Home Executive-Insights CISO CISOs Gain Increased Influence...

CISOs Gain Increased Influence in Corporate Decision-Making Strategies

CISO

Business Honor
26 January, 2025

CISOs gain greater influence in corporate strategy, balancing security needs with business goals amidst evolving challenges.

A new global study by Splunk and Oxford Economics reveals significant shifts in the role of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), emphasizing their growing prominence in corporate decision-making. According to "The CISO Report 2025," which surveyed 600 respondents from 10 countries, 82% of CISOs now report directly to the CEO, a sharp increase from 47% in 2023. This marks a significant change, as CISOs are now more integral to business strategies than ever before.

It also indicated that 83% of CISOs regularly participate in board meetings, and the role of a CISO in influencing strategic decisions has grown further. Specifically, in Australia, 91.2% of the CISOs report to the CEO, and 71.5% attend board meetings on a regular basis. Moreover, 71% of the CISOs of Australia consider board members aware of cybersecurity as significantly impactful on security-related decisions.

According to industry experts: Michael Fanning, CISO at Splunk stated that, "it's clear from the research: CISOs and their boards have more chances to bridge the gaps, come together, and leverage cybersecurity to strengthen overall digital resilience. According to Shefali Mookencherry, University of Illinois Chicago CISO "CISO's need to play more of a middle ground, juggling between both sides -- getting the right communication across of cyber investments being equal to the benefit of the businesses.".

The study also highlights the board members' impact in cybersecurity expertise, which fosters closer relationships with security teams and sets strategic cybersecurity goals. Despite all these advancements, there are still gaps that remain open in business acumen, emotional intelligence, and communication skills, all of which have become increasingly necessary for CISOs to bridge the boardroom-IT divide.

CISOs also voiced concerns over budget constraints, with many citing reduced budgets that have impacted cybersecurity capabilities. A significant 94% of CISOs reported experiencing disruptive cyberattacks, illustrating the ongoing challenges in the evolving cybersecurity landscape.