Thinkers360

Press Release

The Cybersecurity Spiral of Failure — and How to Break out of It

Jan



Following the launch on Amazon in February 2023 of “The Cybersecurity Leadership Handbook for the CISO and the CEO“, we are delighted to announce the second book from our Founder JC Gaillard, now released on Amazon and other platforms


The Cybersecurity Spiral of Failure — and How to Break out of It


A must-read for top executives seeking to break patterns of frustration and breach around cybersecurity and a precious management summary to the “Cybersecurity Leadership Handbook for the CISO and the CEO


Presented as a management summary of the “Handbook” and drawing on its content — augmented with more recent articles and distributed around a different narrative — the book essentially explores the articulations between:



  • Corporate short-termism;

  • The cybersecurity focus on tech products at the expense of process and people aspects;

  • The proliferation of so-called “solutions” never properly deployed;

  • The impact of operational complexity on the efficiency and the productivity of security teams;

  • and in the end, the effect all this is having on talent attrition and the cybersecurity skills gap.


It offers a genuine, authentic and independent view on the cybersecurity dynamics in the corporate world, and a clear vision on how to break the deadlocks that have prevented cybersecurity maturity to develop in many large firms.


Available here on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQTNNZ22


Corix Partners - https://corixpartners.com/


Leaders Press - https://leaderspress.com/



 


Praise for “The Cybersecurity Spiral of Failure — and how to break out of it” from leading cybersecurity and technology practitioners


 



I blinked when JC Gaillard reminded us that the role of CISO was initiated in the late 90s. We must not stand still. Cyber evolves and so must we. The ‘Cybersecurity Spiral of Failure’ openly explores and challenges leadership, management and governance matters to address the real dynamics of security transformation. This is a must read for anyone looking to turn their cyber practice around.


Avril Chester | Award-winning Technology Entrepreneur & CTO


JC deconstructs with great accuracy how corporate short-termism and an excessive focus on purely technical approaches have failed to deliver adequate protection from cyber threats; an original and genuine book that takes a step back from the traditional tech clichés on the topic and truly puts things in perspective around cybersecurity.


Nick Evans | Founder, Thinkers360


A refreshing outlook on the cybersecurity corporate landscape from a really independent and authentic voice in the industry. In ‘The Cybersecurity Spiral of Failure’, JC Gaillard truly reaches beyond the technology horizon into the dynamics of execution and transformation in large organizations. A must-read for the C suite.


Henk van der Heijden | Former Global Head of Portfolio Security Services, Getronics


JC and I have worked together for many years and his vision around what is going wrong in the cybersecurity industry is spot on; we have been looking at it from a purely technical perspective for over two decades while this is in fact about people and process first; anybody interested in getting a grip on their cybersecurity challenges must read this.


Jeremy Hill | Former Head of Identity & Access Management, Euroclear, Refinitiv, Lloyds Banking Group


‘The Cybersecurity Spiral of Failure’ is a refreshing take on cybersecurity. JC breaks down the flaws in traditional approaches, urging a shift from technology-first to governance and culture. The book addresses boardroom mistakes, the skills gap, and highlights the need for a new CISO profile with a focus on leadership and innovation. JC’s insights on automation, budgets, and a lasting transformation provide practical advice. In a nutshell, it’s a must-read for a practical, strategic approach to cybersecurity challenges.


Natasha McCabe | Global Head of Corporate Technology, Schroders


JC provides a comprehensive view of the challenges faced in the cybersecurity domain and thoughtfully suggests a way forward. It is a must-read for anyone vested in this crucial aspect of business in our digital world. He delves deep into the complexities of the cybersecurity landscape, tracing its evolution over two decades. With a compelling narrative, JC emphasises the paradox of short-term fixes and the box-ticking culture among executives, which has been fuelling the short tenure of CISOs. Many, he argues, have remained technologists and firefighters, disconnected from the board’s increasing focus on resilience and execution. JC’s central thesis is the need for trust between CISOs and senior executives, and he makes a strong case for operational successes to foster trust and commitment from top management. Overall, a great read.


Tony Moroney | Top 10 Digital Disruption & Top 25 Digital Transformation by Thinkers 360 (@BetaMoroney)


This is a long-overdue diagnostic on twenty years of corporate failures around cybersecurity. Industry expert and top strategic advisor JC Gaillard addresses without complacency and in plain language the cultural and governance issues that have prevented large organizations to protect themselves from cyber threats, and more importantly, highlights a clear and visionary way forward. An essential read for any top executive on cybersecurity.


Andrew Pryor | Founder & Director, CIO Water Cooler


Many cybersecurity practitioners will recognize page after page the situations JC describes in this book. This is a long-awaited — and at times painfully accurate — real-life assessment of the corporate dynamics that have surrounded cybersecurity for the last two decades in large firms.


Daniel Sergile, CISSP | Senior Director — Transformation, Palo Alto Networks Unit42