Episode 9

The Evolution of the CISO Role

Published on: 26th September, 2023

On this episode of The Smart IT Podcast, I welcomed Dan Holden, VP, Cyber Security from BigCommerce. For IT, the focus on defending its organization from cyber risks is led by the security team. When an organization is fortunate to have that team led by a CISO, focus can be directed to managing cyber risk that frees the rest of IT to focus on keeping the lights on and help their businesses innovate. We talked about the evolution of the role of the CISO, including what he has seen over the last three decades in this industry. We discussed several insightful areas, starting with Dan’s origin story in cyber security to the responsibilities of the tech industry to all of our security efforts. Interesting topics like data privacy, who should pay for logging, espionage, and the inevitable wave of new regulations were also covered.

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About the Podcast

The Smart IT Podcast

Where IT explores what's next...

The Smart IT Podcast, where IT professionals can assemble and hear from each other, industry leaders, thought leaders, and those in adjacent fields to collaborate and learn from each other and explore what’s next for IT.

The Smart IT Podcast explores what’s next for IT as it continues to find ways to get the important things done for our organizations.
Preparing for the next decade, we need to think differently about how we approach our work to continue to thrive into the future.

Smart IT is an approach, conceptual framework, and development model to getting the important things done by transforming the way traditional IT thinks, works, and leads. It supports the disruption of the status quo, simplifies the complex, reduces uncertainty, and improves risk mitigation.

There has never been more pressure to deliver for our organizations; but I know IT is up to the challenge.

That will require IT to lead by working smarter. Let’s do it together.

About your host

William Reed

I am an advisor of technology for business use, have seen the possibilities, the challenges, the constraints, and the risks. I have seen firsthand the technical debt, silos, broken communication, despair of IT, and business frustrations. And, I have seen the possibilities, the hopes, and the opportunities while working in the trenches of IT.

As someone that has analyzed, designed, built, and supported technology infrastructure for many businesses over the years, and followed the technology trends and cyber threats, I see the opportunities for our organizations and for the professionals of IT as a fulfilling and thriving career.

I believe we have been blessed with great opportunities to continue to improve ourselves and organizations. If it’s possible, there is no reason enterprise IT cannot reach new heights and help our businesses thrive in age of disruption, complexity, and risk.

I have a passion is bringing a fresh perspective to the challenges in front of IT and help inspire a team to tackle and win. And to help individuals and organizations make better decisions to improve outcomes and experiences.

I advise on matters of technology use for organizational benefits. He has over 20 years’ experience in the Information Technology field. He has worked for multiple technology value added resellers, representing the major vendors and technologies in the industry. He has consulted across the major industries, including banking, health care, retail, oil & gas, education, government, finance, and legal.