2021 Azbee Awards of Excellence

Category

Online > Web Feature Article > New England

Awarded to

Alissa Irei, senior writer; Brenda Horrigan, senior managing editor; Kate Gerwig, editorial director; Linda Koury, director of online design; Moriah Sargent, associate director

Entry details

Which type of CISO are you? Company fit matters

Issue or publication date: August 2020
Publication name: SearchSecurity
Publishing/parent company: TechTarget Inc.
Website home page: https://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/

About the publication's mission and readership:

https://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/about

Description of the enterprising work that went into this entry and its significance or impact on readers:

The turnover rate in the chief information security officer, or CISO, role is notoriously high, with the average tenure lasting just two to four years. Survey data suggests many CISOs leave their positions earlier than intended because of high levels of stress, frustration and angst -- adding up to what Forrester Research analyst Jinan Budge describes as painful, on-the-job identity crises. In addition to causing many CISOs themselves distress, frequent churn -- coupled with an industry-wide cybersecurity talent shortage -- undermines enterprise security strategies, hurts team morale and puts organizations at heightened risk of breaches.
This feature explores innovative expert analysis suggesting that CISOs, like CEOS and other top executives, need a framework for understanding their own leadership styles and identifying the types of companies and positions where they can thrive. While poor alignment between organizational needs and CISO "type" inevitably leads to problems, a good match can set a cybersecurity executive, security team and wider business up for success.
Here, research analysts explain in detail how factors like personality, professional experience and career goals determine company-CISO fit and inform a CISO's satisfaction and efficacy in a given role. Diving deeper, this story breaks down the six main types of CISO: transformational, post-breach, tactical and operational, compliance and risk guru, steady-state and customer-facing evangelist. Finally, chief information security officers themselves offer on-the-ground insights into how this emerging paradigm helps them understand and articulate their professional strengths, inclinations and experiences, serving as a conceptual field guide as they navigate their careers.

Links to entry URLs

Please note: These URLs are only required for entries in the Online division categories, entries in the Design division categories that are specific to websites, entries in the Website of the Year category, and entries in the Cross-Platform Package of the Year category.

Entry URL(s), if applicable:
https://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/feature/Which-type-of-CISO-are-you-Company-fit-matters?_ga=2.100354782.1381431497.1605724862-87557816.1605724862

Links to Uploaded Entry Files

Please note: The links below are the same links as clicking on the Preview images at the top of this column. You may click the links below to view each submitted entry file.

View entry file #1 
View entry file #2 
View entry file #3 
View entry file #4
View entry file #5 
View entry file #6 
View entry file #7 
View entry file #8 
View entry file #9 
View entry file #10