New research reveals challenges facing CISOs

Cyber Upgrade reports that amidst the proliferation of cybersecurity threats and impending regulations such as the NIS 2 Directive, MiCA and DORA, the role of the CISO is becoming increasingly complex.

According to an annual report from Proofpoint, which surveyed 1,600 cyber leaders across 16 countries, 73% of CISOs in the US alone reported experiencing burnout in the past year.

Cyber Upgrade’s insights

In addition to feeling overburdened, the escalation of cyber-crime compounds the challenges.

68% of CISOs express concerns about the likelihood of a significant cyber-attack, an increase from 48% the previous year.

This trend aligns with predictions from Embroker indicating that IoT attacks are anticipated to double by 2025.

Some experts caution that the impending wave of new regulations, in spite of the value they may bring, will further diffuse the focus of CISOs, exacerbating their challenges.

“Expanding at a rate that is complex to manage”

Aurimas Bakas, CEO and Founder of Cyber Upgrade commented: “The upcoming NIS2 Directive, along with MiCA and DORA regulations, introduces more legal responsibilities for CISOs, binding them to additional compliance and security reports.

“The tech sector is expanding at a rate that is complex to manage and with the new regulations on the way, it will definitely add on to the challenges of an already complex process.”

Burnout among CISOs presents significant risks to organisational security.

According to a Devo Technology report, this exhaustion can result in inadvertent neglect of responsibilities and in extreme cases, dissemination of inaccurate information regarding a company’s cybersecurity practices.

Alarmingly, up to 83% of IT security professionals acknowledge that burnout has led them or their colleagues to make mistakes resulting in security breaches.

Bakas added: “Automation could alleviate some of the workload.

“AI-powered tools have evolved to a point where they can ensure that effective security protocols are maintained, like the implementation of password managers and multi-factor authentication across all systems, which only 29% of organisations currently use.”

The primary focus of Cyber Upgrade revolves around creating an automated cybersecurity toolkit that includes an intelligent automated assistant designed specifically for CISOs.

Through the AI-driven chatbot, businesses can engage every team member in interactive training and cybersecurity assessments aimed at identifying vulnerabilities, fostering a culture of heightened awareness.

“Automation liberates CISOs”

Bakas explained: “We considered the input of numerous colleagues and identified a market gap, motivating us to devise a solution that ensures widespread security for businesses.

“We take pride in our creation because automation enables us to address the mounting workload and extensive responsibilities of CISOs.

“We view our progress as a step in the right direction towards streamlining essential processes for security professionals.

“Ideally, automation liberates CISOs to concentrate their expertise where it truly matters.

“AI can handle many computational and repetitive tasks, yet the role of CISOs remains crucial in today’s digital landscape.

“Their mental wellbeing directly impacts business safety and should be factored in when implementing additional workloads and bureaucratic procedures.”