The Strategic Importance of a Deputy CISO
The role of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is constantly evolving, often expanding to encompass responsibilities beyond the traditional security domain. When a CISO's duties include help desk, infrastructure, or business applications, it may be time to consider adding a Deputy CISO. This move allows the CISO to concentrate on strategic initiatives and business alignment while a dedicated leader takes ownership of the security function.
Several organizational signals can indicate the need for a Deputy CISO. These signals often arise when the CISO's role expands, or the organization requires a more robust security leadership structure.
- Expanding CISO Responsibilities: When a CISO's role grows to include areas beyond core security functions, such as help desk, infrastructure, business applications, or even data governance, trust, and fraud, it may be time to consider a Deputy CISO. These added responsibilities can make it difficult for a single person to manage everything effectively.
- Large Security Team: Managing a large security team can become challenging for a single leader. When the team grows to the point where it's difficult for the CISO to manage all aspects of security, a Deputy CISO can help distribute leadership responsibilities and provide more direct oversight of the team.
- Need for a Strong Succession Plan: A Deputy CISO is essential for succession planning, ensuring that the security program is not negatively affected by a CISO's departure. The Deputy CISO is often the next in line to take over the security function.
- Evolving CISO Role: As the CISO role evolves to encompass more strategic functions and areas such as data governance, trust, fraud, physical security, and business technology, it becomes increasingly difficult for one person to manage the entire security vertical along with these additional duties. This evolution is a key indicator that a Deputy CISO is needed to own the security function, allowing the CISO to focus on broader strategic initiatives.
- Strategic Business Alignment: When the CISO needs to focus more on strategic initiatives and business alignment, a Deputy CISO can take over the day-to-day security operations. This allows the CISO to engage in external activities, such as understanding industry trends and innovations, while the Deputy CISO ensures the company remains protected.
- When there are multiple leaders with the potential to become a CISO: If there are multiple domain experts under the CISO, each with the potential to step up as a CISO, the organization may need a Deputy CISO to help manage these leaders and prepare for possible leadership transitions.
- When the organization is ready: To consider a deputy CISO, the organization needs to be at a certain growth stage. It may not be necessary when a CISO is initially building out the security program with a small team.
- Integration of Security with Business: When an organization is ready to integrate security into its fabric rather than as a separate entity, it may signal a need for a Deputy CISO. A Deputy CISO can be a translator between the business needs and the technical team, helping to ensure security is considered early in product development and enabling the business to move faster.
The need for a Deputy CISO arises from a combination of factors, including the expansion of the CISO's role, the growth of the security team, succession planning, strategic business alignment, and the overall maturity of the organization's security program. The Deputy CISO takes over the security vertical, allowing the CISO to focus on strategy.
Key Responsibilities of a Deputy CISO:
- A Deputy CISO is a technical expert and a strong leader and communicator.
- They must translate complex security concepts to diverse audiences.
- They should act as a liaison between technical teams and the business.
- They should be able to understand how security enables business priorities.
- They should be adept at developing the next generation of security leaders and building relationships.
A successful partnership between a CISO and a Deputy CISO is rooted in transparency, open communication, and trust. Both should engage in honest conversations, even with different perspectives, and use their diverse experiences and skill sets to address challenges. This collaborative dynamic allows them to challenge each other and strengthen their overall approach to security.
Several factors can indicate the need for a Deputy CISO, including:
- A large security team, where it becomes difficult for a single leader to manage all aspects effectively.
- The CISO role is evolving to include areas like data governance, trust, and fraud, making overseeing everything challenging for one individual.
- Robust succession planning is needed to ensure that a CISO's departure does not negatively impact a security program.
The Deputy CISO role is critical for succession planning, as this individual is often next in line to take over the entire security function. The CISO's role evolves to become more strategic, aligning security with business goals and ensuring that IT supports the company's objectives. The CISO needs to be willing to allow the Deputy CISO to take on more responsibilities and be the main point of contact for security matters.
A successful CISO-Deputy CISO partnership is built on several key qualities, including trust, open communication, and a willingness to collaborate. These qualities enable the CISO and Deputy CISO to work effectively together, even with different perspectives.
Specifically, the following qualities and practices are essential for a successful CISO-Deputy CISO partnership:
- Transparency and Open Communication: Constant communication and transparent dialogue are necessary. This allows both parties to share their visions and discuss differences in approach.
- Mutual Respect and Trust: The relationship should be rooted in mutual respect, allowing for honest conversations, even when there are disagreements. This trust is built over time through shared experiences and successfully navigating difficult situations together.
- Leveraging Diverse Skill Sets: A successful partnership leverages the unique skills and experiences that each individual brings to the table.
- Willingness to Listen: Being willing to listen to each other’s viewpoints and discuss issues is important.
- Opportunities to Grow: The CISO should provide opportunities for the Deputy CISO to grow by increasing responsibilities and expanding their skill sets. This may include opportunities to represent the security team in meetings and engage with other business partners. The CISO should enable the Deputy CISO to take on more responsibilities and be the main point of contact for security matters.
- Shared Vision and Goals: There should be a shared understanding of the vision for the security program and how it will work.
- Authenticity: Both individuals should be able to be authentic with each other and have honest conversations.
- Ability to Navigate Differing Viewpoints: The CISO and Deputy CISO must navigate different points of view and give each other feedback while maintaining a close working relationship.
- Interchangeable Skills: The CISO should enable the Deputy to have interchangeable skills, and there should be a progression of responsibilities over time. For example, the CISO might initially handle conversations with executives, but the Deputy CISO will eventually take on these responsibilities.
- Shared Passion: A shared passion for the work and the organization can foster a stronger bond.
- Focus on Team Growth: Both the CISO and the Deputy CISO should invest in the career growth of their team members.
Integrating security into a company's culture, rather than treating it as a separate entity, is essential for a successful security program. Building relationships and communicating proactively with various departments can address security considerations early in product development cycles, allowing the business to move faster and more securely. This requires a change in mindset, from viewing security as a barrier to innovation to seeing it as a collaborative business partner.
Ultimately, a Deputy CISO is a crucial role that enables the CISO to work more strategically while ensuring that the security team is well managed. This approach allows the organization to achieve its business objectives while ensuring a strong security posture.
Discover more in Leading Together: Collaborative Success in Cybersecurity Leadership from STRONGER 2025.
