Technology trade association techUK has launched a report which sets out recommendations to help support CISOs during the digital transformation of their organisations.

The recommendations, backed by examples and contributions from Microsoft, IBM Security, and BT Security, include the suggestion that CISOs should help the board to recognise cyber security as a business enabler and a “critical” ingredient in helping the organisation to deliver on digitalisation.

The report also suggests CISOs should look beyond the purely technical and focus on business risk management, be prepared for all types of crises, build a digital empathy system by using telemetry data from trends to understand how people are working in the system, and “supercharge the human firewall” by sharpening security hygiene.

Alongside this, it recommends that CISOs should be building the case for investment in appropriate threat intelligence and helping hold organisations to account on diversity.

“As cyber security underpins an increasing part of everything an organisation does, the role of the CISO function continues to evolve, enabling cyber resilient cultures to develop over time," said Dan Patefield, head of cyber and national security, techUK. "It is critical for the CISO function to embrace wider skillsets beyond the technical, with an emphasis on commercial, communication and leadership."

Patefield added: "The key areas of focus outlined in this report, and the practical steps recommended will guide organisations’ approach to this function as digital transformation continues apace. In doing so, we can ensure that cyber security is viewed as a true business enabler and create a strong foundation for that long-term cultural change to occur.”

The report is the second in the organisation's Cyber People Series, which aims to look at how people can be the strongest element of the UK’s cyber defences.

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