The role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is crucial for the strategic management of information and cybersecurity within an organization. The CISO’s role is not only to implement technical and organizational measures but also to ensure their compliance with legislative, regulatory, and internal requirements.
The CISO is responsible for establishing and maintaining the organization’s comprehensive security framework. The CISO defines the security strategy, identifies and assesses risks, sets information security policies, and oversees the implementation of controls. The strategic nature of the CISO’s work ensures alignment between security measures and the organization’s business objectives.
The cybersecurity manager must ensure that the organization complies with all obligations arising from Act No. 69/2018 Coll. on Cybersecurity, the NIS2 Directive, the DORA Regulation, the GDPR, and the ISO/IEC 27001 standard. The CISO oversees audits, prepares documentation for regulatory authorities, and ensures readiness for inspections.
In the event of a cyberattack, the CISO is responsible for coordinating the response, communicating with the incident response team, reporting incidents to the relevant authorities (e.g., CSIRT, NBÚ), and leading the post-incident review. It is important to prepare a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP).
The CISO should be independent of IT operations within the organizational structure. The CISO reports directly to company management and has the authority to escalate security risks. As part of the governance process, the CISO regularly reports on the state of cybersecurity, identified risks, and the effectiveness of the measures taken.
In addition to the technical and strategic dimensions, the CISO is also responsible for raising cybersecurity awareness among employees. The CISO organizes training sessions, workshops, and campaigns focused on social engineering, phishing, and the proper use of IT resources.
In many cases, it is not cost-effective for an organization to have an in-house CISO—especially in small and medium-sized businesses. The solution is an external CISO (known as a vCISO), who provides expert guidance, regular assessments, and operational support on a contractual basis. This service enables companies to meet their legal obligations without the need to increase their headcount.
The CISO role is not just about security—it serves as a bridge between technology, law, people, and organizational management. Its role is becoming increasingly important in the context of growing cyber threats, regulatory pressure, and customer expectations regarding organizational trustworthiness.