Defining the cybersecurity risk level for any organization should be a collaborative effort that balances the need for risk mitigation with fiscal responsibility. Although the CISO is primarily focused on cybersecurity, the ultimate goal is to run a successful business. As a result, the CISCO will be reliant on the cooperation of their C-Suite colleagues to strike the right balance between operational business needs and security to derive a successful outcome.
A truly effective CISO understands that defining the cybersecurity risk level for both current and desired levels requires a holistic view of the enterprise with buy-in and support from each functional team. The collaboration process should be similar to large-scale enterprise risk management programs requiring input from internal teams to determine a rating for the enterprise as a whole.