The COO and Their Critical Role in Cyber Resilience

In the previous chapters, we discussed various C-level executive (CxO) roles and responsibilities. This chapter discusses yet another critical executive in your team—the Chief Operating Officer (COO). The COO is the senior executive responsible for managing day-to-day administrative and operational activities. Typically, the COO reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and is often second in command to the CEO.

It is not uncommon for the COO to manage a company’s internal operations while the CEO serves as its public face, handling all outward-facing communications. As a result, the COO needs to be analytical and possess strong management, communication, and leadership skills. And as the second in command, the COO naturally plays a similar role to the CEO when it comes to their cybersecurity responsibilities.

The COO should proactively engage employees throughout the organization in tackling cybersecurity...