BISO Service Catalog

What BISOs Do: Help business leaders make informed security decisions
Core Principle: Enable business success while managing security risks
Not Gatekeepers: BISOs advise; business leaders decide and own risk

The 4 Core BISO Services

Based on FS-ISAC whitepaper guidance, BISOs deliver four service categories:

┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    WHAT BISOs DELIVER                     │
├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                           │
│  TRUSTED ADVISOR         │  MANAGES CYBER RISK            │
│  Strategic partnership   │  Risk assessment &             │
│  & security counsel      │  mitigation support            │
│                          │                                │
│  ────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────  │
│                          │                                │
│  GOVERNANCE              │  FACILITATES AWARENESS         │
│  Compliance & policy     │  Training & security           │
│  guidance                │  communication                 │
│                          │                                │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

🤝 Service 1: Trusted Advisor

What This Means

BISOs establish partnerships with business leaders, foster trust, and deliver strategic counsel. They act as “mini-CISOs” embedded in your business unit.

What You Get

Strategic Security Guidance during business planning
Early Project Consultation (before detailed design)
Risk-Based Decision Support with clear tradeoff analysis
Business Case Development with security considerations
Executive Communication that translates security to business language

When to Engage

Monthly: Business strategy reviews and planning
Project Start: New initiatives (ideation phase)
Key Decisions: Major technology or process changes
Quarterly: Business review for security health

Real Examples

“We’re considering a mobile app. What security should we include in the business case?” “Board is asking about data protection. Help me prepare the executive summary?” “We want faster time-to-market. How can security enable instead of slow us down?”

Value

✅ Faster decisions with security confidence
✅ Reduced surprises and last-minute roadblocks
✅ Competitive advantage through secure innovation

🛡️ Service 2: Manages Cyber Risk

What This Means

BISOs identify security risks in business operations, support risk management decisions, and help reduce costs from incidents or compliance failures.

What You Get

Business Risk Assessments for initiatives and processes
Vendor Security Reviews for third-party evaluations
Incident Impact Analysis when security events occur
Risk Treatment Options (accept, mitigate, transfer, avoid)
Risk Communication in clear business language

When to Engage

New Initiatives: Any new product, service, or technology
Vendor Selection: Before signing new contracts
Incidents: When security events impact business
Quarterly: Regular risk reviews

Real Examples

“New cloud vendor - assess their security practices?” “Competitor hit by ransomware. What’s our exposure?” “Launch by Q3 - what are risks and how do we mitigate?”

Value

✅ Avoid costly security incidents
✅ Make informed risk decisions
✅ Reduce compliance violations
✅ Protect revenue and customer trust

📋 Service 3: Governance

What This Means

BISOs provide compliance guidance, engage with audit/risk teams on your behalf, and help navigate regulatory requirements.

What You Get

Policy Interpretation into practical business guidance
Compliance Roadmaps for regulatory requirements
Audit Coordination for internal and external audits
Control Implementation guidance that meets compliance needs
Exception Management when flexibility from policies needed

When to Engage

Policy Questions: When policies unclear or blocking business
Audit Prep: Before internal audits or regulatory exams
Compliance Deadlines: When new regulations apply
Exception Requests: When need policy flexibility

Real Examples

“Policy requires MFA, but field staff can’t use phones at customer sites. Options?” “Expanding to Europe. What are GDPR requirements?” “Audit found 15 findings. Help prioritize and remediate?”

Value

✅ Pass audits without disrupting business
✅ Avoid regulatory fines
✅ Balance compliance with business practicality
✅ Reduce security policy friction

🎓 Service 4: Facilitates Awareness

What This Means

BISOs partner with security teams to deliver relevant training, provide security insights tailored to your business unit, and build security culture.

What You Get

Targeted Security Training (business-specific, not generic)
Threat Intelligence Briefings relevant to your industry
Security Best Practices for your team’s daily work
Incident Lessons Learned to prevent recurrence
Security Champions developed within your team

When to Engage

Team Onboarding: Security briefing for new members
Quarterly: Security updates and threat briefings
After Incidents: Lessons learned sessions
Campaign Support: When org-wide campaigns need context

Real Examples

“New customer portal - train support team on secure data handling?” “Phishing targeting financial services. What should our team watch for?” “Present at monthly team meeting about our business line’s security risks?”

Value

✅ Reduce human error and security mistakes
✅ Build security-aware culture
✅ Improve team confidence handling security
✅ Decrease incidents from lack of awareness

How to Request BISO Services

Quick Questions

📧 Email your BISO | 💬 Slack/Teams message | Ticketing system ⏱️ Response: Same day (urgent), 1-2 days (standard)

Projects

📋 Include BISO in kickoff | 🗓️ Schedule consultation (1-2 hours) ⏱️ Timeline: 1-2 weeks for risk assessment and recommendations

Strategic Issues

🤝 Schedule executive briefing | 📈 Provide strategic context ⏱️ Timeline: 2-4 weeks for strategic assessment

What BISOs DON’T Do

Setting clear expectations:

❌ Implement security controls (they advise; security/IT teams implement)
❌ Approve/deny business decisions (they advise; business leaders decide)
❌ Own security risk (business units own risk; BISOs help manage)
❌ Slow down business (they enable faster movement with confidence)
❌ Replace security teams (they bridge business and security)
❌ Conduct penetration testing (specialized security teams handle)
❌ Manage security incidents (security operations leads; BISOs support business impact)

Think of BISOs as: Embedded security consultants, not gatekeepers or implementation teams.

BISO Engagement by Business Phase

Business Phase	Primary Service	Engagement	Example Activities
Strategy & Planning	🤝 Trusted Advisor	Weekly/Bi-weekly	Strategic guidance, risk landscape
Project Initiation	🛡️ Manages Risk	Project-based	Risk assessments, architecture reviews
Implementation	📋 Governance	As-needed	Policy interpretation, control guidance
Operations	🎓 Awareness	Monthly/Quarterly	Team training, threat briefings
Audit/Compliance	📋 Governance	Event-driven	Audit support, findings remediation
Crisis/Incident	🛡️ Manages Risk	Immediate	Business impact, recovery planning

Quick Reference

Need	Service	Contact	Timeline
Strategic advice	🤝 Trusted Advisor	Scheduled meeting	Ongoing
Project risk	🛡️ Manages Risk	Project kickoff	1-2 weeks
Policy question	📋 Governance	Email/Slack	1-2 days
Team training	🎓 Awareness	Schedule session	2-3 weeks
Vendor review	🛡️ Manages Risk	Procurement	1-2 weeks
Audit support	📋 Governance	Audit planning	Event-driven
Urgent question	Any	Direct contact	Same day

Next Steps

For Business Leaders

Identify your assigned BISO (check with security team)
Schedule introductory meeting (30 minutes)
Discuss upcoming initiatives where BISO can add value
Establish regular touchpoints (monthly or bi-weekly)
Engage early and often (better outcomes when BISO involved from start)

Need More Detail?

Program Guide → Why BISOs exist and how to start
Organizational Design → Where BISOs fit
Role Definitions → BISO qualifications
Stakeholder Engagement → Building relationships
Success Measurement → Tracking effectiveness
Common Challenges → Preventing and resolving issues

Key Takeaway: BISOs exist to enable your business success, not slow you down. Best results come from early engagement, regular communication, and shared accountability for business outcomes.