DtSR Episode 719 - Budget Season for CISOs
Summary
Hosts Nikolai, Rafal, and James Jardine are joined by guests Jack Korzynowski and Ken Foster to discuss the complexities of cybersecurity budgeting. They explore challenges like justifying ROI, managing unexpected costs from AI and M&A, and navigating friction with CFOs and IT peers. The group emphasizes the need for multi-year pricing locks, transparent vendor roadmaps, and cross-departmental collaboration to secure funding and ensure successful tool deployment.
Topics discussed
Intro and guest backgrounds in IT and cyber budgeting
Feelings on budget season: necessary evil vs. opportunity
Budget cuts, audit findings, and unexpected M&A impacts
AI budgeting challenges: tokenomics, sprawl, and cost creep
Handling mid-year budget shocks and surprise initiatives
Navigating friction with management and peer departments
Resource planning, operational workload, and deployment
How vendors can help: pricing locks, roadmaps, and ROI
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