The Top Stories from Around the Web: February 2025
The shortest month of the year had no shortage of news stories for our CISO community. The stories we thought would be the most interesting include predictions from security leaders on regulatory changes, analyzing the cost of AI for security, How OT CISOs’ roles are evolving, the relationship between CFO and CISO, and more.
Here are summaries of the top CISO stories for February 2025:
1. 2025 Informed: Key cybersecurity regulation predictions
Source: TechInformed
In 2025, cybersecurity regulation is set to transform compliance strategies as new frameworks emerge amid escalating cyber threats. The EU's NIS2 Directive and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) are expanding security requirements, impacting sectors from critical infrastructure to financial services. Meanwhile, the EU AI Act aims to govern AI risks, pushing for transparency and ethical standards.
Key trends include increased CISO accountability, heightened supply chain security scrutiny, and growing demand for AI governance. As geopolitical tensions and cyber threats intensify, resilience is becoming a strategic priority. Industry experts predict a shift towards proactive security measures, integrated IT/OT frameworks, and compliance-driven innovation, including stricter data governance and cyber insurance prerequisites.
The evolving landscape challenges organizations to balance compliance with operational security, necessitating agile strategies and enhanced incident response capabilities. Discover expert insights on navigating these regulatory shifts and staying ahead in cybersecurity.
2. The Cost of AI Security
Source: InformationWeek
As enterprises rapidly adopt AI, they face growing security challenges and budget concerns. While AI promises transformative business benefits, security is often an afterthought—similar to early cloud adoption. An IBM survey reveals only 24% of GenAI projects currently include security measures.
Key security costs stem from data protection, model security, shadow AI, employee training, and evolving governance needs. AI models are vulnerable to manipulation and data leaks, while shadow AI usage exposes enterprises to hidden risks and costly breaches. Additionally, AI amplifies threats like deep fakes, necessitating enhanced employee awareness programs.
Governance and compliance will soon demand stricter security controls, driving increased spending. Cyber insurance costs may fluctuate as GenAI reshapes enterprise risk profiles. Budgeting for AI security requires cross-functional collaboration and strategic conversations with AI vendors. As organizations balance innovation and security, frameworks like NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework offer guidance.
3. Time to reimagine the CISO’s role as OT security takes center stage
Source: SC Media
The role of CISOs is evolving as operational technology (OT) systems become integrated with IT networks, exposing them to sophisticated cyber threats. OT systems control critical infrastructure like energy grids and manufacturing, where breaches can cause catastrophic disruptions, financial losses, or even loss of life.
CISOs must now secure both digital and physical assets, requiring a deep understanding of OT vulnerabilities, including legacy equipment and real-time safety mechanisms. Advanced strategies like zero-trust security, AI-powered threat detection, and real-time monitoring are essential. Bridging the IT-OT cultural divide is crucial for unified security, necessitating integrated Security Operation Centers (SOCs) and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Proactive security measures, continuous learning, and predictive analytics are vital to anticipating threats before they escalate. CISOs must also align cybersecurity with business continuity and regulatory compliance. As digital disruption accelerates, CISOs must adopt strategic, adaptable leadership to safeguard critical infrastructure and drive organizational resilience.
4. 8 questions CFOs should ask about their security program
Source: CFO.com
CFOs play a crucial role in overseeing cybersecurity, as financial and security priorities increasingly intersect. To effectively gauge their organization’s security posture and align security goals with business objectives, CFOs should engage in strategic conversations with their security teams. By asking targeted questions about incident response, risk management integration, compliance frameworks, third-party risks, security exceptions, performance metrics, and threat intelligence, CFOs can gain valuable insights into the maturity and effectiveness of their security programs. This approach empowers finance leaders to make informed decisions that strengthen security initiatives while supporting overall business goals.
5. Addressing The Human Element in Cybersecurity
Source: CEO Insights Asia
In an interview with CEO Insights Asia, JP Yu, Vice President of Proofpoint, Inc. for Southeast Asia and Korea, emphasizes the critical role of the human element in cybersecurity. Amid a rising cyber threat landscape in the APAC region, Yu highlights that human error remains a top vulnerability, driving Proofpoint's human-centric approach to security. He discusses leveraging AI and machine learning for advanced threat detection while emphasizing the importance of empowering employees as the first line of defense. Yu also advocates for responsible AI usage, multi-layered defense strategies, and investing in security awareness to build resilient organizations. His insights underline the need for adaptable, people-focused leadership in cybersecurity.
6. Going from CISO to the board may mean overcoming a stigma of being a “one-trick pony.”
Source: Cyber Tuesday by Paul Connelly
This article explores the challenges CISOs face when transitioning to board roles, primarily due to the perception of being "one-trick ponies" focused solely on cybersecurity. Despite the growing demand for “Digital Directors” with technology expertise, boards hesitate to appoint CISOs, fearing they lack versatility. The piece argues that modern CISOs possess broad strategic skills, collaborating across business units, managing large budgets, and influencing organizational risk management. To overcome this stigma, CISOs should demonstrate strategic business acumen, engage in cross-functional leadership, and participate in community and mentorship roles. By doing so, they can reshape perceptions and become valuable board members.
