Empowering Cybersecurity Teams: The Critical Role of CISO Deputies
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A strong cybersecurity posture increasingly relies on a CISO’s ability to delegate and empower a team of deputies, enabling faster response times and stronger leadership throughout the security department.
High-performing security organizations aren’t built on the shoulders of a single individual, but rather on a network of capable leaders, according to industry experts. The most effective Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) recognize the limitations of attempting to manage every aspect of security personally and instead strategically cultivate a team of deputies to share the workload.
The Evolving Role of the CISO
Traditionally, the CISO was often seen as a technical expert focused primarily on security infrastructure. However, the modern CISO is expected to operate as a key business risk executive, functioning on par with other C-suite leaders like the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the head of product. This shift requires a reallocation of responsibilities.
“A CISO should be identifying their top deputies or, if they already have them, they should be assigning them more of the operational tasks and the strategic needs related to their discipline,” explains a cybersecurity practice partner at IANS Research and Artico Search. “This enables the CISO to be more of that business risk executive and really serve as the peer of the CFO, the head of product, and the P&L leaders in the business.”
Beyond Delegation: Cultivating Leadership
The benefits of empowering deputies extend far beyond simply offloading tasks from the CISO’s plate. While it may initially appear to be a move solely benefiting the CISO, the true impact is a strengthening of the entire security team.
Rather than constantly escalating issues and plans for approval, team members gain access to readily available leadership within their specific areas of expertise. This fosters a more agile and responsive security posture. According to the expert, this approach “creates stronger leaders throughout the security department who can respond quickly to team members’ needs — rather than always having to escalate questions, issues, and plans up to the CISO and waiting for responses.”
Ultimately, a well-defined and empowered deputy structure is not just about easing the burden on the CISO; it’s about building a resilient, proactive, and highly effective cybersecurity organization.
