Navigating the CISO Role: Common Pitfalls for New Leaders

The post revisits and updates the author’s 2013 guidance for new CISOs, highlighting five recurring pitfalls—being a rigid blocker, failing to build 360-degree relationships, ignoring external engagement, mismanaging vendor relationships, and lacking a mentor—while adding 2024 advice to assess people as well as processes/technology, build trustworthy, well-aligned teams, and measure relationship health. It underscores the need for balanced technical and leadership skills and the importance of trust, communication, and positive PR to support long-term success.