Bridging the Gap: Aligning CIOs and CISOs for Secure Flexible Work

In today’s rapidly evolving work environment, many organizations are grappling with the dual challenge of implementing flexible work requirements while ensuring robust enterprise cybersecurity. A significant factor contributing to this struggle is the misalignment between Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs). This disconnect often hinders the ability to create a productive and secure work atmosphere, leaving organizations vulnerable to both security threats and employee dissatisfaction.

The Challenge of Flexible Work

Flexible work arrangements have become a necessity rather than a luxury, especially in the wake of the global pandemic. Employees now expect the ability to work remotely or adopt hybrid models that allow for greater work-life balance. However, this shift presents unique challenges for IT Operations (ITOps) and Security Operations (SecOps) teams. In many organizations, these teams operate in silos, each focusing on their own priorities without a shared understanding of goals, data, or practices. This separation can lead to inefficiencies and security vulnerabilities, as critical information regarding employee productivity and security often remains trapped within isolated departments.

Corinna Fulton, Vice President of Solutions Marketing at Ivanti, highlights this issue, stating, “Customers tell us that for the people in IT ops and in security ops, there is alignment in theory, but often only at the C-Level. It’s not filtering down to their separate organizations in leadership modeling, processes, and so forth.” This lack of alignment can create a disconnect that ultimately impacts employee experience and organizational effectiveness.

The Employee Experience at Stake

The implications of this misalignment are significant. According to Ivanti’s 2024 Everywhere Work Report, 40% of office workers and 49% of IT workers would consider changing jobs for greater flexibility. This statistic underscores the importance of flexible work arrangements, particularly for younger employees who prioritize work-life balance. Furthermore, only 57% of office workers feel they could easily access the same tools if required to work remotely, despite over 90% of leaders believing their remote employees have everything they need to be productive. This discrepancy indicates a pressing need for IT and security leaders to address the expectations of both employees and business leaders regarding flexible work.

Failure to bridge the gap between ITOps and SecOps can lead to frustration, security weaknesses, and diminished productivity. Fulton emphasizes the stakes, stating, “Ultimately you’re impacting top line revenue. Both the CIO and the CISO want that not to happen.”

Building an Effective Partnership

To foster a collaborative environment that enables secure and productive flexible work, CIOs and CISOs can take several actionable steps:

1. Assess Real Risks

CIOs and CISOs should collaboratively identify the risks associated with flexible work arrangements. By clarifying the organization’s risk appetite and establishing acceptable levels of risk, they can create a foundation for aligning their goals and priorities. This agreement is crucial for effective risk management.

2. Establish Common Standards and Metrics

Creating a unified set of standards and metrics is essential for evaluating risks related to flexible work. For instance, measuring “time to resolution” from the moment a risk is identified to when it is fully resolved can facilitate a coordinated response between IT and security teams.

3. Inventory Flexible Work Infrastructure

Understanding the organization’s IT asset landscape is vital. IT asset management has evolved from a simple inventory to a critical enabler of productivity and security. By knowing what assets are available, organizations can identify potential vulnerabilities and take proactive measures to address them.

4. Break Down Data Silos

Visibility across key data sources is essential for effective collaboration between IT and security teams. Organizations should implement phased programs to unlock data trapped in silos, providing both teams with access to a common set of information relevant to employee productivity and security.

5. Create a Joint IT-Security Roadmap

Developing a shared roadmap that outlines common goals and priorities is crucial for ensuring both teams are aligned. This roadmap should be communicated across both teams to foster understanding and collaboration.

6. Consider the Impact on Staff

Finally, it is essential to consider how IT and security policies will affect information workers. Coordinating these policies with the needs and preferences of employees is key to optimizing both productivity and security.

The Bottom Line

CIOs and CISOs have a unique opportunity to overcome barriers to productive and secure work by establishing a common strategy and structure that fosters collaboration. By taking concrete steps to align their teams, organizations can create a work environment that meets the demands of flexibility while maintaining robust cybersecurity measures.

For more insights on empowering flexible work, click here to explore Ivanti’s findings and recommendations.