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Apr 28 2026

AI Security Tool Evaluation: A Reality Check for CISOs

Category: AI Governance,AI Governance Enforcement,AI Governance Tools,CISO,Information Security,Security Tools,vCISO — disc7 @ 9:15 am

AI Security Tool Evaluation: A Reality Check for CISOs

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping how applications are built, deployed, and attacked. Unlike traditional systems, AI introduces a dynamic and unpredictable attack surface—especially with the rise of agentic AI that can act autonomously. This shift demands a completely new approach to security evaluation.

Most organizations are still relying on legacy application security tools, which were designed for deterministic code. These tools struggle to keep up with AI systems that evolve, learn, and behave differently over time. As a result, CISOs are facing a widening gap between AI adoption and AI security readiness.

The core issue is visibility. Many organizations do not have a clear inventory of their AI assets—models, datasets, agents, and dependencies. Without this foundational understanding, it becomes nearly impossible to secure or govern AI effectively.

To address this, modern AI security evaluation must start with discovery. CISOs need tools that can map the entire AI footprint, including hidden dependencies and third-party integrations. This concept is often referred to as an AI Bill of Materials (AI-BOM), which provides a structured view of the AI supply chain.

Once visibility is established, the next step is risk assessment. AI systems require new testing approaches such as adversarial testing, red teaming, and behavioral analysis. Unlike traditional vulnerability scanning, these methods simulate real-world attacks against AI models and agents to uncover hidden risks.

Governance is another critical pillar. AI security tools must enable organizations to enforce policies aligned with emerging standards like the EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, and ISO/IEC 42001. Security is no longer just about detection—it must include enforceable controls across the AI lifecycle.

A major shift highlighted in the framework is the need for unified platforms. Fragmented tools create blind spots and operational inefficiencies. Instead, organizations should prioritize integrated solutions that combine visibility, testing, governance, and runtime protection into a single system.

Runtime defense is becoming increasingly important where you may need AI Governance enforcement. AI agents can take actions in real time, interact with external systems, and trigger cascading effects. Security tools must monitor and control these behaviors dynamically, not just during development.

Another key insight is collaboration. AI security is no longer owned by a single team. CISOs, AI leaders, developers, and security engineers must work together to ensure safe adoption. This requires tools and processes that bridge gaps between governance, engineering, and operations.

Ultimately, the goal of AI security tool evaluation is not just to reduce risk but to enable innovation. Organizations that can securely adopt AI will move faster and gain competitive advantage, while those relying on outdated approaches will struggle to keep pace.

Perspective & Recommendations (from a GRC / vCISO lens)

Here’s the blunt truth: most AI security tool evaluations today are feature-driven, not risk-driven.

CISOs are still asking:

“Does this tool scan prompts?”
“Does it detect jailbreaks?”

But they should be asking:

“Can this tool enforce governance?”
“Can I prove compliance and control effectiveness?”

My perspective:

AI security is quickly becoming a governance problem disguised as a tooling problem.

If you don’t tie tools to:

Risk scenarios
Regulatory obligations
Business impact

…you’re just buying expensive dashboards.

What I recommend (practical + actionable)

1. Start with AI Risk Scenarios, not tools

Define:

Model misuse
Data leakage
Prompt injection
Autonomous agent abuse

Then evaluate tools against these risks.

2. Demand “control enforcement,” not just detection

Most tools find issues. Few can:

Block unsafe actions
Enforce policies
Provide audit evidence

That’s the gap regulators will focus on.

3. Align evaluation with frameworks early

Map tools to:

NIST AI RMF
ISO 42001
EU AI Act

If a tool can’t map to controls, it won’t survive audit.

4. Prioritize AI asset inventory (non-negotiable)

If you don’t know:

Where AI is used
What models exist
What data flows through them

You don’t have security—you have assumptions.

5. Test tools in real-world scenarios (not demos)

Run:

Red team exercises
Abuse cases
Failure simulations

Because AI breaks in production, not in slide decks.

6. Avoid tool sprawl early

Pick platforms that:

Integrate into SDLC
Provide governance + security
Support runtime controls

Otherwise, you’ll recreate the same AppSec mess.

Final Thought

AI security evaluation is evolving into AI governance maturity assessment.

The winners won’t be the companies with the most tools.
They’ll be the ones who can prove control, enforce policy, and demonstrate trust.

DISC InfoSec is an active ISO 42001 implementer and PECB Authorized Training Partner specializing in AI governance for B2B SaaS and financial services organizations.

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Schedule a consultation or drop a note below: info@deurainfosec.com

Tags: AI Security Tool

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Mar 23 2026

Why Every Company Needs a CISO (or at Least vCISO-Level Leadership)

Category: CISO,Information Security,vCISO — disc7 @ 7:41 am

In today’s threat landscape, where cyber incidents, ransomware, and data breaches are no longer rare but constant, organizations must treat information security as a core business priority—not just an IT function. As highlighted, the increasing complexity of digital environments, cloud adoption, and emerging technologies like AI have made cyber risk a business risk that demands executive-level ownership.

At the center of this shift is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)—a role that has evolved far beyond technical oversight. Today’s CISO is responsible for aligning security with business strategy, managing enterprise and third-party risks, ensuring regulatory compliance, and embedding security into every layer of the organization. More importantly, the CISO acts as a bridge between leadership and technical teams, translating complex cyber risks into business decisions that executives can act on.

A critical function of the CISO is leadership during uncertainty. When incidents occur, the CISO leads response efforts, coordinates communication, ensures compliance with regulatory obligations, and drives recovery—all while minimizing financial, operational, and reputational damage. This level of accountability cannot be distributed across roles like CIO, CRO, or CPO alone; it requires a dedicated security leader focused specifically on protecting the organization from evolving cyber threats.

From a governance perspective, frameworks like ISO/IEC 27001 emphasize the need for clearly defined security leadership, accountability, and continuous risk management. While the title “CISO” may not always be explicitly required, the function is essential. Organizations that lack this leadership often struggle with fragmented security efforts, compliance gaps, and misalignment between business objectives and security controls.

At DISC InfoSec, we see this gap every day—especially in small and mid-sized organizations. Not every company needs a full-time CISO, but every company does need CISO-level leadership. That’s where our vCISO and advisory services come in. We help organizations establish strategic security governance, align with ISO 27001 and emerging standards like ISO 42001, and build audit-ready, risk-driven programs that scale with the business.

A CISO Training offering by DISC InfoSec:

🚨 You Don’t Need a Full-Time CISO—But You Do Need CISO-Level Expertise

Cyber risk is no longer just an IT problem—it’s a business risk, a compliance risk, and a leadership challenge. Yet many organizations still lack the expertise needed to lead security at the executive level.

That’s where most companies struggle…
Not because they don’t invest in tools—but because they lack trained leadership to govern security effectively.

💡 Introducing DISC InfoSec CISO Training

At DISC InfoSec, we equip professionals with the skills, frameworks, and strategic mindset required to operate at the CISO level—without the trial-and-error.

Our training helps you:
✔ Think like a CISO—align security with business objectives
✔ Master risk management across ISO 27001 and emerging AI standards (ISO 42001)
✔ Lead audits, compliance, and governance programs with confidence
✔ Manage third-party and AI-driven risks effectively
✔ Communicate cyber risk to executives and board members

🎯 Who Should Attend?
• Aspiring CISOs / vCISOs
• GRC & Compliance Professionals
• Security Leaders & Architects
• IT Managers transitioning into leadership roles
• Consultants delivering security advisory services

🔥 Why DISC InfoSec?
We don’t just teach theory—we bring real-world consulting experience into every session. You’ll walk away with practical frameworks, templates, and playbooks you can apply immediately.

📩 Ready to Step Into a CISO Role?
Join our CISO Training Program and start leading security—not just managing it. A reasonably priced training program that offers great value for money, includes the exam fee, and awards a certification upon successful completion.

