How is the role of the CISO evolving compared to their traditional IT responsibilities?
Traditionally, a CISO’ s responsibilities were tactical, centred on implementing security controls and responding to threats. They were often seen as the‘ no’ department – responsible for hindering business initiatives in the name of security. That has changed. Evolving from a purely technical function within the IT department, CISOs today are elevated to a strategic, business-focused leadership position and a crucial part of the C-suite who report directly to the CEO or board.
Walid Natour, Senior Manager, Security Engineering, Middle East & North Africa
As IT and OT converge, traditional security tools leave organisations blind to real threats. Tenable’ s hybrid discovery method combines safe active queries with continuous passive monitoring, delivering complete, accurate visibility across IT, OT and IoT systems. By prioritising risks based on business impact rather than volume, Tenable helps companies focus on what truly matters – protecting their most valuable assets while reducing operational disruption. Walid Natour, Senior Manager, Security Engineering, Middle East & North Africa, shares how Tenable is reshaping exposure management.
The CISOs focus has shifted from managing IT security to managing enterprise-wide business and technical risk – which now includes the entire computing infrastructure, encompassing operational technology( OT) and critical infrastructures, the Internet of Things( IoT) and smart cities. Modern CISOs must translate complex technical risks into business language, enabling senior leadership to make informed decisions about risk appetite. They are collaborators, not just gatekeepers, and work with all departments to embed a security-first culture. With rising data privacy regulations and increased legal liability, they are also responsible for ensuring compliance and navigating the legal landscape.
The modern CISO’ s success hinges on a blend of technical knowledge and business acumen, making them a strategic enabler of growth and innovation.
How does Tenable’ s approach to hybrid discovery differ from traditional OT identification techniques and what is the benefit of this?
Today, the biggest challenge isn’ t a lack of security data, it’ s having too much of it. The convergence of IT and OT has blurred lines, but siloed security tools still operate in isolation, generating a sea of noisy findings that leaves organisations blind to their true cyber exposure. This isn’ t just a technical problem; it’ s a strategic business risk where a single weakness can lead to a catastrophic operational event.
Our approach helps leaders cut through that noise by providing an attacker’ s perspective. We don’ t
The CISOs focus has shifted from managing IT security to managing enterprise-wide business and technical risk.
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