How CISOs can protect business from invisible threats

By James Holton, Cyber Security Practice Director at Trustmarque

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and pervasive, the role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has become indispensable in safeguarding organisations against increasingly complex risks. Recent high-profile incidents, such as the Morrisons supply chain disruption and the ransomware attack and HCRG Care Group, serve as stark reminders of the vulnerabilities inherent in modern business infrastructures. These events underscore the importance of comprehensive visibility, adaptive security strategies, and leveraging advanced technologies to mitigate risks effectively.

The Morrisons attack disrupted its warehouse management systems, leaving the company without visibility into inventory levels during a crucial trading period. Similarly, HCRG Care Group suffered a ransomware breach that exfiltrated over two terabytes of sensitive data, including Protected Health Information (PHI). These incidents demonstrate how attackers exploit gaps in asset management and operational oversight. For CISOs, addressing these vulnerabilities requires solutions that provide real-time visibility into all connected devices—whether IoT, OT, or cloud-based systems—and ensure continuous monitoring of critical assets.

Achieving Comprehensive Visibility and Control

Achieving this level of oversight demands innovative approaches to asset management powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). These technologies enable organisations to automate data collection and analysis, delivering actionable insights into asset performance and potential vulnerabilities. Proactive asset management reduces manual effort while enhancing security posture by predicting risks and recommending preemptive measures. Solutions that offer seamless integration across IT environments can help CISOs identify shadow IT devices, outdated operating systems, or missing security controls that could otherwise go unnoticed.

Implementing Zero Trust Architecture

In addition to asset visibility, adopting Zero Trust architecture is essential for modern cybersecurity strategies. Zero Trust principles eliminate implicit trust within networks by continuously verifying users, devices, and applications before granting access. This approach minimises lateral movement in case of breaches and ensures granular access control based on contextual risk assessments. Advanced platforms that integrate Zero Trust with real-time asset intelligence streamline network segmentation and enforce least privilege policies without disrupting operations.

Securing the Supply Chain

Supply chain security remains another critical priority for CISOs as attackers increasingly target third-party vendors to infiltrate interconnected ecosystems. Continuous monitoring of network-connected assets across supply chains is vital to detect vulnerabilities early. AI-driven threat intelligence provides predictive risk analysis and automated enforcement capabilities to strengthen defences while maintaining operational efficiency. For industries like healthcare or manufacturing, where uptime is critical, such solutions are indispensable in mitigating risks without compromising productivity.

Automating Threat Detection and Response

Automating threat detection and response is equally crucial in today’s fast-paced threat landscape. AI-powered tools can analyse large volumes of network data to identify anomalous patterns and respond swiftly to incidents before they escalate. By integrating automation into cybersecurity workflows, organisations can reduce mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR), giving them a decisive edge against cybercriminals while freeing up resources for strategic initiatives.

Emerging Trends and Challenges

Emerging trends such as quantum computing and AI-driven attacks will demand even greater vigilance from CISOs in the coming years. Quantum computing could render current encryption methods obsolete, necessitating early adoption of quantum-resistant algorithms. Meanwhile, AI-powered attacks are becoming more sophisticated, requiring adaptive security solutions that evolve alongside new threats. Platforms capable of integrating AI with cybersecurity measures will be essential for maintaining resilience in this rapidly changing environment.

Collaboration and Cybersecurity Success

Collaboration across internal teams and external stakeholders is key to cybersecurity success. Fostering strong relationships within the C-suite ensures adequate budgets for security initiatives while driving a culture of vigilance across the organisation. Engaging in public-private partnerships can address large-scale challenges like regulatory compliance and threat intelligence sharing. By aligning cybersecurity goals with broader business objectives, CISOs can demonstrate how investments in advanced technologies contribute to operational efficiency and long-term growth.

Conclusion

Ultimately, cybersecurity isn’t just about defence—it’s about enabling innovation while protecting critical assets. Solutions that provide comprehensive visibility into connected devices, automate threat detection processes, and integrate seamlessly with existing systems empower CISOs to build resilient infrastructures capable of withstanding modern threats. The decisions made today will define an organisation’s ability to thrive tomorrow. To delve deeper into this topic and explore practical strategies for strengthening your organisation’s resilience, we invite you to join an exclusive webinar on Wednesday 14 May at 11am, presented by Trustmarque. Learn how to gain full visibility and control over your attack surface, especially considering that 80% of assets in organisations are often unseen or unmanaged. Register now and equip yourself with the knowledge to face the future with confidence. Are you ready to take action?