Glossary term

CISO

Chief Information Security Officer

The C-suite role responsible for an organization's information security strategy, risk posture, and incident response.

acronymRoles & FoundationSecurity & ComplianceSenior

When you'd see it: Security strategy, board risk discussions, audits, and incident response. The CISO owns how an organization protects its data and systems.

Why it matters: The CISO is where security accountability sits. When a breach happens, this is the role that answers for it, which is why CISOs increasingly report to the CEO or board rather than to the CIO.

Common mistakes: Confusing the CISO (security) with the CIO (technology delivery). They have different mandates, and the tension between them is structural.

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