CvCISO Podcast Episode 44: Essential Tips for vCISOs

Summary
In this episode, the hosts discuss essential tips for Virtual Chief Security Officers (VCSOs), emphasizing the importance of understanding the business context before addressing security concerns. They highlight the need for preparation, relationship building, and simplifying complex security concepts to effectively communicate with business leaders. The conversation also covers the significance of asset inventory, prioritizing impactful security initiatives, and using analogies to convey security risks in a relatable manner. In this conversation, Evan Francen discusses the importance of building impactful relationships within a business to achieve significant wins. He emphasizes leveraging credibility when making recommendations, the power of message delivery, and the necessity of simplifying security processes. The dialogue also covers quantifying the value of security to the business, embracing opportunities in executive dialogues, and understanding business objectives. Creative approaches to balancing security controls with business needs are explored, along with strategies for getting buy-in from leadership and developing a security roadmap with milestones.
 
Takeaways

• Understand the business first, security second.
• Preparation builds trust and credibility with clients.
• Simplifying complexity enhances communication effectiveness.
• Asset inventory is crucial for effective security management.
• Prioritize impactful security initiatives for better results.
• Communicate security risks in business terms.
• Use analogies to make complex security concepts relatable.
• Security is fundamentally about risk management.
• Avoid pushing security measures that hinder business objectives.
• Focus on helping the business make money through security strategies. Focus on impactful wins for the business.
• Leverage credibility when making recommendations.
• The deliverer of the message can change perceptions.
• Simplifying processes can lead to greater acceptance.
• Use facts to build trust and credibility.
• Security can drive both revenue and profit.
• Engage with executives to create opportunities.
• Understand business objectives to align security efforts.
• Creative solutions can enhance customer onboarding.
• Develop a roadmap with milestones for predictability.