In the past decade, every CISO knew the question awaiting them in the boardroom: Can we survive the next cyberattack? Now, as the turbulent 2024 draws to a close, the concerns have multiplied, says Don Gibson, the CISO at Kinly. Board members are often asking: Can we survive these economic times? Or are we prepared for geopolitical storms?

Intensifying global conflicts, economic instability, and a surge in new regulations have put pressure on CISOs and their organizations. Today, chief information security officers have to manage an array of issues—often with limited resources at their disposal.

Tight budgets, competing priorities, and the ongoing struggle to attract and retain skilled talent are among the hurdles CISOs face in their effort to secure organizations, according to a recent survey by Foundry. Other challenges include low employee awareness and training, as well as organizational and cultural barriers, all of which can hamper their ability to be effective.