How CISOs and CEOs Can Unite to Build Cyber Resilience
Geoff Hancock CISO CISSP, CISA, CEH, CRISC
I help business and technology executives enhance their leadership, master cyber operations, and bridge cybersecurity with business strategy.
I once asked a CISO and a CEO to describe their biggest cybersecurity challenge, and their answers were wildly different.
?The CISO said, ‘Getting the board to understand the risks we face.’
The CEO? ‘Figuring out why cybersecurity keeps eating more budget every year.’
This disconnect isn’t unique—it’s a critical gap. But when these two leaders align, something incredible happens: cyber resilience becomes a shared mission, not just a checkbox.
?When it comes to cybersecurity, CEOs and CISOs are on the same team—at least in theory. Both want to protect the organization from attacks, minimize disruption, and build stakeholder trust.
But too often, I see these two leaders working in silos, speaking different languages, and approaching the same problem from completely different angles.
?It’s not hard to see how this happens. CEOs are focused on growth, revenue, and big-picture strategy. CISOs, on the other hand, are knee-deep in the technical weeds, trying to fend for an ever-evolving threat landscape. These differences in perspective can create friction, slow decision-making, and even open the door to vulnerabilities.
?The good news? Bridging this gap isn’t just possible—it’s essential.
?When CEOs and CISOs work together effectively, they can turn cybersecurity from a cost center into a strategic enabler of resilience, innovation, and trust.
?Why the Disconnect Happens
?What CEOs Want: CEOs want smooth operations, predictable budgets, and a business that can grow without unnecessary risk. They dream of a resilient organization that stakeholders can trust.’
What CISOs Want: CISOs want the resources and influence to protect the company’s assets and manage cyber risks. They need leadership to see that cybersecurity isn’t just a technical issue—it’s a business issue.
?The problem is their priorities don’t always seem to align. CEOs see cybersecurity as an expense, while CISOs see it as an investment. CEOs talk about ROI, while CISOs talk about zero-day vulnerabilities. This disconnect can lead to frustration on both sides, not to mention a lack of clarity for the teams trying to implement cybersecurity initiatives.
?Cyber resilience isn’t just a technology issue—it’s a leadership issue. The challenge lies in bridging two perspectives that often speak different languages.
?A Tale of Two Leaders
I’ve worked with many organizations where the CEO and CISO just couldn’t agree.
One case stands out in particular.
?The CEO viewed cybersecurity as a necessary evil, a line-item expense that grew yearly without any clear return. The CISO, meanwhile, felt like they were constantly fighting for resources and being asked to explain risks in five minutes or less during board meetings.
?The result? A strained relationship, a disengaged security team, and a reactive approach to cybersecurity.
?We started small by getting these two leaders in the same room to talk—not just about risks and budgets but about shared goals. The CEO began to see how cybersecurity supported the company’s long-term strategy, from protecting customer trust to ensuring compliance. The CISO learned to frame their priorities in business terms, making it easier for the CEO to understand the value of investing in resilience.
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?The transformation was incredible. Within six months, the company went from reactive to proactive. Cybersecurity became a shared responsibility, and the organization was better positioned to face future challenges.
?5 Steps to Build Cyber Resilience Together
Every CEO and CISO can build this kind of partnership.
It just takes intentional effort.
Here are some ideas
Speak the Same Language
CEOs: Take the time to understand cybersecurity at a high level—what it is, why it matters, and how it impacts business.
CISOs: Learn to translate technical risks into business outcomes. Explain how an IT vulnerability could cost $5M in downtime and damage customer trust.
Create Regular Opportunities to Align
Schedule regular meetings—not just after an incident—to discuss cybersecurity strategy, progress, and challenges.
These meetings can connect security goals with business objectives, making cybersecurity feel like a core part of the company’s mission.
Collaboratively Define Risk Tolerance
CEOs and CISOs need to agree on the organization’s risk tolerance. What’s an acceptable level of risk, and where do we draw the line?
Once you’ve defined this, use it to prioritize cybersecurity investments. Focus on protecting the assets that matter most.
Build a Culture of Security from the Top Down
CEOs: You set the tone. Championing cybersecurity as a business priority sends a powerful message to the entire organization.
CISOs: Don’t just focus on technology—empower employees to make smarter decisions by providing training and tools.
Measure and Celebrate Progress
Define clear KPIs for cybersecurity and track technical improvements (like reduced vulnerabilities) and business outcomes (like avoided downtime).
?I hope this gives you an idea of the type of cooperation your organization needs to build cyber resilience.
CEO & Co-founder at Kovrr | Cyber Risk Quantification
1 个月You said it: they're speaking different languages, which is why cyber risk quantification proves so valuable in this aspect. CEOs inherently understand the metrics of CRQ (likelihoods, financial exposure, potential outage hours, etc.) and can, therefore, offer the support a CISO needs when they request additional funding to accomplish X, Y, and Z. It's all about making the value clear and tangible. At the same time, I agree that the CEO likewise has to make moves to speak at least a basic level of cyber. These two parties, by demonstrating a mutual effort to understand one another, are going to go a long way toward resilience.
4Site Strategy Finance & Leadership
1 个月The business context of #Risk and #Resilience requires corporate leadership & management to vigilantly be actively aware, acknowledge vulnerabilities, accept responsibility and prioritize ACTION to prevent, deter and detect potential external attacks & insider threats.