Organize as a Self-Study Training or Classroom Training event – Take advantage of a 20% discount on your first course registration. Review all the course details by downloading the brochure at your convenience. Have a question? Enter it in the message box at the end of this post.

Chief-Information-Security-Officer-4p-EN-Partner Download

A future-ready CISO training program goes beyond reacting to today’s threats—it develops leaders who can anticipate disruption, align security with business strategy, and confidently navigate uncertainty. It blends strategic thinking, emerging technology awareness, and hands-on leadership skills to prepare CISOs for a rapidly evolving risk landscape.

The top six features of modern CISO training, along with added perspective:

Feature	Description	Why It Matters (Perspective)
Strategic Leadership Focus	Training emphasizes business alignment, executive communication, and long-term security vision rather than purely technical depth.	The CISO role has shifted into the boardroom. Success depends on influencing decisions, securing budgets, and tying security to revenue protection and growth.
AI & Automation Readiness	Covers AI-powered threats, defensive use of AI, and governance frameworks for responsible AI adoption.	AI is both a weapon and a shield. CISOs who don’t understand AI risk being outpaced by adversaries who already do.
Cloud & Identity-Centric Security	Focuses on Zero Trust, multi-cloud environments, and identity as the new perimeter.	Traditional network boundaries are gone. Identity and access control are now the frontline of defense in distributed environments.
Cyber Resilience & Crisis Leadership	Prepares leaders for breach inevitability with incident response, crisis management, and recovery planning.	Prevention alone is unrealistic. The real differentiator is how fast and effectively an organization can respond and recover.
Risk & Regulatory Intelligence	Builds expertise in global regulations, privacy laws, and third-party risk management.	Compliance is no longer optional—it’s a business enabler. CISOs must translate regulatory pressure into structured risk programs.
Human-Centric Security Leadership	Focuses on culture-building, behavioral risk, and stakeholder engagement across the organization.	Technology doesn’t fail—people and processes do. Strong security culture is often the most effective and scalable control.

Perspective

The biggest shift in CISO training is this: it’s no longer about producing security experts—it’s about producing risk executives.

Future-looking programs should feel closer to an MBA in cyber leadership than a technical certification. The CISOs who will stand out are those who can connect cybersecurity to business value, leverage AI intelligently, and lead through ambiguity—not just manage controls.

#CISO #CyberSecurity #InfoSec #Leadership #ISO27001 #ISO42001 #RiskManagement #GRC #Compliance #AISecurity #vCISO #CyberRisk #SecurityLeadership #DISCInfoSec

At DISC InfoSec, we help organizations navigate this landscape by aligning AI risk management, governance, security, and compliance into a single, practical roadmap. Whether you are experimenting with AI or deploying it at scale, we help you choose and operationalize the right frameworks to reduce risk and build trust. Learn more at DISC InfoSec.

Tags: AI risks, CISO, CISO Chief Information Security Officer, CISO Training, Risk Executives

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Feb 27 2026

The Modern CISO: From Security Operator to CEO-Level Risk Strategist in the Age of AI

Category: AI,CISO,Information Security,vCISO — disc7 @ 9:27 am

The latest Global CISO Organization & Compensation Survey highlights a decisive shift in how organizations position and reward cybersecurity leadership. Today, 42% of CISOs report directly to the CEO across both public and private companies. Nearly all (96%) are already integrating AI into their security programs. Compensation continues to climb sharply in the United States, where average total pay has reached $1.45M, while Europe averages €537K, with Germany and the UK leading the region. The message is clear: cybersecurity leadership has become a CEO-level mandate tied directly to enterprise performance.

42% of CISOs now report to the CEO (across private & public companies)
96% are already using AI in their security programs
U.S. average total comp: $1.45M, with top-end cash continuing to rise
Europe average total comp: €537K, led by Germany and the UK

The reporting structure data is particularly telling. With nearly half of CISOs now reporting to the CEO, security is no longer buried under IT or operations. This shift reflects recognition that cyber risk is business risk — affecting revenue, brand equity, regulatory exposure, and shareholder value.

In organizations where the CISO reports to the CEO, the role tends to be broader and more strategic. These leaders are involved in risk appetite discussions, digital transformation initiatives, and enterprise resilience planning rather than focusing solely on technical controls and incident response.

The survey also confirms that AI adoption within security programs is nearly universal. With 96% of CISOs leveraging AI, security teams are using automation for threat detection, anomaly analysis, vulnerability management, and response orchestration. AI is no longer experimental — it is operational.

At the same time, AI introduces new governance and oversight responsibilities. CISOs are now expected to evaluate AI model risks, third-party AI exposure, data integrity issues, and regulatory compliance implications. This expands their mandate well beyond traditional cybersecurity domains.

Compensation trends underscore the elevation of the role. In the United States, total average compensation of $1.45M reflects increasing equity awards and performance-based incentives. Top-end cash compensation continues to rise, especially in high-growth and technology-driven sectors.

European compensation, averaging €537K, remains lower than U.S. levels but shows strong leadership in Germany and the UK. The regional difference likely reflects variations in market size, risk exposure, regulatory complexity, and equity-based compensation culture.

The survey also suggests that compensation increasingly differentiates operational security leaders from enterprise risk executives. CISOs who influence corporate strategy, communicate effectively with boards, and align cybersecurity with business growth tend to command higher pay.

Another key takeaway is the broadening expectation set. Modern CISOs are not only defenders of infrastructure but stewards of digital trust, AI governance, third-party risk, and business continuity. The role now intersects with legal, compliance, product, and innovation functions.

My perspective: The data confirms what many of us have observed in practice — cybersecurity has become a proxy for enterprise decision quality. As AI scales decision-making across organizations, risk scales with it. The CISO who thrives in this environment is not merely technical but strategic, commercially aware, and governance-focused. Compensation is rising because the consequences of failure are existential. In today’s environment, AI risk is business decision risk at scale — and the CISO sits at the center of that equation.

Source: https://www.heidrick.com/-/media/heidrickcom/publications-and-reports/2025-global-chief-information-security-officer-ciso-comp-survey.pdf

Tags: Age of AI, CEO RISK Strategy

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Feb 25 2026

Expanding Risk, Shrinking Authority: The Modern CISO Dilemma

Category: CISO,CISSP,vCISO — disc7 @ 8:19 am

Your CISO isn’t burned out. They’re set up to fail by design.

Everyone talks about talent shortages, high compensation packages, and executive presence as if those are the real problems. Meanwhile, seasoned security leaders are quietly walking away, taking lower-level roles, or declining seven-figure offers after doing basic due diligence.

Why? Because the CISO role has morphed from “protect the company” into “personally absorb the blast radius.”

They face criminal liability, regulatory naming and shaming, expanding attack surfaces, AI risks they didn’t approve, third parties they can’t fully monitor, and boards that demand green dashboards instead of uncomfortable truths.

At the heart of it, most CISOs lack real-time, unified visibility into their organization’s true risk posture. They’re being asked to sign off on uncertainty, and that’s fundamentally unfair.

This isn’t a leadership problem. It’s a systems problem. The structure of the role itself sets CISOs up to fail, regardless of talent, experience, or compensation.

If organizations want to stop the quiet CISO exodus, they need to fix the structural conditions that make the job indefensible in the first place. Systems, processes, and authority need to match the accountability expectations.

One critical example is AI. Business units can deploy AI tools faster than security teams can review them. The CISO’s authority hasn’t kept pace with their expanding surface area, turning a protective role into a liability role.

From my perspective, the solution isn’t just hiring more talent or offering bigger paychecks. Organizations need real-time visibility, governance that empowers, and systems that support accountability. Until that gap is closed, the role will remain stressful, unsustainable, and high-risk.

https://www.deurainfosec.com/disc-infosec-home/vciso-services/

Tags: CISO, Expanding Risk, Shrinking Authority

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Feb 19 2026

From Security Leader to Business Enabler: The Modern CISO Role

Category: CISO,CISSP,vCISO — disc7 @ 10:38 am

1. Translate business priorities into security outcomes

A CISO’s first responsibility is to convert business goals into concrete security protections. This means understanding what assets are mission-critical and identifying scenarios that could seriously damage revenue, operations, safety, or regulatory standing. Security becomes a business enabler rather than a technical afterthought.

