While application security takes centre stage, CISOs are becoming product CISOs

After speaking with hundreds of CISOs across the globe, one thing has become crystal clear: the role of the CISO is undergoing a fundamental transformation. As organizations increasingly become technology companies at their core, the traditional network-focused security approach is no longer sufficient.

The Shifting Security Paradigm

What struck me most in these conversations was a recurring theme: "We're no longer just protecting networks; we're securing applications that are the lifeblood of our business." This shift is profound and irreversible.

One more very frequent conversation is focus shifting towards application security from network security. If applications are hardened and self-protected, most of the cyber attack can be eliminated.

Gone are the days when CISOs could focus solely on perimeter defense and network security. Today's CISO must think like a product leader, understanding that security isn't a layer you add – it's an ingredient you bake in from the start.

The Product Security Mindset

As  one of the CISO from a major Bank shared, "Five years ago, I spent 80% of my time on network security. Today, 70% of my focus is on application security, product security and supply chain integrity." This doesn’t look like one of the case, but it's new normal.

Modern CISOs need to:

• Engage in product design phases
• Understand development lifecycles
• Evaluate vendor security practices
• Assess software supply chains
• Review SBOMs (Software Bill of Materials)
• Partner with development teams

Why This Evolution Matters

The stakes have never been higher. As one CISO put it, "A vulnerability in our application isn't just a security issue – it's a business risk that affects millions of customers directly."

Consider these realities:

• Every company is becoming a software company
• Products are increasingly interconnected
• Supply chain attacks are rising exponentially
• Customer data privacy expectations are soaring

Security by Design: The New Imperative

The most forward-thinking CISOs are embracing "security by design" as their north star.

This means:

• Early Engagement

Participating in initial product planning

Influencing architecture decisions

Setting security requirements upfront

• Supply Chain Oversight

Demanding vendor transparency

Reviewing security practices

Assessing SBOM completeness

Monitoring vulnerability management

• Continuous Validation

Regular security assessments

Automated testing integration

Continuous monitoring

Real-time threat analysis

The Vendor Responsibility Shift

An interesting trend emerged from my conversations: the security gap management is increasingly shifting from customers to vendors. CISOs are demanding more from their technology providers:

• Transparent security practices
• Built-in security controls
• Automated compliance
• Proactive vulnerability management

CleanStart by Triam: Embodying the New Paradigm

This evolution in CISO thinking is exactly why we developed CleanStart. We understood that:

• Security must start at the foundation
• Supply chain security is critical
• Transparency is non-negotiable
• Automation is essential

CleanStart provides:

• Pre-hardened, secure base images
• Complete SBOM transparency
• Automated vulnerability management
• Built-in compliance controls
• Continuous security monitoring

The Path Forward

For CISOs looking to evolve into this new role:

1. Shift Left

• Engage earlier in product lifecycle
• Build security into design phase
• Automate security controls

1. Build Bridges

• Partner with development teams
• Engage with product managers
• Collaborate with vendors

1. Think Product

• Understand user experiences
• Consider security usability
• Balance risk and functionality

The Bottom Line

The evolution from Network CISO to Product CISO isn't optional – it's imperative. In a world where every company is a technology company, security must be woven into the fabric of product development, not bolted on as an afterthought.