Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning , Leadership & Executive Communication , Next-Generation Technologies & Secure Development
CyberEdBoard Profiles in Leadership: Brian Brackenborough
Channel 4 CISO on Communication, Learning and Adaptability in Cybersecurity
As chief information security officer at Channel 4, Brian Brackenborough has been a driving force in transforming the organization's security posture. In his current role, Brackenborough oversees the broadcaster's cybersecurity strategy, securing web assets and viewer data while collaborating with IT leadership to align security initiatives with business objectives.
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Brackenborough's journey at Channel 4 reflects the broader evolution of cybersecurity in the business world. He has led the company through significant milestones, including the implementation of NIST-aligned security frameworks. But the greatest challenge lies not in technology, but in organizational mindset, he said.
"We always talk about speaking the board's language in order to get by, and in order to get them to understand cybersecurity, we should speak their language. And that frustrates me … Why is it that a CISO needs to understand every single element of the company, but when I go to the board, I've got to speak their language?" Brackenborough said, adding that even though he accepts the challenge, he "hopes that there will come a time when security knowledge is a key requirement within the board."
Meanwhile, he said, it's crucial for CISOs to pursue continuous learning, be adaptable and develop strong communication skills to effectively convey complex security concepts to nontechnical stakeholders.
In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at Cybersecurity Summit: London as part of the CyberEdBoard's ongoing Profiles in Leadership series, Brackenborough also discussed:
- The evolution of cybersecurity from floppy disk viruses to AI-powered threats;
- Strategies for fostering a security-minded culture across the organization;
- The role of collaboration and knowledge sharing in the cybersecurity community.
Brackenborough's expertise includes developing and managing comprehensive security, risk and compliance programs within the media industry. He has more than 20 years of experience working with major companies, including BBC and Siemens, and as an adviser for CXO Portals. He is a member of the CyberEdBoard.
CyberEdBoard is ISMG's premier members-only community of senior-most executives and thought leaders in the fields of security, risk, privacy and IT. CyberEdBoard provides executives with a powerful, peer-driven collaborative ecosystem, private meetings and a library of resources to address complex challenges shared by thousands of CISOs and senior security leaders located in 65 different countries worldwide.
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About the Author
Mathew J. Schwartz
Executive Editor, DataBreachToday & Europe, ISMG
Schwartz is an award-winning journalist with two decades of experience in magazines, newspapers and electronic media. He has covered the information security and privacy sector throughout his career. Before joining Information Security Media Group in 2014, where he now serves as the executive editor, DataBreachToday and for European news coverage, Schwartz was the information security beat reporter for InformationWeek and a frequent contributor to DarkReading, among other publications. He lives in Scotland.
