5-minute read
This is the fourth article in a five-part series covering cybersecurity leadership hiring and organizational structure.
3 Takeaways
- CIO and CISO roles often clash due to differing priorities—innovation and efficiency versus security and risk mitigation—leading to internal friction.
- Resource allocation and risk management are common battlegrounds, with both roles competing for budget and taking different approaches to business risks.
- Collaboration is key to resolving these tensions. Clear role definitions, open communication, and aligned incentives can bridge the gap, ensuring both innovation and security thrive.
The roles of Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) are pivotal to the success of any modern company. These two leaders are tasked with ensuring the seamless operation and security of a company’s most valuable assets—its data and infrastructure. But while their goals align in theory, the reality is that CIOs and CISOs often find themselves at odds.
At Riviera Partners, we’ve helped place countless CIOs and CISOs into companies at various stages of growth, from scrappy startups to large enterprises. Along the way, we’ve seen one recurring challenge: tension between these two roles. The CIO is focused on driving innovation and operational efficiency, while the CISO’s top priority is protecting the business from threats, even if that means slowing down progress. It’s a natural conflict, but if not managed carefully, it can create silos, slow decision-making, and leave the company vulnerable.
So how can companies bridge this gap and ensure their CIO and CISO are working in lockstep? Let’s explore some common points of friction and strategies for fostering collaboration.
Common CISO-CIO challenges
- Competing for resources One of the biggest areas of friction between CIOs and CISOs is the never-ending battle over resources. A Deloitte study found that 55% of CISOs think their cybersecurity budgets aren’t big enough, while CIOs are under pressure to fund digital transformation projects. The CIO is focused on keeping the IT infrastructure humming along efficiently, while the CISO wants to ensure everything is secure, which often means extra investments in tools and training.
- The result? Both sides are vying for the same budget, leading to tension when they don’t see eye to eye on what’s most important.
- IT strategy: Innovation vs. security CIOs are typically all about innovation—implementing new technologies, streamlining operations, and cutting costs. They’re often rewarded for getting projects done quickly and under budget. But for CISOs, new technology can be risky. Each new system, app, or tool represents a potential security threat, and the CISO’s job is to make sure the company is protected from these risks.
- Different views on risk CIOs and CISOs often have different perspectives on risk. The CIO might be comfortable accepting a little more risk if it means they can push forward on innovation or save money. The CISO, however, sees risk as something to be minimized at all costs, especially when it comes to security. This difference can lead to frustration when it’s time to make decisions about IT strategy or new projects.
- Compliance slowing down innovation Let’s face it—compliance can be a pain. CISOs have to ensure the company is meeting all the necessary cybersecurity laws and regulations, which can sometimes slow down the IT team’s efforts to adopt new technologies or move to new platforms. On the flip side, CIOs are all about speed and agility, so they might view the CISO’s focus on compliance as a hurdle to progress.
How to overcome CISO-CIO tensions
- Clearly define roles and responsibilities One of the easiest ways to avoid conflict is to make sure everyone knows exactly what their role is. The CIO should focus on aligning IT operations with business goals, while the CISO should be responsible for securing those operations. By clearly outlining who handles what, you can prevent a lot of the overlap that leads to friction.
- Communicate regularly Communication is key to any relationship, and the CIO-CISO dynamic is no different. Regular check-ins, joint strategy sessions, and open conversations can go a long way toward building trust and understanding. Consider creating cross-functional teams that bring together IT and security staff to break down silos and encourage more collaboration.
- Align incentives Sometimes, the problem isn’t just a lack of communication—it’s misaligned goals. CIOs are often rewarded for delivering projects on time and within budget, while CISOs are evaluated based on how secure the company is. These conflicting incentives can lead to clashes. One solution is to align their performance metrics.
- Involve both in budget planning Since budget is such a major point of contention, why not involve both the CIO and CISO in the budget planning process? Joint budget discussions can ensure that both innovation and security are properly funded, and it helps eliminate misunderstandings about where the money is going.
- Take a risk-based approach Both the CIO and CISO should be on the same page when it comes to assessing risk. Gartner predicts that by 2026, 40% of businesses will use a unified risk management framework to drive better collaboration between IT and security leaders. This approach can help make decision-making more structured and reduce the chances of disagreements over tech adoption or security protocols.
- Cross-training Encouraging cross-training between the IT and security teams can also foster better collaboration. When IT staff understand the security team’s challenges (and vice versa), it helps build empathy and reduces the “us vs. them” mentality. This shared understanding can go a long way toward bridging the gap.
By fostering trust and respect between your CIO and CISO, you’ll not only reduce tension but also build a stronger, more resilient organization—one that can innovate quickly while staying secure in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
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About Riviera Partners
Riviera Partners is a global driver of innovation for today’s most influential companies – expertly placing executive talent in the crucial areas of IT, software engineering, product management, security, AI/ML/Data, and design. Riviera combines over two decades of recruiting expertise with a proprietary platform that uses machine learning to score and predict the best candidate for a company’s specific needs, driving successful outcomes. As a result, the company has become the go-to talent partner for leading private equity investors, venture capitalists, public companies and technology innovators.
