What to Do Before You Walk In

First 90 Days as CISO · 4:04

Listen on 93

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Before you walk through that front door
There's homework you should do
Map the landscape, know the score
Research will see you through
Check the ten-K and the SOC reports
Look for breach disclosures too
What would a cyber attack cost
When headlines make the news

[Chorus]
Map the landscape, build your list
Prepare your mental frame
Fifteen to twenty conversations
Learn each stakeholder's name
From engineering to the legal team
Finance and product too
Do your homework before day one
That's what the pros all do

[Verse 2]
Who came before you in this role
What incidents went down
Search the web for their old posts
Check if they're still around
Study competitors in your space
How do they handle risk
Understanding context matters
It's the foundation of your wish

[Chorus]
Map the landscape, build your list
Prepare your mental frame
Fifteen to twenty conversations
Learn each stakeholder's name
From engineering to the legal team
Finance and product too
Do your homework before day one
That's what the pros all do

[Bridge]
Know the revenue model cold
How customers pay their bills
Where does sensitive data flow
Who has access to the wheels
GDPR or HIPAA bound
Which frameworks apply
Chart the informal leaders
Not just the org chart guys

[Verse 3]
Draft your listening agenda
One-on-ones to start
Sales and marketing voices
Every functional part
Don't just talk to security
Branch out and learn the whole
Business context is the secret
To playing the CISO role

[Chorus]
Map the landscape, build your list
Prepare your mental frame
Fifteen to twenty conversations
Learn each stakeholder's name
From engineering to the legal team
Finance and product too
Do your homework before day one
That's what the pros all do

[Outro]
Research first, then listen well
Success starts before you're hired
Map, prepare, and know the tale
That's how trust gets acquired

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