Who Is Responsible for Cybersecurity?
The Board? The CEO? The CFO? The CIO? The CISO? Someone else?
The short answer is: yes.
Everyone plays a role in protecting an organization’s digital assets, but when it comes to the day-to-day management of cybersecurity, things get complicated.
According to a recent survey by HelpNet Security:
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77% of the Fortune 500 do not publicly name the person responsible for cybersecurity.
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52% lack any language on their websites about protecting customer data, aside from legally required privacy notices.
And it gets worse:
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190 companies—nearly 40% of the Fortune 500—do not have a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) on staff. Only 30 of those name another executive responsible for cybersecurity strategy.
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Of the 62% that do have a CISO, just 4% list that individual as part of the executive leadership team.
So, Who’s Really in Charge of Cybersecurity?
Most companies either don’t have a CISO or don’t give their CISO any real influence. And that’s just the Fortune 500.
What about the thousands of smaller businesses that don’t have the resources or infrastructure to hire a dedicated cybersecurity leader? For them, the responsibility often falls to someone with no security background at all—an office manager, CFO, or even the CEO.
Add complex regulations like GDPR, NIST, SOC 2, and others to the mix, and cybersecurity becomes an overwhelming responsibility for anyone not trained in it.
Who Owns Cybersecurity Outside the Fortune 500?
Let’s ask it another way: Who gets blamed when a breach happens? Is it… you?
Everyone wants transparency. We want to know who’s in charge. More importantly, we want to know who’s accountable when things go wrong.
But if cybersecurity responsibility is unclear, or worse, delegated to someone without the proper tools or knowledge, how can any business expect to succeed?
Why Clear Cybersecurity Leadership Matters
When organizations fail to clearly state who owns their cybersecurity strategy, it puts the company—and its customers—at risk.
Someone needs to be accountable. But that person also needs support:
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The ability to evaluate and select the right cybersecurity tools
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A roadmap aligned with business objectives
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Access to cybersecurity experts who understand the evolving threat landscape
If that leader isn’t a cybersecurity pro, how can they navigate thousands of vendors, manage implementation, and stay ahead of new compliance rules?
The Solution: Cybersecurity-as-a-Service (CSaaS)
The answer is to modernize cybersecurity delivery, just like Netflix and Spotify modernized content.
Cybersecurity-as-a-Service (CSaaS) offers a smarter, scalable model:
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Expert guidance and hands-on support
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Proven tools already integrated and tested
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A long-term strategy aligned with your business goals
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Fixed monthly pricing—no surprises
This model makes it easier for anyone—CFO, COO, or office admin—to confidently own cybersecurity without needing to become a security expert.
It also simplifies and automates ongoing compliance with standards like SOC 2, CMMC, ISO, HIPAA, and PCI, helping you stay protected and audit-ready no matter how the regulations evolve.
Take Ownership with Confidence
Whether you’re a seasoned security leader or someone who inherited the role, CSaaS helps you confidently say:
“The buck stops with me.”
Let us show you how.
