When Does Your Community Bank Need a CISO? Insights from Chris Bedel

As cybersecurity threats grow increasingly complex, community financial institutions face an important question: Is their current approach to cybersecurity leadership enough?

Bedel Security Founder and CEO, Chris Bedel, CISM, recently joined Chief Research Officer Amber Buker of Travillian and Cyrene Wilke, COO of Verve, a Credit Union, for a discussion on the evolving role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

The conversation explores the challenges of managing cybersecurity alongside traditional IT responsibilities, the importance of strong governance, and how financial institutions can determine the right cybersecurity leadership structure for their organization.

Originally featured on Travillian Next, hosted by Amber Buker, with guests Chris Bedel of Bedel Security and Cyrene Wilke of Verve, a Credit Union. View the original episode here.

Key Takeaways from the Conversation

1. Cybersecurity Leadership Is No Longer a Secondary Responsibility

For many community financial institutions, IT professionals already manage cybersecurity responsibilities alongside infrastructure, operations, and vendor relationships. However, as threats evolve and regulatory expectations increase, this approach can leave critical gaps in oversight and risk management.

Dedicated cybersecurity leadership ensures security gets the strategic attention it needs, rather than competing with day-to-day IT responsibilities.

2. Strong Cybersecurity Governance Matters More Than Ever

Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, are changing the threat landscape. While new security tools can strengthen defenses, technology alone is not the answer.

Chris emphasizes the importance of establishing a strong cybersecurity governance framework that can adapt to emerging risks. Effective policies, processes, oversight, and accountability provide the foundation for a sustainable cybersecurity program.

3. The Right CISO Model Depends on Complexity, Not Just Size

Does every community financial institution need a full-time CISO? Not necessarily.

The appropriate cybersecurity leadership structure depends on factors such as operational complexity, technology infrastructure, third-party relationships, and overall risk exposure.

For some institutions, a full-time CISO may be appropriate. Others may benefit from a virtual CISO (vCISO) or fractional CISO model that provides experienced cybersecurity leadership without requiring a full-time executive position.

Is Your Cybersecurity Leadership Structure Meeting Your Needs?

As cybersecurity risks continue to evolve, financial institutions should regularly evaluate whether their existing leadership structure provides adequate oversight, strategic direction, and accountability.

At Bedel Security, our vCISO services help financial institutions strengthen cybersecurity governance, manage risk, and navigate regulatory expectations with experienced leadership tailored to their needs. You can learn more about our services here.