–In many places, the organizational cybersecurity culture is still focused on a preventative and protective approach. Given the unpredictability of the cyber landscape and the multitude of potential vulnerabilities, there is a need to add cyber resilience as a core focus – a strong case for evolution towards a mindset that encompasses detection and response, including scenario analysis on the impact and evolution of cyberthreats. –Cybersecurity must be positioned as a business enabler rather than a barrier, encouraging CISOs to embrace a “Yes, and …” mindset. To achieve this, CISOs should prioritize a deep understanding of business objectives and align security initiatives accordingly. Crucially, they must translate technical risks into clear business risks, enabling informed decision-making at the executive level. –The highest level of cybersecurity maturity is achieved when employees without technical expertise understand the need for the cybersecurity controls that are in place and do not see them as undue restrictions. This reflects a culture of shared responsibility and open dialogue. Organizations that position cybersecurity as an enabler of business growth – enhancing operations, resilience and reputation – tend to demonstrate greater overall resilience.15 –The risk culture should be embedded into all layers and across all teams within an organization. Risk ownership must be shared across the business, with decision-makers understanding and accepting the residual risk, acknowledging that the CISO cannot mitigate them all. –CISOs should foster a culture that encourages proactive testing of systems, where the discovery of new vulnerabilities is viewed as an opportunity to strengthen security rather than as a failure. For example, red teaming exercises – simulated cyberattacks conducted by ethical hackers – might uncover hidden vulnerabilities and blind spots that traditional security assessments can overlook. This proactive approach provides invaluable insights into how threat actors could breach systems, allowing security leaders to prioritize fixes before actual incidents occur. –A long-term mindset is also paramount as CISOs are required to “play the long game”. This means making a long-term commitment to improving cyber maturity and implementing sustainable practices that will allow an organization to reach its security targets. Acknowledging that 100% risk reduction cannot be achieved, a long-term roadmap that targets sustainable cybersecurity maturity improvement is required. Elevating Cybersecurity: Ensuring Strategic and Sustainable Impact for CISOs 16

Elevating Cybersecurity 2025