In this episode of "Life of a CISO," hosted by Dr. Eric Cole, he discusses the common challenges faced by Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) in terms of managing their workload and resources. Dr. Cole emphasizes the misconception that being overly busy and overwhelmed is rewarded in society, especially for CISOs, and explains that the key to success is not busyness but focus and effective resource management.

He encourages CISOs to adopt a data-driven approach when dealing with overwhelming workloads. By tracking their time down to 15-minute intervals and providing objective data to their executives, CISOs can demonstrate the impossibility of completing all tasks within a limited timeframe. Dr. Cole advises CISOs to engage in open and honest discussions with their superiors and prioritize tasks based on their impact on the organization.

Furthermore, he suggests that this approach can lead to a more productive work environment and may even result in additional resources being allocated to the CISO's department. By sharing data instead of emotions, CISOs can better communicate their challenges and work towards more manageable workloads and effective resource allocation.