What is the primary role of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)?

The primary role of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is to oversee the organization’s security strategy. This encompasses the responsibility of developing, implementing, and managing the security posture of the organization to protect its information assets from threats and vulnerabilities. The CISO plays a critical leadership role in ensuring that appropriate security measures are integrated throughout the organization and aligns the security strategies with the business goals.

This strategic oversight includes risk assessment, policy development, incident response planning, compliance with regulations, and ensuring that the security team is properly equipped and trained. The CISO acts as the key decision-maker regarding security investments and technological implementations that impact the organization's security landscape.

In contrast, the other options focus on tasks that fall outside the CISO’s strategic oversight role. For instance, managing an IT team’s workload, developing software applications, or maintaining hardware systems are responsibilities that typically align more closely with operational or technical roles, rather than the high-level strategic vision and governance role that the CISO embodies.