Lessons Learned From Being a CISO

In the latest episode of "Life of a CISO," Dr. Eric Cole emphasizes the importance of having all the facts before making judgments, using the analogy of mistaking someone else's cookies for your own. This reflects a common issue where CISOs believe executives don’t care about security when, in reality, the issue lies in how security concerns are communicated. Dr. Cole advises CISOs to reframe their perspectives, understand the business context, and improve their communication skills. By doing so, they can align better with executives and demonstrate how cybersecurity can be a strategic enabler for business success.

Dr. Cole also stresses the need for CISOs to ask clarifying questions and listen more than they speak, making sure their contributions are valuable and relevant. He encourages CISOs to adopt a positive mindset, viewing executives as allies who care about security, and to prove their worth by focusing on business growth and stability rather than just technical solutions. This approach can help CISOs become integral members of the executive team and drive both security and business objectives forward.

🔑 [CISO CERTIFICATION]
Discover How You Can Advance Your Career Through Cybersecurity

Show Notes:
1:00 - Introduction
2:00 - Cookie Story
7:00 - Miscommunication issues
16:00 - Proving value
18:00 - Nice vs. rude
21:00 - Self-awareness
22:00 - Less is more
24:00 - Revenue vs. security

About Dr. Eric Cole
Eric Cole, Ph.D., is an industry-recognized security expert with over 20 years of hands-on experience in consulting, training, and public speaking. As the founder and CEO of Secure Anchor Consulting, Dr. Cole focuses on helping customers prevent security breaches, detect network intrusions, and respond to advanced threats. In addition, he is a sought-after expert witness and a 2014 inductee to the Info Security Hall of Fame.

#WorldClassCISO #LifeOfACiso #LifeLessons #Lessons #CyberSecurity #InfoSec #CyberAware #DataProtection #Privacy #CyberThreats #ITSecurity #OnlineSafety #Hacking #DigitalSecurity #Trust #Identity #Personaltransformation #Mindset #CISO #CV #Challenge #CISOChallenge #LimitingBeliefs #Teamwork #growth

[DoradoDefense]

Thanks for the valuable information! Feel like the heart of these talks is that its relationships first. Executives won't listen unless they know you care. You show you care by listening and understanding them first. Then talking in the language they speak in to communicate your side of things.

[WojciechKosnik]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expert insights Eric with the security community.

[thefrederation]

Thank you for sharing this Dr Cole. This is really really really good advice.

I appreciate the fact that you're teaching us the soft-side of being a CISO that is quite lacking in the market.

Bless up!

Do you also have advice for someone who's more into the GRC space trying to enter the CISO space? Because that's kinda who I am lololol

[uzairdbd]

Is there anything wrong with your eyes Erric, I am really concerned.