Priority tasks include identifying crown-jewel assets, mapping them to business processes, and modeling high-impact loss scenarios. The CISO should then align controls and investments directly with business objectives—protecting uptime, customer trust, and compliance exposure. Regular executive discussions ensure security strategy evolves with business priorities.

2. Establish governance and clear risk ownership

Effective governance ensures that cybersecurity risk is shared and owned across the organization, not isolated within IT. The CISO builds a structure where executives understand and accept accountability for risks tied to their domains.

Key priorities are defining risk ownership across departments, creating formal decision forums where risk and investment are reviewed, and embedding cybersecurity into enterprise governance processes. Clear escalation paths and accountability frameworks help transform security from advisory guidance into organizational action.

3. Build an actionable risk register

An actionable risk register turns abstract threats into prioritized, manageable work. It allows leadership to see which risks matter most and what actions will reduce them.

The CISO should prioritize evaluating risks based on likelihood and business impact, ranking them transparently, and linking each item to a funded remediation roadmap. The focus is on measurable risk reduction rather than isolated projects, ensuring investments produce visible resilience gains.

4. Own identity and access as the control plane

Identity and access management acts as the organization’s primary defensive layer. By controlling who can access what, the CISO limits the damage of inevitable breaches.

Priority actions include enforcing multi-factor authentication, implementing least-privilege access, and maintaining disciplined joiner-mover-leaver processes. Continuous access reviews and lifecycle automation reduce attack surfaces and shrink the blast radius of compromised accounts.

5. Operationalize third-party risk

Third-party relationships extend the organization’s attack surface. The CISO must treat vendor risk as an ongoing operational function, not a one-time assessment.

Critical tasks include tiering vendors by risk level, embedding security requirements into contracts, and establishing onboarding and offboarding controls. Continuous monitoring and reassessment ensure vendor security posture keeps pace with changing threats and business dependencies.

6. Run incident response like a business capability

Incident response should function as a rehearsed organizational capability rather than an ad hoc reaction. It protects operational continuity and reputation.

The CISO prioritizes defining clear roles, developing tested playbooks, and conducting tabletop exercises with executive leadership. Structured escalation and communication processes enable faster containment, minimize business disruption, and accelerate recovery.

7. Report metrics that leadership can act on

Security metrics must inform decisions, not just decorate dashboards. The CISO translates operational data into insights leadership can use.

Priority work includes tracking actionable indicators such as detection and containment times, patch cycles, control coverage, and vendor exposure. Reporting should demonstrate trends and measurable improvements in security posture, supporting informed investment and governance decisions.

8. Build a team and partner ecosystem that executes

A strong execution engine requires skilled people and effective partnerships. The CISO creates an operating model that turns strategy into results.

Key priorities are defining clear roles and responsibilities, strengthening engineering and operational capabilities, and selecting tools that demonstrably improve detection and response. External partners and platforms should complement internal strengths and scale execution.

Perspective:
A modern CISO’s value lies in building a system where security is embedded in business decision-making. When the role is reduced to technical firefighting, organizations lose strategic leverage. A high-impact CISO establishes governance, accountability, and measurable outcomes—transforming security from reactive theater into proactive business resilience.

#Cybersecurity #CISO #RiskManagement

Tags: CISO role, Security Leaders

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Jan 13 2026

Beyond Technical Excellence: How CISOs Will Lead in the Age of AI

Category: CISO,Information Security,vCISO — disc7 @ 1:56 pm

AI’s impact on the CISO role:

The CISO role is evolving rapidly between now and 2035. Traditional security responsibilities—like managing firewalls and monitoring networks—are only part of the picture. CISOs must increasingly operate as strategic business leaders, integrating security into enterprise-wide decision-making and aligning risk management with business objectives.

Boards and CEOs will have higher expectations for security leaders in the next decade. They will look for CISOs who can clearly communicate risks in business terms, drive organizational resilience, and contribute to strategic initiatives rather than just react to incidents. Leadership influence will matter as much as technical expertise.

Technical excellence alone is no longer enough. While deep security knowledge remains critical, modern CISOs must combine it with business acumen, emotional intelligence, and the ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics. The most successful security leaders bridge the gap between technology and business impact.

World-class CISOs are building leadership capabilities today that go beyond technology management. This includes shaping corporate culture around security, influencing cross-functional decisions, mentoring teams, and advocating for proactive risk governance. These skills ensure they remain central to enterprise success.

Common traps quietly derail otherwise strong CISOs. Focusing too narrowly on technical issues, failing to communicate effectively with executives, or neglecting stakeholder relationships can limit influence and career growth. Awareness of these pitfalls allows security leaders to avoid them and maintain credibility.

Future-proofing your role and influence is now essential. AI is transforming the security landscape. For CISOs, AI means automated threat detection, predictive risk analytics, and new ethical and regulatory considerations. Responsibilities like routine monitoring may fade, while oversight of AI-driven systems, data governance, and strategic security leadership will intensify. The question is no longer whether CISOs understand AI—it’s whether they are prepared to lead in an AI-driven organization, ensuring security remains a core enabler of business objectives.

Data Security in the Age of AI: A Guide to Protecting Data and Reducing Risk in an AI-Driven World

Comprehensive-vCISO-Services-1 Download

Tags: Age of AI, CISO

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Jan 07 2026

7 Essential CISO Capabilities for Board-Level Cyber Risk Oversight

Category: AI Governance,CISO,Data Governance,IT Governance,Risk Assessment,vCISO — disc7 @ 9:19 am

1. Governance Oversight

A CISO must design and operate a security governance model that aligns with corporate governance, regulatory requirements, and the organization’s risk appetite. This ensures security controls are consistent, auditable, and defensible. Without strong governance, organizations face regulatory penalties, audit failures, and fragmented or overlapping controls that create risk instead of reducing it.

2. Cybersecurity Maturity Management

The CISO should continuously assess the organization’s security posture using recognized maturity models such as NIST CSF or ISO 27001, and define a clear target state. This capability enables prioritization of investments and long-term improvement. Lacking maturity management leads to reactive, ad-hoc spending and an inability to justify or sequence security initiatives.

3. Incident Response (Response Readiness)

A core responsibility of the CISO is ensuring the organization is prepared for incidents through tested playbooks, simulations, and war-gaming. Effective response readiness minimizes impact when breaches occur. Without it, detection is slow, downtime is extended, and financial and reputational damage escalates rapidly.

4. Detection, Response & Automation (SOC / SOAR Capability)

The CISO must ensure the organization can rapidly detect threats, alert the right teams, and automate responses where possible. Strong SOC and SOAR capabilities reduce mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR). Weakness here results in undetected breaches, slow manual responses, and delayed forensic investigations.

5. Business & Financial Acumen

A modern CISO must connect cyber risk to business outcomes—revenue, margins, valuation, and enterprise risk. This includes articulating ROI, payback, and value creation. Without this skill, security is viewed purely as a cost center, and investments fail to align with business strategy.

6. Risk Communication

The CISO must translate complex technical risks into clear, business-impact narratives that boards and executives can act on. Effective risk communication enables informed decision-making. When this capability is weak, risks remain misunderstood or hidden until a major incident forces attention.

7. Culture & Cross-Functional Leadership

A successful CISO builds strong security teams, fosters a security-aware culture, and collaborates across IT, legal, finance, product, and operations. Security cannot succeed in silos. Poor leadership here leads to misaligned priorities, weak adoption of controls, and ineffective onboarding of new staff into security practices.

