

Key Takeaways:

  •  Having multiple CISOs across a single enterprise can lead to a lack of alignment in cyber security planning and the creation of Cyber Defense Plans.
  • SAGE’s Multi-Line-of-Business Management feature allows the global CISO to oversee all LOBs from a single, unified dashboard.
  • Centralized management helps avoid duplication of efforts and ensures optimal resource allocation across the organization.