Monday | 6 July, 2009
CSO
CSOs need to keep evolving, CA security exec says
CA executive urges CSOs at RSA Conference to strategize and make themselves heard

The CSO has an important role to play. In an Enterprise IT Management environment, the CSO is not simply an enforcer of polices and procedures, but rather a key architect in designing an IT environment that will take an organization to the next level of business success.

Let me explain a bit more on what I mean. IT organizations used to be viewed as tactical necessities and cost centers. Poorly managed ones still are. By contrast, a sound IT organization functions as a strategic line of business and a core contributor to corporate success.

The CSO's role is elevated. To ensure that level of success, it is not enough to reduce risk and cost or to improve service; IT must be managed as a business and must coordinate with the lines of business. It must incorporate disciplined budget and capital-allocation processes, it must align the portfolio of projects with strategic corporate needs, and it must strive to provide business services that are ever more cost-effective.

At each step, IT processes must be secured. In this vision security is never an after-thought; it is part of the essential DNA of the IT environment.

I showed you a film earlier. It was supposed to be funny. But it was also intended to make a point. If you're a CIO and you don't know where your Chief Security Officer sits, you're probably missing a critical component in your strategic planning.

And if you're a CSO you need to ensure that:

1. You are serving as a security strategist in the organization. Don't allow yourself to be consumed by the day-to-day tactical demands of the job. Build a strong team so that you can deliver value to the C-suite.

2. Increase your visibility within the organization.

3. Achieve items one and two by communicating. If security is to become part of the fabric of the organization, your voice must be heard on a wide variety of issues at critical phases in the business strategy process.

An effective enterprise simply cannot exist unless governance, management and security are at the core.

In short, there should be no mystery about where the Chief Security Officer is -- because the CSO will have a seat at the table whenever strategic decisions are made.

To view a video of the address, go here.

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