My Opinion: The Three Most Important Capabilities

If forced to prioritize, the top three are:

Risk Communication
If the board does not understand risk, no other capability matters. Funding, priorities, and executive decisions all depend on how well the CISO communicates risk in business terms.
Governance Oversight
Governance is the foundation. Without it, security efforts are fragmented, compliance fails, and accountability is unclear. Strong governance enables everything else to function coherently.
Incident Response (Response Readiness)
Breaches are inevitable. What separates resilient organizations from failed ones is how well they respond. Preparation directly limits financial, operational, and reputational damage.

Bottom line:
Technology matters, but leadership, governance, and communication are what boards ultimately expect from a CISO. Tools support these capabilities—they don’t replace them.

Tags: CISO Capabilities

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Dec 02 2025

Governance & Security for AI Plug-Ins – vCISO Playbook

Category: AI Governance,Information Security,Security playbook,VCAIO,vCISO — disc7 @ 12:48 pm

In a recent report, researchers at Cato Networks revealed that the “Skills” plug‑in feature of Claude — the AI system developed by Anthropic — can be trivially abused to deploy ransomware.

The exploit involved taking a legitimate, open‑source plug‑in (a “GIF Creator” skill) and subtly modifying it: by inserting a seemingly harmless function that downloads and executes external code, the modified plug‑in can pull in a malicious script (in this case, ransomware) without triggering warnings.

When a user installs and approves such a skill, the plug‑in gains persistent permissions: it can read/write files, download further code, and open outbound connections, all without any additional prompts. That “single‑consent” permission model creates a dangerous consent gap.

In the demonstration by Cato Networks researcher Inga Cherny, they didn’t need deep technical skill — they simply edited the plug‑in, re-uploaded it, and once a single employee approved it, ransomware (specifically MedusaLocker) was deployed. Cherny emphasized that “anyone can do it — you don’t even have to write the code.”

Microsoft and other security watchers have observed that MedusaLocker belongs to a broader, active family of ransomware that has targeted numerous organizations globally, often via exploited vulnerabilities or weaponized tools.

This event marks a disturbing evolution in AI‑related cyber‑threats: attackers are moving beyond simple prompt‑based “jailbreaks” or phishing using generative AI — now they’re hijacking AI platforms themselves as delivery mechanisms for malware, turning automation tools into attack vectors.

It’s also a wake-up call for corporate IT and security teams. As more development teams adopt AI plug‑ins and automation workflows, there’s a growing risk that something as innocuous as a “productivity tool” could conceal a backdoor — and once installed, bypass all typical detection mechanisms under the guise of “trusted” software.

Finally, while the concept of AI‑driven attacks has been discussed for some time, this proof‑of-concept exploit shifts the threat from theoretical to real. It demonstrates how easily AI systems — even those with safety guardrails — can be subverted to perform malicious operations when trust is misplaced or oversight is lacking.

🧠 My Take

This incident highlights a fundamental challenge: as we embrace AI for convenience and automation, we must not forget that the same features enabling productivity can be twisted into attack vectors. The “single‑consent” permission model underlying many AI plug‑ins seems especially risky — once that trust is granted, there’s little transparency about what happens behind the scenes.

In my view, organizations using AI–enabled tools should treat them like any other critical piece of infrastructure: enforce code review, restrict who can approve plug‑ins, and maintain strict operational oversight. For people like you working in InfoSec and compliance — especially in small/medium businesses like wineries — this is a timely reminder: AI adoption must be accompanied by updated governance and threat models, not just productivity gains.

Below is a checklist of security‑best practices (for companies and vCISOs) to guard against misuse of AI plug‑ins — could be a useful to assess your current controls.

https://www.wired.com/story/the-era-of-ai-generated-ransomware-has-arrived

Safeguard organizational assets by managing risks associated with AI plug-ins (e.g., Claude Skills, GPT Tools, other automation plug-ins)

AI-Plug-In-Security-Best-Practices-for-Ransomware Download

Governance in The Age of Gen AI: A Director’s Handbook on Gen AI

Tags: AI Plug-Ins, vCISO

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Sep 30 2025

The CISO’s Playbook for Effective Board Communication

Category: CISO,vCISO — disc7 @ 10:34 am

The Help Net Security video titled “The CISO’s guide to stronger board communication” features Alisdair Faulkner, CEO of Darwinium, who discusses how the role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has evolved significantly in recent years. The piece frames the challenge: CISOs now must bridge the gap between deep technical knowledge and strategic business conversations.

Faulkner argues that many CISOs fall into the trap of using overly technical language when speaking with board members. This can lead to misunderstanding, disengagement, or even resistance. He highlights that clarity and relevance are vital: CISOs should aim to translate complex security concepts into business-oriented terms.

One key shift he advocates is positioning cybersecurity not as a cost center, but as a business enabler. In other words, security initiatives should be tied to business value—supporting goals like growth, innovation, resilience, and risk mitigation—rather than being framed purely as expense or compliance.

Faulkner also delves into the effects of artificial intelligence on board-level discussions. He points out that AI is both a tool and a threat: it can enhance security operations, but it also introduces new vulnerabilities and risk vectors. As such, it shifts the nature of what boards must understand about cybersecurity.

To build trust and alignment with executives, the video offers practical strategies. These include focusing on metrics that matter to business leaders, storytelling to make risks tangible, and avoiding the temptation to “drown” stakeholders in technical detail. The goal is to foster informed decision-making, not just to show knowledge.

Faulkner emphasizes resilience and innovation as hallmarks of modern security leadership. Rather than passively reacting to threats, the CISO should help the organization anticipate, adapt, and evolve. This helps ensure that security is integrated into the business’s strategic journey.

Another insight is that board communications should be ongoing and evolving, not limited to annual reviews or audits. As risks, technologies, and business priorities shift, the CISO needs to keep the board apprised, engaged, and confident in the security posture.

In sum, Faulkner’s guidance reframes the CISO’s role—from a highly technical operator to a strategic bridge to the board. He urges CISOs to communicate in business terms, emphasize value and resilience, and adapt to emerging challenges like AI. The video is a call for security leaders to become fluent in “the language of the board.”

My opinion
I think this is a very timely and valuable perspective. In many organizations, there’s still a disconnect between cybersecurity teams and executive governance. Framing security in business value rather than technical jargon is essential to elevate the conversation and gain real support. The emphasis on AI is also apt—boards increasingly need to understand both the opportunities and risks it brings. Overall, Faulkner’s approach is pragmatic and strategic, and I believe CISOs who adopt these practices will be more effective and influential.

Here’s a concise cheat sheet based on the article and video:

📝 CISO–Board Communication Cheat Sheet

1. Speak the Board’s Language

Avoid deep technical jargon.
Translate risks into business impact (financial, reputational, operational).

2. Frame Security as a Business Enabler

Position cybersecurity as value-adding, not just a cost or compliance checkbox.
Show how security supports growth, innovation, and resilience.

3. Use Metrics That Matter

Present KPIs that executives care about (risk reduction, downtime avoided, compliance readiness).
Keep dashboards simple and aligned to strategic goals.

4. Leverage Storytelling

Use real scenarios, case studies, or analogies to make risks tangible.
Highlight potential consequences in relatable terms (e.g., revenue loss, customer trust).

5. Address AI Clearly

AI is both an opportunity (automation, detection) and a risk (new attack vectors, data misuse).
Keep the board informed on how your org leverages and protects AI.

6. Emphasize Resilience & Innovation

Stress the ability to anticipate, adapt, and recover from incidents.
Position security as a partner in innovation, not a blocker.

7. Maintain Ongoing Engagement

Don’t limit updates to annual reviews.
Provide regular briefings that evolve with threats, regulations, and business priorities.

8. Build Trust & Alignment

Show confidence without overselling.
Invite discussion and feedback—help the board feel like informed decision-makers.

