Best Cyber Security & Technology Articles | Technology Search Firm
      Best Cyber Security & Technology Articles in Executive Search | Best Executive Search Firm | Cowen Partners

      Best Cyber Security and Technology Articles in Executive Search

      2020 was a pivotal year, and many companies can trace the evolution of their business practises to the events of that year. We see this most clearly in the way businesses operated in 2021, starting with a large-scale transition to remote work. However, with the shift to remote work and other technology integrations into the daily running of businesses, CEOs and business owners have recognized the need to keep their businesses as secure as possible.

      Our top five articles for cyber security and technology in 2021 mirror this shift as our C-suite and board-level readers searched for and shared articles regarding cyber security and technology. The most-read articles addressed key executive-level issues like leadership positions for information technology and security and questioning the merit of outsourcing information security.

      Below, we review these articles and provide summaries of each. 

      1. Chief Information Officer vs. Chief Technology Officer

      The positions of chief information officer and chief technology officer have long endured misinterpretation, as most people view them in the same capacity. They are, after all, both technology-driven. In this article, we analyze both positions, detailing their strengths, job responsibilities, and expected outcomes. 

      A CIO handles a company’s infrastructure and IT operations. In this position, they leverage new technology to improve a business’ processes, with the goal of making them more effective and efficient. Our current technology-driven world makes the position of a CIO very paramount in any company that does not want to become obsolete.

      A CTO, on the other hand, identifies technology to help enhance customers’ experience with a business. In this position, they are more focused on the company’s offerings and making sure that customers have a memorable time transacting with the company, encouraging them to not only become return customers but also spread the word about the company.

      Both positions are crucial to a company’s growth, but sometimes, depending on how big the business is and their growth stage, they may only need one. It thus behooves a business to determine which of the two positions they need to fill to help them navigate their current stage and move on to the next growth stage.

      To read more on the job responsibilities of a CIO and CTO and what a business benefits with either or both of them on board, please click here. 

      2. What is a chief information security officer (CISO) & why do you need one?

      There is no doubt about it: the advent of technology has made the way we live life easier, including how businesses are run. Unfortunately, while technology helped overcome some challenges, it also has its own. Cyber threats are a significant challenge that arose with technology, and maintaining digital security is a grave issue that companies have to monitor daily. 

      However, following digital trends and protecting against malware and other attacks is a time-consuming process requiring dedicated staff—cue in a CISO. A CISO ensures that a company’s digital security is intact and its information safe. They also deal with managing the risks of working with new technology and working with other companies. 

      Additionally, hiring a CISO will help a company to prevent the following:

      • Incurring financial damages
      • Losing customers’ and investors’ confidence
      • Undergoing operational changes, they would have ordinarily not needed

      To read more about the duties of a chief information security officer and whether you need one for your business, please click here. 

      3. 5 steps to finding the best chief technology officer (CTO) for your company

      The global 2020 pandemic made businesses realize the need to invest in new technology and long-term IT changes. However, doing this requires careful consideration and planning, hence the need for a CTO.

      A CTO manages a company’s technological needs by creating strategic technology plans to enhance efficiency, increase output, and improve workflow. However, aside from addressing the company’s technological needs, a CTO also identifies technology that can help improve customers’ experiences with the company.

      These job responsibilities show how integral the role of a CTO is to a company’s growth. Thus, it is crucial that whoever fills the position be the best fit for the company’s goals. We listed five steps that you can take as the CEO or executive in search of hiring talents that can help you to find the best CTO for your company.

      • Define the person’s job responsibilities, as requirements typically vary from company to company.
      • Prioritize culture fit, qualities, and experience, as these are key determinants of how well the CTO will fit into your company.
      • Make the position as enticing as you can because top CTOs are in high demand.
      • Identify top candidates
      • Deliver a great offer

      For more details on these steps, please read the full article here.

      4. Pros vs. Cons of outsourcing information security

      With the increased risk of cyber security threats that businesses face daily, managing information security has become paramount for every forward-thinking CEO. However, the how-to has remained a hot topic of debate as schools of thought vary on whether to hire a full-time CISO or transfer the responsibilities to an external party.

      In this article, we detail the responsibilities of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and analyze the pros and cons of outsourcing CISO responsibilities.

      The pros of outsourcing CISO responsibilities include:

      • Cost-effective: Compared to onboarding a full-time CISO and paying competitive salaries, outsourcing the role is economical, especially for growing businesses.
      • Managed security trends: a company whose sole focus is keeping their clients’ information security intact will stay abreast of security trends better than an in-house CISO who will have lots of other responsibilities in the company.
      • Flexible capabilities: outsourced information security officers are more adaptable to the regularly changing business environment than internal staff who may be limited in their resources and capabilities.

      Conversely, the cons are:

      • Lack of organizational knowledge, which makes it difficult for outsourced security officers to have slower reaction times to company updates.
      • Outsourced security officers are usually restricted to the contract you have with them.
      • Outsourced security officers typically work with multiple organizations, so they can’t focus solely on your company’s needs.

      Whether or not to outsource your company’s information security management depends on your company’s specific situation.

      Please click here to see scenarios in which outsourcing your information security management would make sense for you.

      5. How and when to hire a chief security officer

      With the increasing popularity of ransomware and cybersecurity attacks, businesses need to be on top of keeping their company’s critical data safe. Because of this, companies are investing more in cybersecurity. However, online threats are not the only ones that companies need to guard against. They also need to keep all aspects of their business safe, so they need a CSO.

      In this article, we discussed the following regarding hiring a CSO:

      • When to hire a CSO for your company
      • How to hire the right CSO
      • How to identify ideal candidates for the CSO role

      For more details on these, please read the full article here. 

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