If you’re a chief information security officer (CISO) looking to set some New Year’s goals or enhance your existing ones, think about strengthening your ties with your organization’s legal team.
You might have already invested time in connecting with your company’s lawyers; that’s become a crucial part of the modern CISO’s role. A recent survey of over 400 CISOs by Heidrick & Struggles highlighted that when it comes to time spent collaborating, legal, compliance, and risk teams rank just behind network and software engineering.
In 2025, the relationship between cybersecurity and legal teams will be more important than ever. Worldwide, the scrutiny around IT security and its leaders is growing due to new regulations.
Legal challenges are a major concern. Changes in regulations can create immense pressure on cybersecurity professionals. Even when rules are clear, the sheer volume can be overwhelming. Companies operating internationally face a patchwork of country-specific regulations that often conflict with one another. For instance, within the EU, you have the EU AI Act and the Digital Operational Resilience Act, just to name a couple. The U.S. could see significant regulatory shifts as well, and everyone must contend with stringent guidelines on how to manage personally identifiable information.
This regulatory landscape makes it tough for IT security teams to implement rules effectively. That’s where the legal department can step in. Lawyers help CISOs navigate these complexities, clarifying how and where regulations apply to their specific organization. Understanding the nuanced scope of regulations often requires legal expertise.
Identifying communication and reporting requirements is another critical area. Both IT security and legal functions need to establish clear procedures and communicate them effectively to relevant staff.
However, it’s not just about the legal team advising on compliance. The CISO plays an active role in this partnership. Regulatory language can sometimes miss the mark, and CISOs must identify the gaps. Collaborating with legal teams allows for addressing these issues head-on.
Cybersecurity and legal teams can also work together to adopt best practices, like the ‘three lines of defense’ model prevalent in financial services. Here’s how it works: frontline employees serve as Level One defenders, while managers in Level Two oversee their work to ensure compliance. Level Three involves internal and external auditors monitoring everything. This approach can enhance visibility and accountability across all sectors.
Another area where CISOs can assist their legal counterparts is in understanding technology. Regulations often struggle to keep up with rapid tech advancements. This was evident with cloud computing and is now increasingly relevant with artificial intelligence. The CISO can provide valuable insights to the chief legal counsel on these issues.
The partnership between a CISO and chief legal counsel is incredibly significant. Both roles protect their organizations from threats and work on building resilience through policies and employee training. Planning for new risks to the organization is essential for both, and they contribute to strong corporate governance and smooth operations.
In 2025, focus on fostering this vital relationship.