The CISO Playbook

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Tags: Board Communication, CISO's Playbook, vCISO Playbook

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Sep 05 2025

The Modern CISO: From Firewall Operator to Seller of Trust

Category: AI,CISO,vCISO — disc7 @ 2:09 pm

The role of the modern CISO has evolved far beyond technical oversight. While many entered the field expecting to focus solely on firewalls, frameworks, and fighting cyber threats, the reality is that today’s CISOs must operate as business leaders as much as security experts. Increasingly, the role demands skills that look surprisingly similar to sales.

This shift is driven by business dynamics. Buyers and partners are highly sensitive to security posture. A single breach or regulatory fine can derail deals and destroy trust. As a result, security is no longer just a cost center—it directly influences revenue, customer acquisition, and long-term business resilience.

CISOs now face a dual responsibility: maintaining deep technical credibility while also translating security into a business advantage. Boards and executives are asking not only, “Are we protected?” but also, “How does our security posture help us win business?” This requires CISOs to communicate clearly and persuasively about the commercial value of trust and compliance.

At the same time, budgets are tight and CISO compensation is under scrutiny. Justifying investment in security requires framing it in business terms—showing how it prevents losses, enables sales, and differentiates the company in a competitive market. Security is no longer seen as background infrastructure but as a factor that can make or break deals.

Despite this, many security professionals still resist the sales aspect of the job, seeing it as outside their domain. This resistance risks leaving them behind as the role changes. The reality is that security leadership now includes revenue protection and revenue generation, not just technical defense.

The future CISO will be defined by their ability to translate security into customer confidence and measurable business outcomes. Those who embrace this evolution will shape the next generation of leadership, while those who cling only to the technical side risk becoming sidelined.

Advice on AI’s impact on the CISO role:
AI will accelerate this transformation. On the technical side, AI tools will automate many detection, response, and compliance tasks that once required hands-on oversight, reducing the weight of purely operational responsibilities. On the business side, AI will raise customer expectations for security, privacy, and ethical use of data. This means CISOs must increasingly act as “trust architects,” communicating how AI is governed and secured. The CISO who can blend technical authority with persuasive storytelling about AI risk and trust will not only safeguard the enterprise but also directly influence growth. In short, AI will make the CISO less of a firewall operator and more of a business strategist who sells trust.

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DISC InfoSec offer free initial high level assessment – Based on your needs DISC InfoSec offer ongoing compliance management or vCISO retainer.

Tags: CISO, The Modern CISO, vCISO

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Aug 17 2025

The CISO 3.0: A Guide to Next-Generation Cybersecurity Leadership

Category: CISO,Information Security,vCISO — disc7 @ 2:31 pm

The CISO 3.0: A Guide to Next-Generation Cybersecurity Leadership – Security, Audit and Leadership Series is out by Walt Powell.

This book positions itself not just as a technical guide but as a strategic roadmap for the future of cybersecurity leadership. It emphasizes that in today’s complex threat environment, CISOs must evolve beyond technical mastery and step into the role of business leaders who weave cybersecurity into the very fabric of organizational strategy.

The core message challenges the outdated view of CISOs as purely technical experts. Instead, it calls for a strategic shift toward business alignment, measurable risk management, and adoption of emerging technologies like AI and machine learning. This evolution reflects growing expectations from boards, executives, and regulators—expectations that CISOs must now meet with business fluency, not just technical insight.

The book goes further by offering actionable guidance, case studies, and real-world examples drawn from extensive experience across hundreds of security programs. It explores practical topics such as risk quantification, cyber insurance, and defining materiality, filling the gap left by more theory-heavy resources.

For aspiring CISOs, the book provides a clear path to transition from technical expertise to strategic leadership. For current CISOs, it delivers fresh insight into strengthening business acumen and boardroom credibility, enabling them to better drive value while protecting organizational assets.

My thought: This book’s strength lies in recognizing that the modern CISO role is no longer just about defending networks but about enabling business resilience and trust. By blending strategy with technical depth, it seems to prepare security leaders for the boardroom-level influence they now require. In an era where cybersecurity is a business risk, not just an IT issue, this perspective feels both timely and necessary.

Secure Your Business. Simplify Compliance. Gain Peace of Mind

Tags: CISO 3.0

Comments (1)

Jun 02 2025

Summary of CISO 3.0: Leading AI Governance and Security in the Boardroom

Category: AI,CISO,Information Security,vCISO — disc7 @ 5:12 pm

Aaron McCray, Field CISO at CDW, discusses the evolving role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). He emphasizes that CISOs are transitioning from traditional cybersecurity roles to strategic advisors who guide enterprise-wide AI governance and risk management. This shift, termed “CISO 3.0,” involves aligning AI initiatives with business objectives and compliance requirements.
McCray highlights the challenges of integrating AI-driven security tools, particularly regarding visibility, explainability, and false positives. He notes that while AI can enhance security operations, it also introduces complexities, such as the need for transparency in AI decision-making processes and the risk of overwhelming security teams with irrelevant alerts. Ensuring that AI tools integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure is also a significant concern.
The article underscores the necessity for CISOs and their teams to develop new skill sets, including proficiency in data science and machine learning. McCray points out that understanding how AI models are trained and the data they rely on is crucial for managing associated risks. Adaptive learning platforms that simulate real-world scenarios are mentioned as effective tools for closing the skills gap.
When evaluating third-party AI tools, McCray advises CISOs to prioritize accountability and transparency. He warns against tools that lack clear documentation or fail to provide insights into their decision-making processes. Red flags include opaque algorithms and vendors unwilling to disclose their AI models’ inner workings.
In conclusion, McCray emphasizes that as AI becomes increasingly embedded across business functions, CISOs must lead the charge in establishing robust governance frameworks. This involves not only implementing effective security measures but also fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptability within their organizations.

Feedback

The article effectively captures the transformative impact of AI on the CISO role, highlighting the shift from technical oversight to strategic leadership. This perspective aligns with the broader industry trend of integrating cybersecurity considerations into overall business strategy.
By addressing the practical challenges of AI integration, such as explainability and infrastructure compatibility, the article provides valuable insights for organizations navigating the complexities of modern cybersecurity landscapes. These considerations are critical for maintaining trust in AI systems and ensuring their effective deployment.
The emphasis on developing new skill sets underscores the dynamic nature of cybersecurity roles in the AI era. Encouraging continuous learning and adaptability is essential for organizations to stay ahead of evolving threats and technological advancements.
The cautionary advice regarding third-party AI tools serves as a timely reminder of the importance of due diligence in vendor selection. Transparency and accountability are paramount in building secure and trustworthy AI systems.
The article could further benefit from exploring specific case studies or examples of organizations successfully implementing AI governance frameworks. Such insights would provide practical guidance and illustrate the real-world application of the concepts discussed.
Overall, the article offers a comprehensive overview of the evolving responsibilities of CISOs in the context of AI integration. It serves as a valuable resource for cybersecurity professionals seeking to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI technologies.

For further details, access the article here

AI is rapidly transforming systems, workflows, and even adversary tactics, regardless of whether our frameworks are ready. It isn’t bound by tradition and won’t wait for governance to catch up…When AI evaluates risks, it may enhance the speed and depth of risk management but only when combined with human oversight, governance frameworks, and ethical safeguards.

A new ISO standard, ISO 42005 provides organizations a structured, actionable pathway to assess and document AI risks, benefits, and alignment with global compliance frameworks.

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Tags: AI Governance, CISO 3.0

Comments (18)

May 29 2025

Why CISOs Must Prioritize Data Provenance in AI Governance

Category: AI,IT Governance — disc7 @ 9:29 am

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) are grappling with the challenges of governance and data provenance. As AI tools become increasingly integrated into various business functions, often without centralized oversight, the traditional methods of data governance are proving inadequate. The core concern lies in the assumption that popular or “enterprise-ready” AI models are inherently secure and compliant, leading to a dangerous oversight of data provenance—the ability to trace the origin, transformation, and handling of data.

