Entering 2024, CISOs won’t catch a break—instead, they’re headed into a storm of challenges. 

Balancing security priorities amidst evolving technologies and the growing web of connections between companies, regulators, citizens, and tech, CISOs are in for a recalibration of their role.

No longer can security leaders cling to preconceived notions of the CISO role; 2024 demands a fresh perspective. 

This article lays out proactive strategies essential for security leaders to achieve their 2024 objectives.

2024 Headwinds Bring Updated Expectations

The security function faces heightened scrutiny, demanding a redefined engagement with the organization. Forward-thinking CISOs must assess both short-term and long-term needs, navigating the swiftly changing market conditions.

Here are four critical headwinds impacting security leaders:

Efficiency and Savings

• Actively seek overlaps and efficiencies in security tools and processes.
• Prioritize austerity measures strategically to align with current organizational goals.

Compliance

• Embrace compliance as a priority (a result of regulations catching up with industry demanded guardrails). 
• Address specific and expansive regulatory requirements for data protection and information disclosure.

Trust

• Evaluate if security monitoring aligns with technological shifts.
• Address the evolving dimensions of the trust paradigm in a “perimeter-less” ecosystem.
• Prepare for clients and consumers to make buying decisions based on ‘perceived’ trust.

Duty of Integrity

• Recognize the rise in legal action against companies and executives.
• Establish thresholds and escalations for concerns related to a misalignment of actions versus perceived duties.
• CISOs should be aware of and adhere to their perceived duties.  Duty to Report, Duty of Competence, Duty to Supervise, Duty of Care are examples.

Where the CISO Should Focus

CISOs must actively avoid spreading themselves thin—choices must be made.

Here are key focus areas for the year:

Compliance is Good Hygiene

• Prioritize compliance as the first ‘risk assessment’ and before innovating.
• Integrate, automate, and continuously review compliance measures.

Deliver Savings & Efficiencies

• Align decisions with the company’s risk appetite.
• Thoughtfully reduce costs by organizing vendor spend and eliminating superfluous and nice-to-have elements.
• Eliminate business-as-usual activities that are not business-must-do activities.

Stay at the Forefront of Innovation

• Stay abreast of innovations and assess their impact on and contribution to the organization.
• Analyze threats introduced by technology and anticipate control requirements necessary to protect data, legacy systems and cultural norms.

Grow Executive Currency

• Recognize the evolving role of CISOs as corporate executives.
• Earn ‘Executive Currency’ through trust, permission, and support.

Frameworks Are Your Friend

• Build and rely on personal frameworks and mental models. 
• Deploy frameworks for strategic priorities, operating standards, and decision-making.
• Create a habit of reviewing assumptions and updating frameworks annually.

Conclusion

As we propel into 2024, this is not the time to stay the course or shy away from rocking the boat. The challenges awaiting CISOs demand a new kind of leadership—one that embraces change, innovation, and adaptability.  

 

The mission of safeguarding data and information has never been more critical, and the role of a CISO requires the energy, courage, and focus to not only meet but exceed the challenges of the year ahead. Failure to adapt is not an option; it’s time for CISOs to seize the moment, lead with resilience, and drive the security program forward with unwavering determination. 

 

2025, here we come.