Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) — an essential target persona for many B2B SaaS companies — have a lot on their minds as cyber threats quickly grow more advanced. They thrive on anticipating risks before they materialize, from ransomware attacks to insider threats.
Catching this persona’s attention requires PR messaging that speaks directly to the challenges they face every day. Surface-level intel won’t cut it. Your audience craves in-depth analysis of the newest threats and concrete guidance on how they can protect their companies.
PAN’s C-Suite Signals report gives you the intel to build a SaaS PR strategy that lands with your audience — pushing narratives that matter and establishing real credibility with the decision-makers you’re targeting.
What’s on the Mind of CISOs?
CISOs are relentless about protecting their systems. It’s not paranoia — it’s preparation.
They’re constantly thinking about emerging threats, data breach prevention strategies, and cybersecurity training. Their Google search history shows they need immediate, actionable intelligence as they look for “security IT news” and deep dive for technical intelligence on recent incidents, such as “MGM attack” or “BriansClub hack.”
CISOs are also interested in the architecture of defense, actively seeking information on network security monitoring techniques, threat hunting methodologies, and security best practices. They want to know the mechanics of fortifying the entire system, using specific search terms such as “defense in depth cybersecurity” and “machine identities.”
Internal threats are also top of mind. They ponder cybersecurity training and identity and access management solutions.
Where Do CISOs Get Their News?
Like many other C-suite members, CISOs use ChatGPT for searches. Some of the most frequent sources in their answers include:
- CSO Online
- The SANS Institute
- ISACA
- Forbes
- Cybersecuritynews.com
This list suggests CISOs look for in-depth technical analysis validated by security experts and official frameworks.
CISOs intentionally seek out technical security media on social channels, including:
- CIO.com
- CNET
- Infosecurity Magazine
- Dark Reading
The CISO’s favorite podcasts and YouTube channels skew heavily toward practical security analysis and breaking threat news, including Security Weekly Podcast, Daily Tech News Show, and Defensive Security Podcast.
Analysts like Forrester and Gartner frequently appear in both LLM outputs and social media feeds.
So What Does This Mean for My SaaS PR Strategy?
The CISO is driven by measurable risk reduction, not abstract potential. Frame PR messaging around concrete strategies to build systems that prevent, withstand, and rapidly recover from inevitable attacks. Trend discussions should center around what new threats mean for the CISO’s systems, not just explain their existence.
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Pitch technical and security-specific media with your actionable messaging. Highly-focused security podcasts are also ideal channels for technical thought leadership that builds instant credibility.
And another hot tip: Building analyst relationships can pay high dividends, and not just for CISOs. Forrester and Gartner are common sources in multiple C-suite persona searches. Keeping analysts informed on your brand’s product vision and customer success stories increases visibility and the likelihood of appearing in their research and recommendations.
Dig deeper into the CISO’s mind by downloading PAN’s C-Suite Signals report.
Ready to make your SaaS brand stand out among the noise? Send PANBlast a message, and we can help make it happen.