Data provenance is crucial in AI governance, especially with large language models (LLMs) that process and generate data in ways that are often opaque. Unlike traditional systems where data lineage can be reconstructed, LLMs can introduce complexities where prompts aren’t logged, outputs are copied across systems, and models may retain information without clear consent. This lack of transparency poses significant risks in regulated domains like legal, finance, or privacy, where accountability and traceability are paramount.

The decentralized adoption of AI tools across enterprises exacerbates these challenges. Various departments may independently implement AI solutions, leading to a sprawl of tools powered by different LLMs, each with its own data handling policies and compliance considerations. This fragmentation means that security organizations often lose visibility and control over how sensitive information is processed, increasing the risk of data breaches and compliance violations.

Contrary to the belief that regulations are lagging behind AI advancements, many existing data protection laws like GDPR, CPRA, and others already encompass principles applicable to AI usage. The issue lies in the systems’ inability to respond to these regulations effectively. LLMs blur the lines between data processors and controllers, making it challenging to determine liability and ownership of AI-generated outputs. In audit scenarios, organizations must be able to demonstrate the actions and decisions made by AI tools, a capability many currently lack.

To address these challenges, modern AI governance must prioritize infrastructure over policy. This includes implementing continuous, automated data mapping to track data flows across various interfaces and systems. Records of Processing Activities (RoPA) should be updated to include model logic, AI tool behavior, and jurisdictional exposure. Additionally, organizations need to establish clear guidelines for AI usage, ensuring that data handling practices are transparent, compliant, and secure.

Moreover, fostering a culture of accountability and awareness around AI usage is essential. This involves training employees on the implications of using AI tools, encouraging responsible behavior, and establishing protocols for monitoring and auditing AI interactions. By doing so, organizations can mitigate risks associated with AI adoption and ensure that data governance keeps pace with technological advancements.

CISOs play a pivotal role in steering their organizations toward robust AI governance. They must advocate for infrastructure that supports data provenance, collaborate with various departments to ensure cohesive AI strategies, and stay informed about evolving regulations. By taking a proactive approach, CISOs can help their organizations harness the benefits of AI while safeguarding against potential pitfalls.

In conclusion, as AI continues to permeate various aspects of business operations, the importance of data provenance in AI governance cannot be overstated. Organizations must move beyond assumptions of safety and implement comprehensive strategies that prioritize transparency, accountability, and compliance. By doing so, they can navigate the complexities of AI adoption and build a foundation of trust and security in the digital age.

For further details, access the article here on Data provenance

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May 24 2025

A comprehensive competitive intelligence analysis tailored to an Information Security Compliance and vCISO services business:

Category: Information Security,Security Compliance,vCISO — disc7 @ 11:20 am

1. Industry Landscape Overview

Market Trends

Increased Regulatory Complexity: With GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and emerging regulations like DORA (EU), EU AI Act businesses are seeking specialized compliance partners.
SME Cybersecurity Prioritization: Mid-sized businesses are investing in vCISO services to bridge expertise gaps without hiring full-time CISOs.
Rise of Cyber Insurance: Insurers are demanding evidence of strong compliance postures, increasing demand for third-party audits and vCISO engagements.

Growth Projections

vCISO market is expected to grow at 17–20% CAGR through 2028.
Compliance automation tools, Process orchestration (AI) and advisory services are growing due to demand for cost-effective solutions.

2. Competitor Landscape

Direct Competitors

Virtual CISO Services by Cynomi, Fractional CISO, and SideChannel
- Offer standardized packages, onboarding frameworks, and clear SLA-based services.
- Differentiate through cost, specialization (e.g., healthcare, fintech), and automation integration.

Indirect Competitors

MSSPs and GRC Platforms like Arctic Wolf, Drata, Vanta
- Provide automated compliance dashboards, sometimes bundled with consulting.
- Threat: Position as “compliance-as-a-service,” reducing perceived need for vCISO.

3. Differentiation Levers

What Works in the Market

Vertical Specialization: Deep focus on industries like legal, SaaS, fintech, or healthcare adds credibility.
Thought Leadership: Regular LinkedIn posts, webinars, and compliance guides elevate visibility and trust.
Compliance-as-a-Path-to-Growth: Reframing compliance as a revenue enabler (e.g., “SOC 2 = more enterprise clients”) resonates well.

Emerging Niches

vDPO (Virtual Data Protection Officer) in the EU market.
Posture Maturity Consulting for startups seeking Series A or B funding.
Third-Party Risk Management-as-a-Service as vendor scrutiny rises.

4. SWOT Analysis

Strengths	Weaknesses
Deep expertise in InfoSec & compliance	May lack scalability without automation
Custom vCISO engagements	High-touch model limits price elasticity

Opportunities	Threats
Demand surge in SMBs & startups	Commoditization by automated GRC tools
Cross-border compliance needs (e.g., UK GDPR + US laws)	Emerging AI-based compliance tools (OneTrust AI, etc.)

5. Positioning Strategy

Target Segments

Series A–C Startups: Need compliance to grow and satisfy investors.
Regulated SMEs: Especially fintech, healthtech, legal tech.
Private Equity & M&A: Require due diligence, risk posture reviews.

Key Messaging Pillars

“Board-ready reporting without the CISO salary.”
“Compliance as a strategic differentiator, not just a checkbox.”
“Scale securely—fractional leadership for fast-growth companies.”

6. Strategic Recommendations

Product Strategy

Offer tiered vCISO packages (e.g., Startup, Growth, Enterprise).
Add compliance automation tool integrations (e.g., Vanta, Drata).
Develop TPRM offering with a vendor risk scorecard framework.

Go-To-Market Strategy

Use LinkedIn and niche SaaS podcasts for lead gen.
Co-market with GRC tool vendors (bundle advisory with tech).
Run quarterly compliance clinics/webinars—capture leads.

Brand Strategy

Build credibility via certifications (ISO 27001 Lead Auditor/ Lead Implementer, CIPP/E).
Publish “State of Compliance Readiness” reports biannually.
Promote client success stories (SOC 2 audits passed, cyber insurance approved, etc.)

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Tags: Information Security Compliance, vCISO

Comments (1)

May 13 2025

Becoming a Complete vCISO: Driving Maximum Value and Business Alignment

Category: CISO,vCISO — disc7 @ 10:13 am

As cyber threats become more frequent and complex, many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) find themselves unable to afford a full-time Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Enter the Virtual CISO (vCISO)—a flexible, cost-effective solution that’s rapidly gaining traction. For Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs), offering vCISO services isn’t just a smart move—it’s a major business opportunity.

Why vCISO Services Are Gaining Ground

With cybersecurity becoming a top priority across industries, demand for expert guidance is soaring. Many MSPs have started offering partial vCISO services—helping with compliance or risk assessments. But those who provide comprehensive vCISO offerings, including security strategy, policy development, board-level reporting, and incident management, are reaping higher revenues and deeper client trust.

The CISO’s Critical Role

A traditional CISO wears many hats: managing cyber risk, setting security strategies, ensuring compliance, and overseeing incident response and vendor risk. They also liaise with leadership, align IT with business goals, and handle regulatory requirements like GDPR and HIPAA. With experienced CISOs in short supply and expensive to hire, vCISOs are filling the gap—especially for SMBs.

Why MSPs Are Perfectly Positioned

Most SMBs don’t have a dedicated internal cybersecurity leader. That’s where MSPs and MSSPs come in. Offering vCISO services allows them to tap into recurring revenue streams, enter new markets, and deepen client relationships. By going beyond reactive services and offering proactive, executive-level security guidance, MSPs can differentiate themselves in a crowded field.

Delivering Full vCISO Services: What It Takes

To truly deliver on the vCISO promise, providers must cover end-to-end services—from risk assessments and strategy setting to business continuity planning and compliance. A solid starting point is a thorough risk assessment that informs a strategic cybersecurity roadmap aligned with business priorities and budget constraints.

