Security Leadership and Management

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The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) not only protects IT systems with special hardware, software and secure business processes, but he or she also creates, implements and communicates the organization’s digital information security policies and procedures.

Like most other segments of the business world, technology has become ingrained in enterprise security operations. With that increased use of technology comes a new set of risks.

I used to write stories like this on a typewriter back in the day. My articles turned out to be a mass of White-Outs to counter typing mistakes. It all made me dizzy. Today’s computer technology even auto-corrects my words, which sometimes is not a good thing.

One of the most important topics currently on boardroom agendas focuses on governance. Ensuring that the enterprise understands and complies with laws, regulations, policies and procedures is no longer simply enough.

Security 500 members are enabling enterprise missions through proactive risk and resilience programs built on strong customer service cultures. Transforming security into a service organization requires flexible strategy and brilliant execution in an ever turbulent and global Risk-Nado.

What are security’s top critical issues? What department does security report to? How are budgets changing? What responsibilities do security leaders shoulder within their organization? Compare your enterprise’s focuses to those of your peers in the Security 500’s sector-specific analysis.

Where does your enterprise stand? Compare security rankings sector-by-sector in this benchmarking tool to determine who the frontrunners and thought-leaders are in your enterprise’s field. 

“Security is about enabling a mission. Business leaders are able to take our tools and apply them to a variety of settings to create success. Our job is to create an environment of success for the enterprise. It is not what we do, rather, it is how we enable the enterprise to achieve its goals,” shares Frank Taylor, Vice President and Chief Security Officer for The General Electric Company. It is important to note that as you read this, one of America’s (not just security’s) greatest leaders and thinkers will have retired, again.

“There is no longer a time in any field that you can be a good leader and be deficient in any area of managerial core competency. Leaders have to be comfortable being uncomfortable,” says Gordon Snow, chief of protective services for The Cleveland Clinic. “The environment is increasing in complexity. Education and training can provide you with many of the tools you need to make better decisions, but there isn’t always a formula to help you make the right decision.

Dan Ryan’s story is classic, happy and all-American that those entering the profession can learn from and hope to emulate. “I guess you could say I started at the bottom and worked my way up.” Yes, you could say that Dan, but that would be understatement – Dan’s expertise and perfection have helped him rise through the ranks at a meteoric pace.