What do you do when a business unit's priorities conflict with security requirements? How do you find a balance that allows you to reduce information security risk while still supporting those business goals?

Balancing business unit priorities with security requirements is a delicate but essential task. The key lies in open communication and collaboration between the business and security teams. Understanding the business goals and constraints allows the security team to propose solutions that mitigate risks without stifling innovation or productivity. A risk-based approach can be instrumental here, prioritizing security measures that address the most significant threats while allowing flexibility for the business to achieve its objectives. Additionally, integrating security into the early stages of business planning ensures that security considerations are part of the strategy, rather than an afterthought, leading to a more seamless alignment of goals.

I engage with business units to grasp their objectives and risks. By presenting data-driven insights on potential security impacts and proposing tailored solutions, I align security measures with business goals. This collaborative approach ensures we mitigate risks while supporting strategic aims.

It is all about establishing the security business goals based on requirements - it is very hard for a business to explicitly define a goal to "not meet security, audit or regulatory requirements".