It’s About Action, Not Just Advice

A vCISO isn’t just a strategist—they’re also responsible for guiding implementation. This includes deploying controls like MFA and EDR tools, conducting vulnerability scans, and ensuring backups and disaster recovery plans are robust. Data protection, archiving, and secure disposal are also critical to safeguarding digital assets.

Educating and Enabling Everyone

Cybersecurity is a team sport. That’s why training and awareness programs are key vCISO responsibilities. From employee phishing simulations to executive-level briefings, vCISOs ensure everyone understands their role in protecting the business. Meanwhile, increasing compliance demands—from clients and regulators alike—make vCISO support in this area invaluable.

Planning for the Worst: Incident & Vendor Risk Management

Every business will face a cyber incident eventually. A strong incident response plan is essential, as is regular practice via tabletop exercises. Additionally, third-party vendors represent growing attack vectors. vCISOs are tasked with managing this risk, ensuring vendors follow strict access and authentication protocols.

Scale Smart with Automation

With the rise of automation and the widespread emergence of agentic AI, are you prepared to navigate this disruption responsibly? Providing all these services can be daunting—especially for smaller providers. That’s where platforms like Cynomi come in. By automating time-consuming tasks like assessments, policy creation, and compliance mapping, Cynomi enables MSPs and MSSPs to scale their vCISO services without hiring more staff. It’s a game-changer for those ready to go all-in on vCISO.

Conclusion:
Delivering full vCISO services isn’t easy—but the payoff is big. With the right approach and tools, MSPs and MSSPs can offer high-value, scalable cybersecurity leadership to clients who desperately need it. For those ready to lead the charge, the time to act is now.

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Comments (1)

May 06 2025

The CISOs You’re Overlooking Are the Ones Who Need You Most

Category: Information Security — disc7 @ 2:16 pm

Coming off the back of RSA and I’m a little disheartened by some of the posts I’m seeing from startup founders about the countless meetings they’ve had with CISOs representing the fortune 500.

I get it. Landing an f500 customer does wonders for your brand, growth, funding, etc. But you do realize there is life beyond the f500 right? Or does your arrogance prevent you from acknowledging the thousands of companies, and CISOs within, who don’t have a glamour brand attached to their name?

If anything, those companies and CISOs are the ones who need you most. They are the ones operating with tight budgets, small teams, less resources, and huge levels of vulnerability. They need partners, and are turning to the startup ecosystem more and more in the hope of finding innovative tools that reduce their need for resources, and who cares more about building a long relationship vs a transaction.

Not taking anything away from the vendors whose products are attractive to the biggest brands on the planet. And certainly not taking anything away from the CISOs in f500 companies. But don’t neglect the greater CISO community. Treat everyone the same. Because once you’ve depleted your f500 targets, these are the CISOs you will turn to for continued growth.

Getting a “yes” from a Fortune 500 may sound like a dream for a startup—but it can quickly become a curse. Long contract negotiations, increased insurance requirements, premature scaling, and the need to support complex legacy environments can drain your team and resources. You’ll face challenges you weren’t prepared for and may alienate smaller customers who don’t relate to enterprise-scale use cases.

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May 01 2025

How CISO’s are transforming the Third-Party Risk Management

Category: CISO,Information Security,Security Risk Assessment,vCISO,Vendor Assessment — disc7 @ 10:30 am

The RSA Conference Executive Security Action Forum (ESAF) report, How Top CISOs Are Transforming Third-Party Risk Management, presents insights from Fortune 1000 Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) on evolving strategies to manage third-party cyber risks. The report underscores the inadequacy of traditional risk management approaches and highlights innovative practices adopted by leading organizations.

1. Escalating Third-Party Risks

The report begins by emphasizing the increasing threat posed by third-party relationships. A survey revealed that 87% of Fortune 1000 companies experienced significant cyber incidents originating from third parties within a year. This statistic underscores the urgency for organizations to reassess their third-party risk management strategies.

2. Limitations of Traditional Approaches

Traditional methods, such as self-assessment questionnaires and cybersecurity ratings, are criticized for their ineffectiveness. These approaches often lack context, fail to reduce actual risk, and do not foster resilience against cyber threats. The report advocates for a shift towards more proactive and context-aware strategies.

3. Innovative Strategies by Leading CISOs

In response to these challenges, top CISOs are implementing bold new approaches. These include establishing prioritized security requirements, setting clear deadlines for control implementations, incorporating enforcement clauses in contracts, and assisting third parties in acquiring necessary security technologies and services. Such measures aim to enhance the overall security posture of both the organization and its partners.

4. Emphasizing Business Leadership and Resilience

The report highlights the importance of involving business leaders in managing cyber risks. By integrating cybersecurity considerations into business decisions and fostering a culture of resilience, organizations can better prepare for and respond to third-party incidents. This holistic approach ensures that cybersecurity is not siloed but is a shared responsibility across the enterprise.

5. Case Studies Demonstrating Effective Practices

Six cross-sector case studies are presented, showcasing how organizations in industries like defense, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, and technology are successfully transforming their third-party risk management. These real-world examples provide valuable insights into the practical application of the recommended strategies and their positive outcomes.

6. The Role of Technology and Security Vendors

The report calls upon technology and security vendors to play a pivotal role in minimizing complexities and reducing costs associated with third-party risk management. By collaborating with organizations, vendors can develop solutions that are more aligned with the evolving cybersecurity landscape and the specific needs of businesses.

7. Industry Collaboration for Systemic Change

Recognizing that third-party risk is a widespread issue, the report advocates for industry-wide collaboration. Establishing common standards, sharing best practices, and engaging in joint initiatives can lead to systemic changes that enhance the security of the broader ecosystem. Such collective efforts are essential for addressing the complexities of modern cyber threats.

8. Moving Forward with Proactive Measures

The ESAF report concludes by encouraging organizations to adopt proactive measures in managing third-party risks. By moving beyond traditional methods and embracing innovative, collaborative, and resilient strategies, businesses can better safeguard themselves against the evolving threat landscape. The insights provided serve as a roadmap for organizations aiming to strengthen their cybersecurity frameworks in partnership with their third parties.

Sources and full article here

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DISC InfoSec offer free initial high level assessment – Based on your needs DISC InfoSec offer ongoing compliance management or vCISO retainer.

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Comments (3)

Apr 28 2025

Why Small Businesses should look into vCISO Services

Category: vCISO — disc7 @ 11:49 am

Small business owners often prioritize growth, customer satisfaction, and day-to-day operations over cybersecurity. However, cyber threats do not discriminate based on business size. Small businesses are attractive targets due to their limited security resources. Engaging a Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) offers an effective way to strengthen cybersecurity without disrupting the business focus.

Many small businesses mistakenly believe cybersecurity is only about compliance and passing audits. A vCISO goes beyond basic regulations, helping businesses proactively defend against threats and breaches that could damage customer trust, disrupt operations, and incur costly recovery expenses. Effective cybersecurity management is an essential part of protecting long-term business viability.

It’s a myth that cybercriminals only pursue large corporations. Small businesses are often easier targets because of weaker defenses and widespread use of automated tools by attackers. A vCISO helps identify and fix vulnerabilities before they are exploited, ensuring small businesses do not fall into the trap of being low-hanging fruit for cyberattacks.

While hiring a full-time Chief Information Security Officer is financially unfeasible for most small businesses, vCISO services provide top-tier cybersecurity leadership at a fraction of the cost. Businesses gain access to expert-level strategy and security program development without the burden of a six-figure salary.

Relying solely on IT generalists or Managed Service Providers (MSPs) often leaves a security leadership gap. A vCISO fills that void, providing business-aligned risk assessments and security strategies. They ensure that initiatives like cloud migrations are conducted securely, asking critical questions about access control, compliance, vendor risks, and breach management.

