We all accept a certain degree of risk in our lives. So, to varying degrees, we’re all operating – to use cybersecurity parlance – with an assume breach mindset. Meaning, we accept that attacks are inevitable and, as such, we focus time and effort on protecting the assets that matter most. In short, we buckle up for safety.

Through my career, I have been “fortunate” to work on some of the greatest national security challenges, ranging from weapons of mass destruction proliferation to terrorism to cyber insecurity. AI represents our newest challenge but will most comprehensively impact society.

The rumors are true: it can get lonely at the top. As a CISO, I have many teams below me, a board of directors to keep happy and an organization to protect. This is nothing new, and at this stage of my career, I’ve become familiar with the many challenges — and even greater rewards — that go hand in hand with leading. Of course, it helps that I’ve been managing from the jump.

Chief information security officers (CISOs) have both internal- and external-facing roles. Externally, they must constantly scan the horizon for potential threats. Internally, they must implement, communicate, and champion best practices for security at their enterprises. In a time of sprawling global supply chains and growing automation, the role of the CISO is more complex than ever. To carry out this role effectively, CISOs must learn the importance of trust management.

Due to economic pressures, staffing reductions, and lack of available talent, CISOs today are facing extreme pressure to do more with less. And retaining your best employees during tough times is becoming a major challenge across industries. Research at Devo shows SOC analysts are feeling stressed over too much work and not enough resources. In fact, more than 71% of SOC professionals we surveyed said they’re likely to quit their job because of information overload and lack of tools.

We saw numerous cybersecurity breaches in 2022. The attacks became more sophisticated, the bots got sneakier, and the cost of breaches multiplied. Yet, enterprises were underprepared to deal with the well-known threats. With the rise of new technologies and the increased adoption of remote work, cybercriminals have quickly adapted their tactics. They are now targeting businesses in ways never seen before.

Establishing a thriving security culture across your organization will rely heavily on your developer teams. Therefore, engaging with developers early and often while you build your security program is vital. In this playbook for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), we explore how to build a security culture across your organization by considering the following three things.