The Heller Report: Special Cyber Security Edition

A healthy security culture is one in which the security team helps others succeed safely – instead of carrying the reputation as “the department of no,” argues Andy Ellis, the longtime Akamai Technologies chief security officer who now runs the Duha advisory firm. “That shift … is when you move from being a cost center to becoming a strategic enabler,” says Ellis in this interview for our Cyber Means Business series.

Effective governance in the AI era centers security leaders building consensus with other enterprise leaders to enable safe exploration with the newest technologies, argues Jim Routh, who has spent decades leading security programs at Aetna, MassMutual, JPMorgan Chase, and other organizations. “Our job isn’t to shut it down—it’s to enable its use responsibly,” says Routh, now the chief trust officer at Saviynt.

The tight market for chief security officers means these risk management leaders can command salaries surpassing $700,000, reports CSOonline. Jason Henninger, managing director at Heller, tells the magazine that finding great CSO candidates often starts with government and military professionals. “Folks that come from those disciplines or foundations tend to have a strong external network that really helps them stay on top of external threats and bad actors,” Henninger says.

Calling all growth CISO candidates! If you see security not just as protection but as a lever for transformation, our clients need you! Whether you are considering a career change now -- or would like to connect for the future, we’d like to hear from you.

Submit your resume below if you’re ready to elevate security from compliance to growth, explore opportunities with Heller clients, and join the ranks of executives protecting and propelling the modern enterprise.