CISOs: Stop trying to do the lawyer’s job

Source: Hackers breach Microsoft IIS services using Cityworks RCE bug | CSO Online Author: unknown URL: https://www.csoonline.com/article/3811937/cisos-stop-trying-to-do-the-lawyers-job.html

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:

Building a strong partnership between CISOs and legal teams is essential for managing cybersecurity, compliance, and risk through collaboration and communication.

MAIN POINTS:

  1. Engineers and lawyers have different mindsets but can form a powerful partnership in cybersecurity and compliance.
  2. CISOs must establish strong relationships with legal teams to navigate evolving regulations and compliance requirements.
  3. Conversations between CISOs and legal teams should be solution-oriented, transparent, and straightforward.
  4. Legal teams should not be treated as mere approval bodies but as critical partners in risk management.
  5. Involving legal teams early in security incidents helps ensure compliance and avoid unnecessary risks.
  6. CISOs should respect legal boundaries and avoid overstepping their roles into legal decision-making.
  7. Cross-training and incident simulations help both teams understand each other’s responsibilities and improve collaboration.
  8. Structured communication channels enhance coordination and ensure timely decision-making in crisis situations.
  9. Legal teams should be involved in security discussions, risk assessments, and major strategic decisions.
  10. Informal interactions, such as social events, help build trust and strengthen professional relationships between CISOs and legal experts.

TAKEAWAYS:

  1. Effective CISO-legal collaboration is crucial for navigating cybersecurity, compliance, and regulatory challenges.
  2. Transparency, mutual respect, and early legal involvement improve security incident response and risk mitigation.
  3. CISOs should engage legal teams proactively rather than treating them as a final approval step.
  4. Training exercises and structured communication processes enhance coordination between security and legal teams.
  5. Building personal relationships with legal experts fosters trust and smoother collaboration.