Why CISOs Should Build Stronger Bonds with the Legal Function in 2025

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has become increasingly complex. As the primary guardian of an organization’s information security, CISOs must navigate a myriad of threats, from cyberattacks to data breaches, while ensuring compliance with a growing array of regulations. To effectively manage these challenges, CISOs must foster strong relationships with various stakeholders, including the legal function. In this article, we will explore the importance of building stronger bonds between CISOs and the legal function in 2025.

The Evolving Role of the CISO

The CISO’s role has undergone significant changes in recent years. Once primarily focused on technical security measures, CISOs now must also consider the broader business implications of their decisions. This includes managing risk, ensuring compliance, and communicating effectively with stakeholders. As the cybersecurity landscape continues to shift, CISOs must adapt to new challenges and priorities.

According to a recent survey, 71% of CISOs believe that their role has become more complex over the past two years, with 64% citing the increasing sophistication of threats as a major factor. To address these challenges, CISOs must develop strong relationships with other departments, including the legal function.

The Importance of Collaboration between CISOs and the Legal Function

The legal function plays a critical role in supporting the CISO’s efforts to manage risk and ensure compliance. By working closely together, CISOs and the legal function can:

• Develop and implement effective incident response plans
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and laws
• Conduct thorough risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders, including regulators and customers

Effective collaboration between CISOs and the legal function can also help to reduce the risk of costly fines and reputational damage. For example, in the event of a data breach, a well-coordinated response can help to minimize the impact and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.

Key Benefits of Stronger Bonds between CISOs and the Legal Function

Building stronger bonds between CISOs and the legal function can bring numerous benefits, including:

• Improved risk management: By working together, CISOs and the legal function can identify and mitigate potential risks more effectively.
• Enhanced compliance: Collaboration between CISOs and the legal function can help ensure compliance with relevant regulations and laws.
• More effective incident response: A well-coordinated response to incidents, such as data breaches, can help minimize the impact and ensure compliance.
• Better communication: Strong relationships between CISOs and the legal function can facilitate effective communication with stakeholders, including regulators and customers.

Best Practices for Building Stronger Bonds between CISOs and the Legal Function

To build stronger bonds between CISOs and the legal function, organizations can implement the following best practices:

• Establish clear communication channels: Regular meetings and open communication can help foster a strong relationship between CISOs and the legal function.
• Define roles and responsibilities: Clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of CISOs and the legal function can help prevent confusion and ensure effective collaboration.
• Develop joint training programs: Joint training programs can help CISOs and the legal function develop a deeper understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities.
• Foster a culture of collaboration: Encouraging a culture of collaboration and open communication can help build trust and facilitate effective working relationships between CISOs and the legal function.

Conclusion

In 2025, the role of the CISO will continue to evolve, with a growing emphasis on managing risk, ensuring compliance, and communicating effectively with stakeholders. To address these challenges, CISOs must build stronger bonds with the legal function. By working together, CISOs and the legal function can develop effective incident response plans, ensure compliance with relevant regulations, and communicate effectively with stakeholders. By implementing best practices, such as establishing clear communication channels and defining roles and responsibilities, organizations can foster strong relationships between CISOs and the legal function, ultimately reducing the risk of costly fines and reputational damage.

As the cybersecurity landscape continues to shift, the importance of collaboration between CISOs and the legal function will only continue to grow. By prioritizing this relationship, organizations can better manage risk, ensure compliance, and protect their reputation in the face of an increasingly complex and evolving threat landscape.