At SC Media, we're proud to honor a new breed of
security leaders who redefine what it means to safeguard their organizations in an era of constant disruption.
In partnership with Absolute Security, SC Media will present the
Resilient CISO Award to five chief information security officers who have gone beyond traditional security practices to build organizations that can withstand, adapt to, and quickly recover from serious cyber incidents.
"Organizations have accepted that preventing every attack is impossible," says Casie Abello, VP of Corporate Marketing at Absolute Security. "The focus now must shift from pure prevention to
resilience. It's about ensuring that while protection remains critical, businesses are prepared to recover quickly and emerge stronger when incidents occur."
Nominations for the Resilient CISO SC Award are now open. Members of the cybersecurity community are invited to submit candidates
here through Jan. 26, 2026. The five final honorees will be announced and celebrated live at the SC Awards reception during the RSAC Conference in San Francisco in March.
"This award showcases real-world examples of visionary CISOs who have taken steps to ensure the ability to maintain effective defenses and to recover quickly after cyber incidents," says Joe Franscella, Director of Corporate Communications at Absolute Security. "Absolute Security is excited to sponsor this new category, as it will help security and risk leaders understand what true cyber resilience is and how to build it into their enterprises."
Why resilience matters more than ever
The cybersecurity landscape has fundamentally changed. Sophisticated threat actors operate worldwide. Enterprises have become perimeter-free, mixing
cloud, on-prem,
operational technology, and remote assets and workforces. Attempted attacks on networks, identities and databases are unrelenting. CISOs face unprecedented scrutiny from regulators, company boards, and customers.
In this environment, preventing every incident and fixing every flaw is no longer a realistic goal.
"The challenges defenders face today are immense, and we're all feeling the shift in the industry," says Abello. "During a recent
LinkedIn Live session with Mike Wilkes, CISO of Akido Security, he shared an insightful perspective. He noted that the 'not if, but when' mindset around cyberattacks has become almost passé. The inevitability of an attack is no longer a revelation — it's a given."
As a result of these changes, expectations for the CISO have shifted. Today's most effective security leaders are not judged solely on how well they block attacks, but on how well their organizations continue to function when defenses fail or a catastrophe takes place. Cyber resilience — the ability to anticipate disruption, limit damage, and recover quickly — has become the defining measure of success for a CISO.
"This growing emphasis on resilience is something we hear from our customers every day," says Abello. "It's what inspired us to create the Resilient CISO Awards — to recognize and celebrate those who are championing resilience within their organizations. These individuals are not only driving change but also setting an example for others to follow."
The resilient CISO in practice
The best CISOs understand that cyber resilience is a mindset. They align security programs tightly with business priorities, making certain that critical services, revenue-generating systems, and sensitive data get the strongest protection and the fastest recovery paths. They invest in visibility across assets, identities, and attack paths so that teams can know where true risk lies before a crisis hits.
These leaders also see that resilience goes beyond technology. They educate boards and executives, translating cyber risk into business impact. They advocate for smart investments, recruit and retain top talent, and foster a culture where preparedness and transparency are valued. When incidents occur, as they invariably will, they respond with calm, clarity, and coordination rather than panic.
"Boards are increasingly engaged, asking CISOs tough questions about business continuity and resilience," Abello says. "CISOs, in turn, are expected to lead the charge — not just in cybersecurity but in ensuring the overall continuity of the business. When a
breach or incident happens, they're the ones fielding the calls, answering the questions, and shouldering the responsibility."
Cyber resilience lets organizations restore operations within hours of
ransomware attacks because recovery paths have been tested in advance. It allows companies to restrict breaches to non-critical systems by proactively finding and blocking attack paths. It permits security teams to meet required disclosure deadlines because they can quickly assess material impact. Achievable resilience, rather than impossible flawless prevention, makes the difference.
Honoring leadership that enables recovery
The Resilient CISO SC Award celebrates five security leaders whose vision, adaptability, and leadership exemplify this evolution. Created in collaboration with Absolute Security and guided by the CyberRisk Collaborative (CRC) community, the award recognizes CISOs who enable their organizations to not just survive disruption, but to emerge stronger from it.
"Our goal is twofold: to honor those who are leading the way in resilience and to shine a spotlight on their efforts," says Abello. "By doing so, we hope to encourage others to adopt similar practices, fostering a culture of resilience across the industry. This is about being a true partner — not just to our customers but also to other vendors who share the same mission."
Nominees may be put forward by peers, vendors, and members of the broader cybersecurity community. A judging committee drawn from the CRC membership will review submissions and select the honorees — and there's a good reason more than one will receive an award.
"In the cybersecurity industry, we're all aware of the vast number of vendors in the market," Abello says. "While competition is inevitable, we must also recognize the importance of collaboration. If we don't find ways to work together, we risk failing our customers in their fight against the real adversaries — cyber attackers."
If you know a CISO who leads with foresight, steadiness, and an unwavering commitment to cyber resilience, we encourage you to
submit a nomination. By honoring these leaders, SC Media aims to spotlight resilience as the foundation of modern cybersecurity and the bedrock upon which tomorrow's security programs will be built. "One of the most exciting aspects of this initiative has been uncovering the stories behind these resilience champions," says Abello. "We're looking for the heroes — the individuals who are making resilience a priority within their organizations and inspiring their teams to do the same. These are the people who are driving meaningful change, and we want to celebrate their contributions."
