CISO Trainings , Governance & Risk Management , Training & Security Leadership

The CISO's Evolving Mission

Why Former AT&T Chief Security Officer Says Security Pros Need More Business Acumen
Ed Amoroso, CEO, TAG Cyber LLC

A lot has changed since Ed Amoroso began his 31-year career in information security at AT&T, where he eventually became chief security officer.

See Also: What to Do Based on 2022: Expert Analysis of TPSRM Survey

"The whole thing started with maybe a couple of people tending to the firewall for the company, sitting in a lab somewhere with Grateful Dead T-shirts and no one even knowing they're there," Amoroso, who's now a consultant, recalls.

Security has evolved from a backroom operation to an executive priority as organizations have come to understand the value of a risk management strategy, he says.

"We need to look at the CISO role as an executive position with holistic understanding and a more well-rounded background" to help ensure security goals align with business goals, Amoroso says.

In an interview at Information Security Media Group's recent New York City Fraud and Breach Prevention Summit, where Amoroso was a featured speaker, he discusses:

  • Why the next generation of CISOs need a more holistic view of business to succeed;
  • The need for fewer frameworks for cybersecurity;
  • Why security experts need to focus less on motives of attackers and focus instead on prevention and defense.

Amoroso is CEO at TAG Cyber LLC, a cybersecurity advisory, training, consulting and media services company. He previously worked at AT&T for 31 years, most recently serving as senior vice president and chief security officer from 2004 to 2016.


About the Author

Tracy Kitten

Tracy Kitten

Former Director of Global Events Content and Executive Editor, BankInfoSecurity & CUInfoSecurity

Kitten was director of global events content and an executive editor at ISMG. A veteran journalist with more than 20 years of experience, she covered the financial sector for over 10 years. Before joining Information Security Media Group in 2010, she covered the financial self-service industry as the senior editor of ATMmarketplace, part of Networld Media. Kitten has been a regular speaker at domestic and international conferences, and was the keynote at ATMIA's U.S. and Canadian conferences in 2009. She has been quoted by CNN.com, ABC News, Bankrate.com and MSN Money.




Around the Network

Our website uses cookies. Cookies enable us to provide the best experience possible and help us understand how visitors use our website. By browsing careersinfosecurity.co.uk, you agree to our use of cookies.