Jean-Philippe Avelange, CIO for the Amsterdam-based global connectivity provider Expereo, tells us how CIOs are often entrusted with the critical task of fortifying an organisation’s defences and fostering a company-wide culture of vigilance. He offers tips for CIOs charged with protecting a business and continuing to drive growth.
In recent years, the role of the CIO has undergone a stark transformation. Gone are the days when we were relegated to the sidelines outside of strategic decision-making, instead we are now expected to provide future-looking insights into the emerging technologies that can drive growth within a business whilst simultaneously navigating an organisation through the obstacles within a technology landscape.
Whether it’s deciphering the realities behind AI or mitigating the ever-evolving threats in our cybersecurity landscape, CIOs are now at the forefront of change and that is something to be excited about.
Indeed, at the start of last year, our research found that CIOs were on the whole optimistic about both their job roles, sector investment and business’ growth for the year ahead, despite clear economic and geopolitical challenges. Since then, technological developments like AI and innovations in cloud computing have only gone from strength-to-strength, further pushing forward the role of CIOs as the pace of development and opportunities increases.
However, the rapid pace of technological innovation can outpace our ability to predict and prepare for emerging cyberthreats, placing immense pressure on us to stay one step ahead of malicious actors.
How security is becoming a core concern for CIOs, not just CISOs
In the realm of cybersecurity, what was once considered beyond the traditional scope of a CIO’s responsibilities has now become a central concern that we cannot afford to overlook.
With the proliferation of interconnected systems, cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT), the attack surface for cyberthreats has expanded exponentially. To add to this threat, as organisations increasingly rely on digital channels for their operations, customer interactions and data storage, the potential impact of security breaches has grown in scale and complexity.
As CIOs are uniquely positioned to understand the interplay between technology, business objectives and risk management, we are now often entrusted with the critical task of fortifying our defences, implementing robust security measures and fostering a culture of vigilance across the organisation. The stakes are high and the consequences of a security breach can be catastrophic.
On top of this, there’s an ever-present pressure to deliver solutions that not only protect a business but actively drive growth and enhance operational efficiency, all while maintaining the integrity and security of our digital ecosystem.
In fact, the very technologies we are all now evaluating to increase business efficiency, namely Generative AI models, can actually be used as weapons against a business, further increasing the threat landscape.
The impact of AI in cybersecurity
2023 was the year that AI started to take off in terms of application and awareness – it’s now on everyone’s mind. But there’s also some risks with AI that can’t be ignored.
AI can be used by bad actors in ways that we have never seen. The development in voice deepfake technology for example is particularly concerning from a security perspective and one that needs to be addressed.
These tools have fundamentally lowered the barrier of entry for bad actors seeking to commit cybersecurity attacks, as now, with the availability of AI-powered tools and resources, even novice hackers have the power to unleash devastating attacks with minimal technical expertise.
Similarly, AI-powered phishing attacks could employ natural language processing algorithms to craft highly convincing spear-phishing emails tailored to deceive individual users, bypassing email filters and authentication mechanisms.
As AI continues to advance, the landscape of cyberthreats becomes increasingly complex and challenging to defend against, underscoring the urgent need for organisations to adopt proactive cybersecurity measures and stay ahead of emerging threats.
But it’s not all doom and gloom, as we see developments in sophistication of bad actors, we will also see cybersecurity companies continue to integrate AI to develop and enhance their products. These tools can autonomously detect, analyse and respond to security incidents in real-time, augmenting human capabilities and mitigating the impact of cyberattacks.
For CIOs in this environment, the imperative to get things right for the business has never been greater and we should look for tools, techniques and perhaps most importantly, training that can help us wield AI rather than it be wielded against us.
Simple steps to success
In the face of this pressure, protecting a business and continuing to drive growth can be a daunting task for any CIO. But there are some general tips to follow which are useful no matter the technology or threat that one may come across.
Firstly, staying informed about the latest cybersecurity threats, trends and best practices through regular training, conferences and industry publications. As CIOs, we must ensure that ourselves and our teams are aware of the latest developments and best practices, to keep our defences sharp in the face of growing threats. It’s also vital that we spread this awareness among the business user, as they say the human is always the weakest link in cybersecurity – so preparing colleagues for threats like phishing and deepfakes will become essential practice.
Similarly, a CIO must be aware of emerging cybersecurity technologies and actively invest in advanced solutions such as next-generation firewalls, intrusion detection systems, endpoint protection and security analytics platforms to strengthen the organisation’s defence posture. They should also conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.
Finally, a CIO must be prepared for anything, developing and regularly updating an incident response plan that covers procedures for detecting, responding to and recovering from security incidents. It’s up to us to champion cybersecurity initiatives at the executive level and advocate for adequate planning, resources and budget to support cybersecurity as a key business-critical priority.
Changing role, increasing importance
As CIOs, our job roles are more encompassing than ever. But despite the mounting responsibilities of their job roles, CIOs have ample reasons to maintain optimism in the face of evolving challenges.
Embracing cybersecurity as a responsibility for the CIO not only enhances an organisation’s resilience to digital threats but also presents an opportunity for us to lead the way in innovation and strategic leadership.
The dynamic nature of cybersecurity continually also presents opportunities for learning and growth, enabling CIOs to develop new skills, stay at the forefront of technological advancements, and drive meaningful change within their organisations.
So, whilst threats may be increasing, so too will our capabilities and influences within our organisation. It’s for that reason that we should embrace our changing roles and look forward to steering our businesses through the storms ahead.
