Navigating AI's impact on security with Guidewire CISO James Dolph

About the Author

Camille Rasmussen

Managing Editor

Camille Rasmussen is Managing Editor on Okta’s Newsroom team. In addition to managing editorial production for Okta's Newsroom and flagship LinkedIn newsletter, Access Granted, she’s currently focused on helping our customers and industry be more protected from identity threats using content that champions security best practices and offers insights from CISOs and other security experts.

09 July 2025 Time to read: ~

Vidyard video

Advancements in AI present a paradox for today’s cybersecurity leaders: a powerful tool for innovation, yet a new vector for sophisticated threats. 

In the latest video from our Executive Exchange series, Guidewire CISO James Dolph shares a candid take on this evolving challenge and how it will reshape the role of the CISO. Dolph, who built Guidewire’s security team nearly from the ground up, acknowledges the immediate impact of AI on malicious activities: “I think it’s being used a lot for believability in phishing,” he says. But the biggest impact isn’t zero-day exploits (yet, at least) — it’s the internal transformation AI brings.

“What if every engineer was 200% more effective?” Dolph posits. The critical question for CISOs then becomes how to scale existing security processes and controls to match the pace of productivity and innovation.

Dolph’s advice for CISOs? Focus on the “business value aspects” of security and master the art of strategic communication to convey complex security concepts across executive and operational teams. 

Ultimately, Dolph views the role of the CISO not as a gatekeeper, but as a builder of trust, emphasizing that “if people understand security, they’ll do the right thing.” In the AI-driven organization, CISOs will play a critical role in guiding their organizations to take advantage of AI’s immense potential in a responsible and secure way. 

Watch the full video above to hear more from James Dolph on building trust, enabling innovation, and the evolving role of the CISO.

About the Author

Camille Rasmussen

Managing Editor

Camille Rasmussen is Managing Editor on Okta’s Newsroom team. In addition to managing editorial production for Okta's Newsroom and flagship LinkedIn newsletter, Access Granted, she’s currently focused on helping our customers and industry be more protected from identity threats using content that champions security best practices and offers insights from CISOs and other security experts.

Get our Identity newsletter

Okta newsletter image