How the CISO-CMO Alliance Builds Trust Before Crisis Strikes
Dark Reading, Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026
CISOs and CMOs who build trust and joint crisis plans before a breach respond far better when one hits.
Dark Reading argues CISOs and CMOs must build mutual trust and rapport long before a crisis, since there is no time to establish it mid-breach. A joint crisis communications plan should define roles, approved messaging templates, a spokesperson, and a clear escalation hierarchy.
That plan needs regular testing via tabletop exercises simulating realistic breach scenarios, plus secure communication channels independent of primary network infrastructure.
Organizations that communicate quickly, take responsibility, and outline remediation suffer far less reputational damage than those seen as evasive or internally conflicted.