When a security incident occurs, fast, informed action is crucial. A vCISO ensures there’s a practiced incident response plan, enabling quick, organized reactions that minimize financial loss, downtime, and reputation damage. Without such preparation, businesses risk chaotic, delayed responses that exacerbate the fallout of attacks.

Security needs vary by industry, risk tolerance, and business model. A vCISO tailors security programs to fit each business’s specific needs, avoiding both overspending and dangerous gaps. They embed cybersecurity into everyday business processes, making protection part of growth rather than a hindrance.

In short, vCISO services bring seasoned, executive-level cybersecurity leadership to small businesses at an affordable rate. They help build strong defenses, navigate compliance, respond efficiently to threats and incidents, and align security with business goals — empowering small businesses to thrive securely in a digital world.

Micro-businesses struggle
“Cybersecurity readiness among SMBs is far from uniform, with a significant shift at the 50-employee
mark. Below this threshold, most SMBs lack formal plans and investment; above it, readiness begins
to scale. The SMB security divide is most evident among micro-businesses with fewer than 10
employees: Only 47% of these businesses have a cybersecurity plan, and more than half spend less
than 1% of their total budget on security” Crowdstrike SMBs Survey

For small and mid-sized businesses, the stakes are even higher. Without a structured and operational security program in place, they may stand little chance of effectively managing their risks.

DISC InfoSec offer free initial high level assessment – Based on your needs DISC InfoSec offer ongoing compliance management or vCISO retainer.

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Apr 08 2025

Cybersecurity Leadership for Small Businesses: The vCISO Advantage

Category: CISO,vCISO — disc7 @ 9:34 am

Small business owners often prioritize growth and customer service, inadvertently overlooking cybersecurity. However, cyber threats are indifferent to company size, frequently targeting smaller enterprises due to their comparatively weaker security measures. Engaging a Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) can provide the necessary expertise to bolster defenses and protect critical assets.

While many small businesses view cybersecurity merely as a compliance requirement, this perspective is limited. A vCISO offers more than just ensuring adherence to regulations; they proactively work to prevent breaches that could disrupt operations, erode customer trust, and incur substantial recovery costs.

Contrary to the belief that cybercriminals focus solely on large corporations, small businesses are often prime targets due to their perceived vulnerabilities. Attackers employ automated tools to identify and exploit weaknesses, making robust security measures essential for businesses of all sizes.

The financial burden of hiring a full-time Chief Information Security Officer can be prohibitive for many small businesses. A vCISO provides executive-level cybersecurity guidance at a fraction of the cost, granting access to seasoned professionals without the expense of a full-time position.

Relying solely on IT generalists or managed service providers for security may not suffice. A vCISO brings dedicated strategic insight, aligning security initiatives with business objectives and facilitating informed decision-making. For instance, during a cloud migration, a vCISO would address critical security considerations such as access control, data residency, vendor risks, and breach response plans.

In the event of a cybersecurity incident, having a well-practiced response plan is crucial. A vCISO ensures preparedness, enabling swift and effective action to mitigate damage, control costs, and preserve the company’s reputation. Their tailored approach considers the unique needs and risk tolerance of the business, ensuring appropriate investment in necessary protections without overspending on superfluous tools.

Why Small Businesses may Need vCISO Services

1. Targeted by Cybercriminals Small businesses often believe they fly under the radar, but cybercriminals see them as easy prey. With limited security budgets and lack of specialized personnel, they are prime targets for ransomware, phishing, and other attacks. A vCISO helps shore up defenses before attackers strike.

2. Cost-Effective Expertise Hiring a full-time Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is often financially out of reach for small businesses. A vCISO offers the same strategic insight and leadership on a part-time or fractional basis—delivering enterprise-level expertise without the enterprise-level price tag.

3. Regulatory Compliance From HIPAA and PCI-DSS to GDPR and state-level data protection laws, compliance is critical. A vCISO ensures the organization meets necessary regulatory requirements, helping avoid fines, legal trouble, and loss of customer trust.

4. Risk-Based Security Strategy Not every threat deserves the same level of attention. A vCISO helps identify and prioritize risks based on the business’s unique environment, making sure resources are directed toward the most impactful protections.

5. Preparedness for Incidents Cyber incidents are not a matter of “if” but “when.” A vCISO creates and tests incident response plans so the business is ready to react swiftly. This minimizes damage, downtime, and potential losses.

6. Third-Party & Cloud Security Oversight With growing reliance on SaaS applications and third-party vendors, managing external risk is crucial. A vCISO provides guidance on secure vendor selection, cloud architecture, and ongoing monitoring to ensure strong data protection.

Latest Threat Landscape – 65% of the 100 largest US hospitals and health systems have had a recent data breach

For small and mid-sized businesses, the stakes are even higher. Without a structured and operational security program in place, they may stand little chance of effectively managing their risks.

How to Choose a vCISO Services

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Tags: Cybersecurity for SMBs, vCISO

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Mar 28 2025

How to Choose a vCISO Services

Category: vCISO — disc7 @ 10:06 am

1. Understanding the Role of a vCISO

A Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) is an outsourced cybersecurity expert responsible for managing and overseeing an organization’s information security program. Unlike a traditional, in-house CISO, a vCISO typically works remotely or on a part-time basis, offering their expertise to organizations that need high-level security guidance but may not have the resources to hire a full-time CISO. This role includes responsibilities like developing security policies, managing risk assessments, ensuring compliance, and responding to security incidents. Understanding this role is crucial before beginning the search for the right vCISO.

2. Assess Your Organization’s Needs

Choosing the right vCISO starts with a deep understanding of your organization’s specific cybersecurity needs. Consider factors such as your company’s size, industry, existing security framework, and specific compliance requirements. If your organization operates in a highly regulated industry (e.g., finance, healthcare), your vCISO should have expertise in the relevant compliance frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS. Additionally, assess whether you need someone to build a cybersecurity program from scratch or if your priority is to fine-tune an already established system.

3. Experience and Expertise

The experience and technical expertise of a vCISO are paramount to ensuring the success of your security program. Look for candidates with a strong background in information security management, risk assessment, and compliance. Ideally, your vCISO should have experience working in your industry and with businesses of your size. Check their credentials, such as CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), CISM (Certified Information Security Manager), or CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor). Past experience in handling security incidents or implementing security frameworks will be valuable assets.

4. Alignment with Your Company Culture

While technical skills are important, your vCISO should also align with your organization’s culture and strategic goals. A vCISO will be part of your leadership team, so it’s essential that they can communicate effectively with executives and other departments, understand business priorities, and align security initiatives with company objectives. Look for a vCISO who is a good fit for your organization’s communication style, can work collaboratively with other leaders, and has a proactive, solution-oriented approach to addressing security challenges.

5. Scalability and Flexibility

One of the key benefits of a vCISO is the flexibility they offer. Your business may have fluctuating needs for cybersecurity expertise, whether due to growth, changes in regulations, or emerging threats. When selecting a vCISO, ensure that they offer a scalable approach to meet both your short-term and long-term goals. This may include flexibility in the number of hours they commit, their ability to provide strategic insight during a crisis, and the possibility of adjusting services as your security needs evolve over time.

6. Budget Considerations and Value

Cost is always a consideration, especially for smaller organizations, when hiring a vCISO. A traditional, full-time CISO can be a significant investment, whereas a vCISO typically offers a more affordable alternative. However, it’s important to understand that the cheapest option may not always provide the best value. Evaluate potential vCISOs not just on their price but on the value they bring to your organization. Consider the level of expertise, breadth of services, and long-term impact on your cybersecurity posture. A skilled vCISO can help you avoid costly breaches and compliance failures, making their value far exceed the initial investment.

DISC InfoSec offer free initial high level assessment – Based on your needs DISC InfoSec offer ongoing compliance management or vCISO retainer.

Download our vCISO services datasheets:

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High-Value, Retainer-Based Security Leadership for Your Business

What is a vCISO and What are the Benefits of a Virtual CISO?

The Battle for Your Business Security: Are You Ready?