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.
