Who is really in charge of a company's cyber security?

Who is really in charge of a company's cyber security?

Cyberattacks, data breaches, and IT sabotage—once considered rare—are now everyday threats for organizations across industries. As digital risk escalates, information security is no longer just the responsibility of the IT department. This raises a critical question: who in the company is ultimately accountable for cybersecurity?

The CISO’s role: strategy first, not just technology

In companies that take a strategic approach to cybersecurity, the person at the helm is the CISO—Chief Information Security Officer. This senior executive is responsible not only for technical oversight but also for setting long-term security strategy, ensuring regulatory compliance, and managing risk in alignment with business goals. However, this is not a person solely responsible for information security, but rather someone who establishes the frameworks and structures that support it. Responsibility for various aspects of information security is distributed across all areas of the organization, rests with every employee, and also extends to the entire ecosystem in which the organization operates.

The CISO serves as the bridge between the boardroom and the server room. To succeed, they must understand both the technical infrastructure and the operational drivers of the business. With that dual perspective, a CISO can implement security measures that do more than just protect data—they enable business growth and resilience.

What happens when there’s no CISO?

Surprisingly, fewer than half of organizations currently employ a dedicated CISO. Instead, responsibilities are often divided between the CIO, CTO, COO, or even delegated to systems administrators. This fragmented model creates confusion, overlaps, and dangerous security gaps.

The absence of a clearly designated leader usually becomes evident only after a breach. By then, it's too late to prevent damage. What’s more, without a CISO, there’s often no cohesive long-term security strategy, nor any guarantee of compliance with legal or industry standards.

When is it time to hire a CISO?

Appointing a CISO is not just a response to crisis—it’s a proactive move when certain risk indicators appear. The most common triggers include:

• Repeated security incidents that indicate existing protocols are failing

• A complex IT environment, especially in distributed, hybrid, or rapidly scaling operations

• Operating in regulated industries like finance, healthcare, or energy, where frameworks such as ISO 27001, HIPAA, or NIST apply

• Lack of in-house expertise, particularly when IT teams lack experience in strategic risk management

Importantly, a company’s cybersecurity needs aren’t dictated solely by size. Even smaller firms may operate in threat-intensive sectors where specialized leadership is essential.

What a CISO actually does

The responsibilities of a CISO go far beyond firewalls and antivirus software. Their role encompasses:

• Developing and enforcing a comprehensive information security strategy

• Managing information security compliance with both local and international regulations

• Coordinating identification and mitigation of information security risks

• Overseeing digital forensics and incident response

• Communicating regularly with the executive team and board

• Leading security awareness training and cultural change across the organization

A successful CISO doesn’t just understand technology—they can translate complex security issues into business terms. That ability is critical when negotiating contracts, presenting to stakeholders, or discussing risk at the board level.

Why the CISO needs a team

No one person can cover the entire spectrum of cybersecurity. Even the most qualified CISO needs to lead a specialized team—whether internal or outsourced—that includes experts in areas like security operations (SOC), compliance, threat intelligence, and vulnerability management.

The CISO’s true role is not to execute tasks themselves, but to coordinate security initiatives holistically—ensuring every component aligns with the company’s risk posture and evolving threat landscape.

Compliance and the rise of formal standards

Increasingly, international standards such as ISO/IEC 27001 require a designated individual to oversee the Information Security Management System (ISMS). In many industries, having a CISO is no longer optional—it’s a prerequisite for competitive bids, partnerships, and due diligence during investment rounds.

For organizations that value credibility and reputation, treating cybersecurity as a side issue is no longer viable. In this context, the CISO becomes more than just a risk manager—they’re the company’s ambassador of trust, both internally and externally.

Conclusion: accountability cannot be ambiguous

There should be no ambiguity in answering the question of who is responsible for cybersecurity. It is the CISO—a senior executive entrusted with driving the company’s entire security posture. Without such leadership, companies risk disjointed decision-making, inefficient responses, and misalignment between operational goals and compliance mandates.

With cyber threats accelerating at an unprecedented pace, not appointing a CISO is a risk most organizations can no longer afford. If your company doesn’t yet have one, the next breach might not only expose vulnerabilities—but also the cost of unclear accountability.