logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
31m 38s

Cybersecurity Metrics

Dr. Eric Cole
About this episode

In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole delves into the critical challenge of measuring cybersecurity effectiveness, emphasizing the flawed approach many organizations take. He highlights that many companies mistakenly believe that if no visible attacks are detected, their cybersecurity is successful. However, this mentality overlooks the reality that many breaches go unnoticed due to inadequate detection mechanisms. Dr. Cole argues that relying on a lack of detected attacks as a metric for success is both misguided and dangerous, as it often means that companies aren't looking in the right places or using the right metrics to gauge their security posture.

Dr. Cole also explores the systemic issues within organizations that hinder effective cybersecurity. He points out the problematic structure where CISOs report to CIOs, who are primarily focused on availability and uptime, leading to conflicts of interest that compromise security. Dr. Cole advocates for a shift in responsibility and authority, urging companies to recognize that cybersecurity requires independent oversight and clear, measurable metrics that go beyond simply preventing visible attacks. He stresses the need for a fundamental change in how organizations approach cybersecurity, including holding decision-makers accountable for risks and ensuring that security is not sacrificed for convenience or functionality.

 

Up next
Aug 21
Simplifying Cybersecurity, Time Management & Strategic Playbooks
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole dives deep into simplicity, time management, and the foundations of being a world-class Chief Information Security Officer. He explains how rebooting your life and career—just like you reboot a slow computer—can help clear distract ... Show More
30m 47s
Aug 14
The #1 Skill CISOs Need for Career Acceleration (And How to Master It)
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole dives deep into one of the most important yet often overlooked success principles for security leaders: simplicity. Drawing from decades of experience as one of the first CISOs before the title even existed, Dr. Cole explains why g ... Show More
32m 1s
Aug 7
Building Credibility Before the Crisis: Zachary Lewis on Frameworks & Board Trust
In this inspiring episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with Zachary Lewis, Chief Information Security Officer at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis. With over five years in the CISO seat and a career that spans startups, coal plants, and hig ... Show More
33m 23s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 8
Vision-first leadership & reimagining product w/ “Shift Out,” Do-It-as-a-Service & Jobs-to-Be-Done w/ John Amaral #226
John Amaral (CTO and co-founder @ Root.io) joins us to discuss the evolving role of engineering leaders and why vision-first leadership & building your “vision” muscle is more critical than ever. We dive into why “shift left” is dead and why SaaS is being replaced by “do-it” as a ... Show More
44m 54s
Jun 14
The Secret CISO: Navigating the Human and Technical Challenges in Cybersecurity
In this episode of 'Cybersecurity Today,' hosts John Pinard and Jim Love introduce their unique show, 'The Secret CISO,' which aims to dive deep into the lives and thoughts of CISOs and similar roles, beyond the usual interview-style format. The guest for this episode is Priya Mo ... Show More
51m 57s
Dec 2024
Jared Kushner - The Mechanic - [Invest Like the Best, EP.403]
My guest today is Jared Kushner. Jared has lived more lives than just about anyone I know his age. He ran Kushner companies for years, investing in real estate in and around New York City. He owned the New York Observer. He was a senior advisor to President Trump in his first ter ... Show More
2h 54m
Oct 2024
Becoming more strategic, navigating difficult colleagues, harnessing founder mode, and more | Anneka Gupta (Chief Product Officer at Rubrik)
Anneka Gupta is the Chief Product Officer at Rubrik, a leading B2B cybersecurity company. She previously spent 11 years at LiveRamp, where she was the President and Head of Product and Platforms leading product development and go-to-market operations and strategy. Anneka also sit ... Show More
1h 8m
Jan 2024
Episode 119: A Leader of Significance with Mosongo Moukwa
Mosongo Moukwa is a seasoned executive and consultant who has dedicated his career to helping companies thrive by commercializing new technologies, diversifying their product offerings, and entering new markets. Across thirty-plus years in leadership, Mosongo has applied his uniq ... Show More
43m 31s
Jul 2024
Essential Cybersecurity Strategies
Welcome back to another episode of "Accelerate Your Business Growth." I'm your host, Diane Helbig, and today we have a critical and timely discussion lined up for you. We’re joined by Terry Ziemniak, a cybersecurity expert with over 25 years of experience ranging from technical r ... Show More
25m 1s
Apr 2025
The Secret CISO: Insights and Reflections from Cybersecurity Leaders
  In this episode of Cybersecurity Today titled 'The Secret CISO,' host Jim Love, along with guests Octavia Howell, Daniel Pinsky, and John Pinard, delves into the personal and professional experiences of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs). They share their journeys into ... Show More
43m 46s
Jan 2025
Blake Hall - Combat, Service, and Innovation - [Invest Like the Best, EP.408]
My guest today is Blake Hall. Blake is the co-founder and CEO of ID.me, a secure digital identity network with over 100 million members. He was an officer in the United States Army and served our country for four years as a a rifle platoon leader, the battalion reconnaissance pla ... Show More
1h 33m
Oct 2024
Jens Stoltenberg: Navigating global security, crisis leadership, and staying calm under pressure
In this episode, we are honored to welcome Jens Stoltenberg, who recently concluded his tenure after ten years as Secretary General of NATO. He has had a long, impactful career within Norwegian politics, including serving as Prime Minister for a total of nine years. Jens shares h ... Show More
55m 4s