Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) are the executive leaders responsible for an organization’s information and data security. The role includes managing security operations, cyber intelligence, data loss, fraud prevention, and all other security compliance and governance. Simply speaking, CISOs are responsible for all the security operations inside an organization.
To fulfill their primary responsibility of protecting the business’s critical technology assets and data, CISOs need to have a broad understanding of security practices, advanced technologies, and the biggest threats to their organization. Below, we have outlined the top 5 concerns for CISOs.
- Growing Frequency of Cyberattacks – 1 in every 4,200 emails is a phishing attempt, and 2020 was a record year for the number of attacks on organizations of every size. The increasing frequency is the top concern for CISOs and drive most of their daily efforts protecting their organization.
- Staffing Shortage – There is an increasing demand for IT security professionals; however, there is a shortage in skilled professionals available for the jobs. It’s estimated that the number of unfilled cybersecurity positions will grow to a staggering 3.5 million by the end of 2021. Finding top talent will remain a concern and challenge in the new year.
- Increased Use of IoT Devices – Gartner predicts there will be over 25 billion IoT products by the end of this year, making the hyper-connectivity of IoT a growing concern for CISOs. The increase in IoT devices and the rise of remote work means organizations must adopt new techniques to mitigate IoT security threats.
- Human Error – Employees are the weakest link in any organization’s security chain. 99% of all data breaches are caused by human error, whether they fall victim to a phishing scam or download ransomware onto their device. While human error cannot be completely eliminated, security training is a growing concern for CISOs.
- Budget Constraints – The average cost of a data breach is almost $4 million yet getting the proper budget to have all the necessary security practices in place can be a hard battle. CISOs must come prepared with budget and asks to save their organizations from a potential disaster.
If your organization has identified gaps in your network security practices, it might be time to bring in a professional team for an assessment. Contact us today to schedule our advanced cybersecurity assessment and penetration testing services.
