Paul Watts, CISO at Keywords Studios, on the Future of Security Leadership

As cybersecurity becomes increasingly integrated into business operations, security leaders are being challenged to rethink how security teams engage with the organization. For Paul Watts, CISO at Keywords Studios and a TIME CISO honoree, the future of security leadership depends on bringing security closer to the business. Paul Watts discusses the role of the Business Information Security Officer (BISO) and how embedding security professionals within business functions can help strengthen collaboration between security, technology, and operational teams. Rather than applying security requirements from outside the business, he advocates for an approach that aligns security capabilities with business priorities and objectives. The conversation explores how relationship building, shared understanding, and business context can help security leaders balance risk and reward while supporting organizational success. According to Paul, security is most effective when it is done with the business rather than to the business. KEY TAKEAWAYS 📌 Business Information Security Officers (BISOs) can help bridge the gap between business, security, and technology teams 📌 Security leaders should develop a deeper understanding of business goals and priorities 📌 Strong relationships across the organization are critical to successful security programs 📌 Security capabilities should be aligned to help the business achieve its objectives 📌 Effective security leadership requires balancing risk and reward within a business context 📌 Security is most effective when it is done with the business rather than to the business 📌 Security leaders should communicate using the language of the business rather than expecting the business to adopt security terminology TL;DR Paul Watts discusses why the future of security leadership depends on stronger business alignment, deeper collaboration, and integrating security more closely into organizational decision-making. WHO IS THIS FOR? 📌 CISO 📌 CIO 📌 Security Leaders 📌 Business Information Security Officers (BISOs) 📌 Risk and Compliance Leaders 📌 Technology Executives 📌 Enterprise Architects 📌 Digital Transformation Leaders 📌 Business Unit Leaders 📌 Cybersecurity Practitioners 📌 Aspiring Security Leaders FAQ Q: What is a Business Information Security Officer (BISO)? A: Paul Watts describes the BISO as a role that helps connect business, security, and technology teams while supporting the goals of a specific area of the business. Q: Why is business alignment important for security leaders? A: Paul argues that security teams are most effective when they understand business priorities and align security capabilities to support organizational objectives. Q: What does Paul Watts mean by doing security "with" the business? A: He advocates for a collaborative model where security works alongside business teams and helps them achieve their goals while managing risk. Q: Why are relationships important in cybersecurity leadership? A: Paul emphasizes that strong relationships help security leaders better understand business needs and apply security capabilities in ways that support success. Q: What is the future of security leadership according to Paul Watts? A: Paul believes future security leaders will be more closely integrated with the business, speak the language of the business, and align security efforts with organizational ambitions. #CISO #Cybersecurity #SecurityLeadership #BISO #BusinessAlignment #RiskManagement #Leadership #TIMECISOAwards