vCISO Benefits as the CISO Becomes Strategic and the Board’s Responsible for Security – Brian Haugli – BSW #410
Securing top-tier cybersecurity leadership is not just a necessity but a significant challenge, especially when working within budget constraints. Should you hire a full-time CISO or outsource to a vCISO provider?
Brian Haugli, CEO at SideChannel, joins BSW to discuss how organizations can hire a Virtual CISO (vCISO) to benefit from their expertise without the costs and resource requirements of a full-time hire. Brian will share:
- Current vCISO trends
- What to look for in vCISO services
- Who fits/doesn't fit as a vCISO
vCISOs can be an effective solution for organizations that need to enhance their security program or respond to a breach, but know what to look for. If you're in the market for vCISO services or want to become a vCISO, don't miss this interview.
In the leadership and communications segment, Boards should bear ultimate responsibility for cybersecurity, From WannaCry to AI: How CISOs Became Strategic Leaders, The Best Leaders Edit What They Say Before They Say It, and more!
Brian has been driving security programs for two decades and brings a true practitioner’s approach to the industry. He creates a more realistic way to address information security and data protection issues for organizations. He has led programs for the DoD, Pentagon, Intelligence Community, Fortune 500, and many others. Brian is a renowned speaker and expert on NIST guidance, threat intelligence implementations, and strategic organizational initiatives.
Brian is the contributing author for the latest book from Wiley, “Cybersecurity Risk Management: Mastering the Fundamentals Using the NIST Cybersecurity Framework“.
Lastly, he is a professor at Boston College, in the Woods College of Advancing Studies, Master’s Program in Cybersecurity.
Join us at InfoSec World 2025, October 27 to 29 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Lake Buena Vista! With pre-event workshops October 25–26, and post-event workshops October 29–30. Connect, learn, and level up your cyber game! Save 25% now with code ISW25-SW at https://www.securityweekly.com/ISW2025!
Matt Alderman
- Boards should bear ultimate responsibility for cybersecurity
A new State of the Security Profession survey from The Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec) shows that 91 percent of the profession believe ultimate responsibility for cybersecurity lies with the board and not security managers or CISOs (just 31 percent).
- Dave DeWalt on how to get a board to buy in on cybersecurity
In this episode of Safe Mode, host Greg Otto talks with Dave DeWalt, founder and CEO of NightDragon, about advising boards and portfolio companies on making cyber a first-order business issue, not an afterthought.
- From WannaCry to AI: How CISOs Became Strategic Leaders
The modern CISO today is radically different from what it was in 2015. The scope of what they’re responsible for has exploded far beyond what anyone could have anticipated over the past decade.
- Why Leaders Should Bring Their Best Self—Not Their Whole Self—to Work
Few corporate mantras have spread more widely—and aged worse—than the exhortation to “bring your whole self to work.” Initially coined to promote psychological safety and inclusion, the phrase has since morphed into a rallying cry for radical transparency and unchecked self-expression. While often well intentioned, this advice becomes not just misguided but actively dangerous when applied to those in senior leadership roles.
- The Cybersecurity Talent Crisis Isn’t Going Away – Build, Don’t Buy
You’d be surprised how many execs act like top security talent just appears - certified, seasoned, and ready to dive in without missing a beat. Maybe once in a while you get lucky, but most of the time? You burn through your budget chasing unicorns and end up stuck in a hiring loop.
- The Best Leaders Edit What They Say Before They Say It
In many organizations, transparency is held up as a leadership virtue. Open communication fosters trust, signals authenticity, and helps employees feel informed and included.
But as leaders step into executive roles, the context changes. Casual remarks often carry the weight of a mandate. What once felt like honest candor can become counterproductive. A passing comment may be interpreted as a directive. An offhand thought can trigger unnecessary confusion or anxiety. Instead, you have to master executive presence, where how you speak matters as much as what you say.
- Body Language Expert: How To Overcome Awkwardness | Vanessa Van Edwards | EP 565
In this episode, Dr. Jordan B. Peterson sits down with behavioral researcher and bestselling author Vanessa Van Edwards to unpack the secret language of nonverbal communication. From the handshake that builds trust to the subtle cues that sabotage careers, they explore how posture, eye contact, tone, and gesture shape perception—often before a single word is spoken. Drawing on Vanessa’s research and her own journey as a “recovering awkward person” turned master communicator, the conversation spans job interviews, power dynamics, mirroring, charisma, and how to read a room at its most fundamental level. Learn why neck ratios matter, vocal fry backfires, and presence begins long before you speak.
