Meet SARAH – CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER. 

• Risk taker

• Fluent communicator – speaks language the Board understands

• Good business acumen – aligns security with business goals

• Strong influencer
• Strategic thinker

As a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), your days are always busy, diverse and never the same. You are responsible for the security of the company’s information and technology assets, and you must ensure that they are protected against cyber-attacks, data breaches, and other security threats.

You start your day by reviewing security alerts that have come in overnight, looking for any threats that need immediate attention. You then attend several meetings with executives and department heads to discuss the security posture of the company and any ongoing security initiatives.  A significant portion of your day is spent analysing data, evaluating security risks and developing security strategies that align with your business goals. You have the added pressure of effectively communicating complex security issues to non-technical stakeholders.

In the afternoon, you meet with external security vendors, review security contracts, and negotiate new security deals. You are always trying to make the most of your limited budget and resources to ensure effective security and mitigate against any vulnerabilities that could put the business at risk.

You work closely with other teams and Executives to ensure that security policies and procedures are being implemented correctly and that employees are receiving adequate training on security awareness, so they understand their role in keeping the company secure. 

On any given day, you will actively be balancing the need for security with the need for business agility and innovation.  Your daily responsibilities include but are not exhaustive to:

• Developing, reviewing and updating the company’s security policies and incident response plans, metrics, procedures, and guidelines to ensure that they align with current best practices and compliance requirements.
• Meeting with the Executive team to discuss security risks, incidents, and mitigation strategies, and to ensure that security is integrated into the organisation’s overall business strategy including disaster recovery/business continuity plans.
• Working with the IT department to ensure that security controls are implemented and tested effectively, and that vulnerabilities are identified and remediated promptly.
• Scheduling periodic security audits and testing business continuity plans.
• Evaluating new security technologies and solutions alongside reviewing and approving security budgets and expenditures which can be a challenging process. 
• Participating in security awareness training sessions for employees and promoting a culture of security throughout the organisation.
• Reviewing security reports and alerts, investigating incidents, and coordinating responses with other stakeholders, such as legal, HR, and public relations.
• Trying to keep abreast of industry trends, evolving threat landscapes, and regulatory changes, and applying that knowledge to improve the organisation’s security posture.

You end your day by reviewing any new security threats that have come in and planning the next day’s activities.  Your day turns into a very long evening before all the fun starts again.

See how the BlockAPT Platform can help address your challenges in your daily responsibilities:  

Managing multiple security tools and systems: (Control)

Centralise and consolidate your disparate tools with the BlockAPT Platform. Simplify your security infrastructure integrates multiple security tools and platforms into a single, unified solution. Streamline your workflows, reduce complexity, and gain a holistic view of your security landscape from one centralised dashboard.

Balancing security and business priorities: (Unify)

Align security initiatives and business goals with the BlockAPT Platform.  Utilise the platform’s customisable dashboards and reporting capabilities to demonstrate the value of security investments, communicate and manage risks effectively, and gain buy-in from stakeholders.

Staying ahead of emerging threats: (Unify & Control)

Intuitive, real-time and proactive threat intelligence with the BlockAPT Platform. Take advantage of advanced threat intelligence capabilities, leveraging machine learning to identify and mitigate emerging threats. Stay one step ahead of attackers by leveraging real-time insights and actionable intelligence utilising robust security analytics.

Managing compliance and regulatory requirements: (Control & Quantum)

Simplify compliance and regulatory requirements with the BlockAPT Platform. Utilise role based access control and advanced automated workflows to support internal and external audits processes. Simplify your pre-audit preparation and post-audit remedial actions with detailed reports as you navigate complex regulations such as GDPR, CE, CE+ and ISO 27001. With an advanced automation and incident response engine, you can automatically fix faults found in scans such as patching easily and efficiently.

Collaboration and communication with stakeholders: (Control & Quantum)

The BlockAPT Platform facilitates seamless collaboration between you as a CISO, security, IT teams, and stakeholders. Share real-time insights with the Executive dashboard, track security incidents demonstrating MTTD & MTTR times, and engage in secure communication channels within the platform, ensuring effective collaboration and alignment throughout your organisation.

Experience the power of the BlockAPT Platform to streamline operations, align security with business goals, stay ahead of threats, simplify compliance, and enhance collaboration – all in one unified platform experience.  

Request a demo or have an exploratory call with us to find out more – contact BlockAPT here.