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The research , conducted in partnership with Davies Hickman Partners , found that in a rapidly changing business environment , the role of the chief information and security officer ( CISO ) has hugely expanded in its scope and responsibilities .

With the research also identifying security as the top priority for businesses after Coronavirus , CISOs have never been more integral to business operations .

With this in mind , the research ’ s finding that 76 % of business executives rate their organisation ’ s IT strategy as excellent or good at protecting against cybersecurity threats seems like positive news .

Yet in spite of this , the research also found that this might be misplaced confidence , which is leading to complacency , with 84 % of executives also saying that their organisation had suffered from data loss or a security incident in the last two years – highlighting the enormity of the task that CISOs face . it , and perhaps even more worryingly , 15 % saying they had given their work log-in and password to others in the organisation .

Regular cybersecurity training for employees is critical , not least because of the increasing importance that consumers are placing on security . The research found that nearly two thirds of consumers would recommend an organisation that makes a big effort to keep their data safe and a similar number said that security is more important than convenience when choosing who to buy from .

The capacity for security to act as a brand differentiator becomes even clearer with the finding that only 16 % of consumers strongly trust large organisations to protect their personal data .

In light of these trends and attitudes , the role of the CISO is simultaneously more critical and more multifaceted than even before . Their job is no longer just to protect against threats and manage risk ; they are now expected to play a crucial role in managing brand perception , employee engagement and the strategic adoption of new technologies .

In spite of this , the research found that less than half of executives and employees could put a name to their CISO ( or equivalent ), with a similar ratio of respondents saying that their CISO doesn ’ t actively communicate with the rest of the organisation .

Kevin Brown , Managing Director , BT Security , said : “ This report provides a number of clear examples of how CISOs are expected to provide leadership across an ever-growing number of areas .

“ The huge increase in the pace of Digital Transformation during 2020 has not only further erased the traditional parameters of the role , but also intensified the scale and complexity of threats to protect against .

“ As a result , CISOs must ensure that they have the visibility that not only makes them the first port of call for security incidents , but also ensures they are placed at the heart of strategic decision making and planning .” p

The research uncovered a number of interesting reasons why this might be happening . Less than half of respondents said they had definitely received training on data security , while only one in three were fully aware of the policies and procedures they should take to protect the security of their organisation ’ s data .

As a result , a number of concerning behavioural trends were seen , with 45 % of employees saying they had suffered a security incident at work and not reported

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