The Security Brutalism CISO

For those who appreciate security served neat, with a side of existential dread, I give you the Security Brutalism CISO profile. A nod and kudos goes to Colton Sumners for his The 5 CISOs You’ll Meet in Cybersecurity and What Their Coffee Orders Say About Them.

Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this post are solely my own and do not represent those of my employer. This was done with humor.

The Security Brutalism CISO (The Uncompromising Architect)

This CISO believes security isn't about soft edges or user convenience; it's about raw functionality, structural honesty, and direct, unyielding controls. They are the bedrock of your defense, valuing strong, enforceable mechanisms and absolute operational visibility above all else. Their programs are lean, fast, and relentlessly outcome-driven, designed to endure the most volatile conditions. They cut through complexity, stripping away anything that doesn't directly contribute to risk reduction and operational efficiency. Because, let's be honest, most "innovation" in security is just another way to introduce more attack surface.

• Their philosophy: "No frills, just function. If it doesn't add security, it adds risk. Show me the data, not the deck. And for God's sake, stop asking for a 'user-friendly' firewall. This isn't a petting zoo, it's a digital warzone, and your feelings are irrelevant to a zero-day."
• What they champion: "Intentional friction when it serves a purpose (mostly to annoy the marketing department, who somehow always manage to be the weakest link), operational minimalism (because why spend more when you can just say 'no,' or better yet, make it so difficult to get anything approved that people just give up?), and a clear doctrine that guides decentralized defense (which mostly means everyone else is responsible for their own mess, but they'll still blame you, and you'll still have to clean it up, probably on a Saturday)."
• Their coffee order: "Turkish, with the grounds still on it, black, strong, and served in a concrete mug. No sugar, no cream, no excuses. Or just pour it directly into my soul; it's already dead inside from reading compliance reports and explaining basic phishing threats for the thousandth time."