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Cybersecurity leadership

Trust between a CEO and a CISO

Kin Levi

The CEO and CISO need enough trust to disagree in front of a hard decision. Neither should reduce the relationship to a monthly compliance presentation.

What I have learned

Security leaders must be able to state bad news without punishment; CEOs must be able to ask what a recommendation costs and what failure looks like. Both owe the other clarity.

What I would do

I would agree on escalation triggers, a common risk vocabulary and a direct route for urgent concerns. I would ask the CISO for options with consequences rather than a single absolute answer.

Kin Levi