The cyber security landscape in Australia is rapidly becoming direr. Many big organisations have reported serious cyber attacks that compromised customer and employee information.
Why do we keep getting hit? A study by IBM found that 62% of Australian businesses needed more staffing to meet their security needs.
CISO as a Service is one solution that can fill this gap. It includes delivering information security services through a third-party vendor, which can be extremely beneficial for your business, as it allows you to outsource some or all of your cyber security needs.
What is the difference between a CSO and CISO?
The Chief Security Officer (CSO) is the head of security; they are responsible for designing and implementing strategies to protect your data, personnel, physical assets, customers and other stakeholders. They must be skilled in risk assessment, cybersecurity, compliance management, and physical security measures. The CSO must remain vigilant and up-to-date on changing trends to protect the organisation from potential risks and threats.
A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has a similar role to the CSO, except they do not oversee security for the company’s physical assets. They are in charge of designing, implementing and managing the company's overall information security strategy, including policies, procedures and controls to protect digital assets from unauthorised access. The CISO will also monitor threats and vulnerabilities, identify potential cyber security risks, and respond quickly to mitigate any issues.
How CISO as a Service fits into your organisation
CISO as a Service is invaluable if you are searching for an experienced professional to cover information security.
Hiring an expert within your organisation to bring in-house can be expensive, especially in our current landscape with talent shortages and professionals requesting competitive salaries. CISO as a Service provides you with access to highly-skilled cyber security experts who can implement and maintain strong security protocols and systems. By engaging in this service, companies will have access to all the benefits of having an internal CISO without the costs associated with hiring one full-time.
Virtual CISO as a Service is a popular way of engaging with the professional taking your business case. They will provide the same expertise and services as an in-house CISO but on a part-time or project basis. They will primarily be available to you remotely.
What are the three common types of CISO?
There are three common types of CISOs, including:
The Business Information Security Officer (BISO) focuses on information security initiatives and their impact on the business. They work closely with various teams to encourage the adoption of information security initiatives and awareness. Part of their focus also sits on information security initiatives and their impact on customers and stakeholders.
The Strategic Information Security Officer (SISO) focuses on aligning your information security strategies with all levels of the business, from the top-level strategy to the security team. A SISO is responsible for developing a comprehensive information-security strategy that enables the organisation to protect its data from internal and external threats. The SISO must also work closely with other executives to ensure that all areas of the organisation follow the information security policies.
The Technical Information Security Officer (TISO) oversees the technical aspects of information security, such as developing and implementing information security policies, regulations and standards; managing IT security tools; assessing security breaches, and responding to incidents. They also deeply understand security technologies and are well-versed in security best practices.
What are the benefits of having a CISO as a Service?
- Add the relevant cyber security controls to your organisation: The CISO considers the scope and scale of potential threats, the impact of a breach, and the specific requirements for protecting proprietary information. They will then implement the necessary security controls to protect all aspects of an organisation's infrastructure and data from cyber security threats. This may include securing firewalls, encrypting sensitive data, increasing system monitoring, enforcing secure authentication protocols, or implementing employee training procedures.
- Non-technical explanations to ensure you understand the purpose: A CISO bridges the gap between technical and non-technical jargon. They strive to maintain a collaborative relationship with company leadership by approaching them and proposing initiatives without jargon. Additionally, a CISO should be able to anticipate questions and provide solutions that cater to the company’s long-term goals.
- Compliance for long-term security: A CISO ensures that your organisation’s systems maintain compliance with cyber security regulations. They will also conduct audits of your networks and systems to ensure compliance and identify potential gaps in your cyber security strategy. These processes must protect sensitive customer data, adhere to industry regulations, and maintain the trust of stakeholders.
- Prioritise needed improvements and implement them: A CISO will need to prioritise the threats based on the unique needs of your business. Once identified and prioritised, a CISO can implement solutions to mitigate those risks. This could involve software updates, employee training, improved cyber defences, or better security policies. A CISO needs to have an in-depth understanding of the organisation's existing technologies, understand the threats, and be aware of new and emerging trends. To evaluate your cyber security needs, the CISO will appropriately allocate your budget to address these needs.
CISO as a Service with VISITS
We have built our CISO as a Service offering on a suite of services that puts our homegrown cyber security framework into action. We mobilise the controls of this framework to enable comprehensive risk mitigation and robust security outcomes. Visit our CISO as a Service offering for more on what we offer.