The CISOs (Chief Information Security Officer) needs to be part of the leadership team that drives your business. However, in many organizations today, this is not the case - putting both the organization and individual roles at risk.

Many cybersecurity professionals come from technical backgrounds and have worked in organizations where business and technology functions were traditionally separate. This background can make integration into the broader business strategy challenging. While many CISOs regularly report to the board on the state of cybersecurity, their role is often limited and more declarative than truly strategic. They understand the IT side of the business, but security leaders must embed cybersecurity into the business strategy itself and be present when that strategy is developed and implemented.

The core functions of modern organizations increasingly rely on technology and security. Today, cybersecurity professionals must help drive competitive differentiation, address regulatory concerns, and work with the Board of Directors to demonstrate the business value of investing in cybersecurity.

Healthcare Cybersecurity

Healthcare organizations are developing new digital technologies to improve access to care, operational margins, and workforce efficiency, However, they must also evolve their cybersecurity management frameworks. Security professionals need to become strategic drivers of transformation to protect patient data and ensure continuity of care.

Cybersecurity in healthcare operates in a complex landscape of regulatory requirements, patient privacy concerns, and ongoing cyber threats. Professionals must participate in discussions on how technology can improve clinical outcomes and operational efficiency while navigating the cybersecurity implications. They must also be proactive in addressing evolving regulations and threats. The use of cloud technologies, artificial intelligence, and third-party services introduces new vulnerabilities that require active management. Cyberattacks on healthcare organizations can result in devastating consequences—not only financially, but also in terms of patient safety.

Cybersecurity in the Manufacturing Industry

Advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud-based solutions are driving an interconnected digital transformation across the manufacturing industry.

This transformation is blurring the lines between operational technology and information technology, making the traditional divide between them increasingly irrelevant. As a result, cyberattacks now target both IT and industrial control systems, placing core production capabilities at risk. Cybersecurity professionals must participate in business strategy discussions to ensure risks posed by new technologies, as well as by suppliers and partners, are properly managed. They must also develop strategies that combine cybersecurity with detection and response measures, enabling operations to continue during and after an attack.

Cybersecurity in Technology Companies

Technology companies face unique cybersecurity challenges driven by rapid innovation, increasingly sophisticated threats, and their dual role as both users and providers of technology. As they develop new products and services using technologies like AI and blockchain, new risks emerge. Cybersecurity must be built into business strategies and product development from the start, ensuring compliance with privacy and data usage regulations. In the tech industry, data security and privacy are often competitive differentiators—any failure can severely damage a company’s brand.

The scope of an attack on a tech company can extend beyond its own operations to its customers. Damage to these key relationships can threaten the company’s resilience. In this environment, cybersecurity professionals play a critical role in ensuring organizational resilience, driving growth and shaping strategic direction.

Hiring cybersecurity experts

To ensure business resilience, cybersecurity professionals must take part in and be informed by discussions that extend beyond cybersecurity itself. They need to evolve from purely technical roles to broader, cross-functional roles that involve collaboration across the organization.

For many professionals, their role begins with preparing the State of Cybersecurity Report and ends with its presentation at the board meeting. This process is familiar and expected. But to go further, cybersecurity experts must:

• Understand customers or clients and the target market
• Understand how products or services are positioned in that market
• Explain the role of cybersecurity and operational resilience in delivering those products and services
• Articulate how cybersecurity investment creates competitive advantage
• Propose how the organization can use this advantage to grow market share
• Suggest how to communicate this advantage to customers

Cybersecurity professionals need to become politicians fighting for their roles in organizations of all sizes, industries and regulatory environments. For more information on this topic, please contact our local experts.