Today's CISOs wear many hats. They are expected to be experts in technologies, negotiators, strategists, influencers, and a source of inspiration throughout the value chain. As cybersecurity threats evolve and grow, the role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is becoming even more critical.

For security leaders, staying vigilant and prepared is like wielding a well-crafted spellbook. OWASP, MITRE ATT&CK, and threat research are the critical chapters in this spellbook that leaders need to leverage to anticipate and counter emerging threats effectively, because you can’t afford for your organization to be ensnared by threats that could have been foreseen.

It’s 7:30 AM when I check my inbox, and right at the top is an urgent email from Alex, our Chairman of the Board: “I need an update on how we’re stacking up against our competitors on security.” Not just a quick overview—he’s asking for specifics on how our cybersecurity posture compares to our peers, the improvements we’ve made, and a detailed look at our progress since our last board meeting.

Late last night, I received a notification from SecurityScorecard alerting me to a newly discovered vulnerability, Solarwinds, with potentially severe business implications for my organization. It’s now 6AM, and I’ve been up through the night, digging into the latest security research to fully assess the risk and scope of exposure. Thanks to SecurityScorecard’s real-time automated alert, I’m ahead of the situation and have already proactively briefed our CIO and executive team.

From GDPR in Europe to CCPA in California, compliance officers and CISOs face a deluge of regulations, standards, and requirements. With every country, industry, and regulator demanding different levels of control, how can teams manage these complex requirements efficiently? In a recent virtual panel discussion, I had the opportunity to join Ashish Tandon, Founder & CEO of Indusface, where I highlighted essential strategies for CISOs to navigate these compliance complexities efficiently.

Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) are facing unprecedented challenges. The combination of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, persistent talent shortages, and complex regulatory requirements has led many organizations to rethink their approach to cybersecurity. As a result, we're seeing a significant shift towards outsourcing key security functions to managed service providers.

CISO is a high-profile position with high expectations – and the impact clock starts ticking day 1. At Cato, we’ve had thousands of conversations with CISOs from companies of all sizes across different industries – learning about what works, what doesn’t, and the strategies that boost proactive, visionary leadership. This blog post, along with the eBook 30-60-90 Day CISO: Mastering the IT Security Game, is rooted in that collective wisdom.

Tl;dr: This blog discusses IDC’s 2024 study, “The Future of Access Management: Identity Security Requirements for a Modern Application Access Approach.” The study identifies the biggest challenges facing security leaders today, especially those exacerbated by hybrid work. Below are IDC’s findings as well as downloadable checklists that security practitioners can use to address the security gaps in their organizations.