What is a primary responsibility of the chief information security officer?

The primary responsibility of the chief information security officer (CISO) is to ensure that the organization’s information security policies and strategies are effectively defined, implemented, and maintained. This includes the periodic review and evaluation of the security policy to assess its adequacy, relevance, and effectiveness in addressing current security threats and compliance requirements.

By regularly reviewing and evaluating the security policy, the CISO can identify areas for improvement, update practices in response to emerging risks, and ensure that the policies align with the organization's overall business objectives. This proactive approach is essential in a rapidly changing threat landscape and demonstrates the organization's commitment to information security governance.

Other responsibilities typically held by a CISO, while important, do not align as directly with the primary focus of security policy management. Execution of user application and software testing is generally more aligned with IT teams focused on development and operations, while granting user access to IT resources and approving access to data and applications are tasks often delegated to IT security personnel or system administrators, working within the framework established by the security policies.