Why Every Company Needs A CISO?

Today, cyber incidents, data breaches, ransomware attacks, and privacy violations dominate the news. Organizations in every sector now operate in an environment where information security failures are no longer rare occurrences but persistent global challenges. As digital transformation increases, cyber threats grow, making information security a critical priority for businesses, public institutions, and governments alike.

To address increasing complexity, organizations continue to invest in new technologies, governance frameworks, employee awareness programs, cybersecurity teams, and more.

The Increasing Role of a CISO

The responsibilities of a CISO have grown significantly in recent years. Today, CISOs usually check:

• Information security and information assurance
• Cybersecurity operations and threat intelligence
• Compliance with standards and regulations (ISO/IEC 27001, GDPR, NIS2, HIPAA, etc.)
• Enterprise and supply chain risk management
• Data privacy and governance
• Security architecture and secure-by-design practices
• SOC and incident response units
• Cloud and infrastructure security
• Business continuity and disaster recovery
• Employee awareness and security training initiatives
• Communications during cybersecurity crises

Given this broad scope, it is important to highlight that the CISO’s role is not optional but rather essential.

A CISO as a Strategic Link Between Business and Technology

In today’s business world, a CISO is a strategic leader who aligns executive vision with technical and operational realities. Their responsibilities extend beyond day-to-day security operations.

A CISO should be able to:

• Understand business processes, strategy, and risk tolerance
• Ensure security initiatives support organizational goals
• Translate complicated technical risks into business-relevant insights
• Guide long-term security investment and planning
• Collaborate with all departments
• Communicate effectively with boards and senior leadership

They also play an important role in the adoption of new technologies, such as cloud services, AI systems, and IoT devices, ensuring that security and compliance are embedded from the start.

Leadership When Incidents Occur

During a cyber incident, the CISO becomes the organization’s crisis leader. They must understand:

• How to direct incident response immediately
• Which stakeholders to notify internally and externally
• How to comply with regulatory reporting requirements
• How to maintain, eliminate, and recover from an attack
• How to prevent recurrence through corrective actions

A successful CISO not only reduces operational impact but also mitigates potential financial, legal, and reputational damage.

CIO vs. CISO vs. CRO vs. CPO: Why the Difference Matters?

Some organizations hesitate to introduce a CISO because they already employ:

• A Chief Information Officer (CIO)
• A Chief Risk Officer (CRO)
• A Chief Privacy Officer (CPO)

However, the cyber threat landscape requires specific specialization. While a CIO focuses on enabling technology, the CRO oversees enterprise-wide risk management, and a CPO focuses on data governance and privacy compliance. Hence a CISO is responsible for protecting the organization from cyber risks. With attacks growing and AI-driven threats becoming more sophisticated, combining these responsibilities is no longer possible.

ISO Standards Emphasize the Need for a CISO

International standards such as ISO/IEC 27001:2022 highlight the importance of leadership commitment, governance, and accountability in information security. Even though the standard itself does not specifically require a “CISO” title, it clearly defines security roles and responsibilities, a requirement many organizations fulfill by appointing a CISO or equivalent leader.

Furthermore, new global regulations, especially the EU NIS2 Directive, demand even stronger accountability from senior management, highlighting the need for a committed security leader.

How can PECB Help You in Developing Competent CISOs

To lead effective information security programs, organizations need qualified and certified professionals. PECB offers internationally recognized training for individuals looking to build or improve their expertise in information security and management systems.

PECB ISO/IEC 27001 Training & Certification:

• ISO/IEC 27001 Foundation
• ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Implementer
• ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor

Additional PECB Cybersecurity and Resilience Programs:

• ISO/IEC 27002 – Information Security Controls
• ISO/IEC 27005 – Information Security Risk Management
• ISO/IEC 27701 – Privacy Information Management
• ISO/IEC 20000 – IT Service Management
• ISO 22301 – Business Continuity Management
• ISO/IEC 42001 – AI Management (increasingly relevant to CISOs)

These training courses equip professionals with the skills required to design, implement, and manage strong information security governance frameworks.

Conclusion

Cyber threats continue to evolve rapidly, and organizations cannot rely solely on technology or distributed responsibility to protect their assets. An appointed CISO ensures that information security is strategically governed, continuously improved, and fully aligned with business objectives.

Regardless of size or industry, every modern organization benefits from having a knowledgeable, certified, and empowered CISO guiding its information security efforts.

About the Author

Vesa Hyseni is a Senior Content and Campaigns Specialist at PECB. She is responsible for creating up-to-date content, conducting market research, and providing insights about ISO standards. For any questions, feel free to reach out to her at support@pecb.com.