CISOs are not risk owners

Many organizations have implicitly adopted the mistaken notion that the chief information security officer (CISO) is the de facto risk owner for all identified cyber risk matters.

In a properly run risk management program, risk owners are business unit leaders and department heads who own the business activity where a risk has been identified. For instance, if a risk is identified regarding the long-term storage of full credit card numbers in an e-commerce environment, the risk owner would be the executive who runs the e-commerce function. That executive would decide to mitigate, avoid, transfer, or accept that risk.

The role of the CISO is to operate the risk management program and facilitate discussions and risk treatment decisions, but not make those risk treatment decisions. A CISO can be considered a risk facilitator, but not a risk owner.

Even when embraced and practiced, this concept does not always stop an organization from sacking the CISO should a breach occur. A dismissal might even be appropriate, for example, if the risk management program that the CISO operated was not performing as expected.

— excerpt from CRISC Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control^TM All-In-One Exam Guide, 2nd edition.

What security professionals can learn from Eliot Spitzer

Eliot Spitzer, the [soon-to-be-former] governor of New York State has resigned due to his being involved in a highly publicized sex scandal.

Corporate security professionals, time to sit up and take notice. I’m talking to CISSPs, CISAs, CISMs, and those in positions of ISO, ISSO, CISO, as well as Manager / Director / VP of IT Security.

As I have opined before, we are obliged to lead our organizations by example, in terms of prescribing and demonstrating desired behavior of employees on the protection of all corporate assets, including information. Leading by example means working transparently, of working every hour as though others are watching.

Eliot Spitzer gave in to his carnal desires and indulged in prostitution because he thought that he could keep it hidden. But behavior is like pouring water onto a sponge: for a time the sponge will soak up the water, keeping its presence hidden; eventually, however, the water – like the illicit behavior – will overflow and be impossible to hide. But like a frog in boiling water, Gov. Spitzer probably indulged in small ways at first, but proceeded slowly until he was no longer in control of his behavior / addiction.

Security professionals, there are steps that you can take to avoid falling into a trap of undesired behavior:

1. Be accountable. Pick two or more peers with whom you can meet every week to discuss your activities. These individuals must be trustworthy and themselves above reproach.

2. When you feel the tug of undesired behavior, confide in these accountability partners. Then, listen to their advice; if it is sound, heed it.

3. When you partake in undesired behavior, confess it to your accountability partners. Listen to their counsel; if they are loyal and have personal integrity, they will not chastise you for your behavior but instead help you to get back onto the right track.

4. Keep no secrets. Tell your accountability partners everything that you do. Keep nothing back. Share even the deep recesses of your “thought life” – which is the kernel of future behavior.

While it will be convenient to select accountability partners from the workplace, you should not choose your superiors or your staff. Instead I recommend that you choose individuals in your organization who you do not work with routinely or, better yet, choose individuals who do not work in your organization.

You can only be accountable to others when you allow yourself to be accountable to you.

Some principles of behavior:

A. If you were an outsider and would judge or criticize your own behavior, spend more time seriously considering what you are doing, and get yourself onto a path of change.

B. Do not be afraid to ask for help.

C. Learn to forgive yourself for your mistakes.

D. Do not give up.

There is an old saying: “There is no such thing as a complete failure; they can always be used as a bad example.” Gov. Spitzer may be a bad example today, but his example should help others to be introspective and re-examine their own behavior.

Remember the security professional codes of ethics:

(ISC)²
ISACA
ASIS
CTIN
ISSA
GIAC
InfraGard
SANS
NCISS

Other postings:

CIA Triad also the basis for our ethical behavior

A call for character and integrity

Principles that guide the Christian security professional

Personal integrity the keystone in an information security career

Integrity begins within: security pros lead by example (Computerworld)