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Why AI Should Be a Deputy, Not a Leader

There is an ongoing debate about AI in leadership roles. Instead of assigning AI a leadership position, why not position it as a Deputy CISO? The idea is not to replace human expertise but to allow AI to assist, automate tasks, and remove errors that human professionals may make.

AI can serve as a digital aid to a CISO, handling repetitive processes while improving security operations and compliance efforts. Though it may not yet be fully deployed in enterprises, its emergence indicates that AI has the potential to augment and enhance security leadership.

Google LM: A Practical AI Use Case

One real-world example of AI’s potential is Google LM. This AI tool enables cybersecurity professionals to:

• Upload information security policies and relevant documents.
• Query AI to generate customized policies, procedures, and forms.
• Ask compliance-related questions and get answers strictly based on uploaded documents.
• Listen to AI-generated podcasts that provide interactive answers to security concerns.

By leveraging tools like Google LM, organizations can enhance policy management and compliance tracking without relying solely on manual effort.

AI in Compliance: Managing DPDPA, GDPR, and CCPA

A Deputy CISO AI can assist with navigating complex regulatory landscapes, including:

• DPDPA (India’s Data Protection Act)
• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation - Europe)
• CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act - US)
• PIPA (Personal Information Protection Act - Canada)

By integrating these regulations into AI-powered systems, organizations can ensure compliance while reducing human error in policy enforcement.

AI for Threat Detection & Real-Time Monitoring

A Deputy CISO AI is not just about compliance—it plays a critical role in real-time security monitoring. AI can:

• Scan threat intelligence feeds from multiple sources.
• Prioritize security alerts to reduce false positives.
• Generate summary reports for CISOs to present to leadership.

Instead of manually sifting through overwhelming security data, AI enables a faster, more efficient approach to threat management.

The Role of AI in Security Leadership

Cybersecurity is rapidly evolving, and AI is increasingly being used to assist policy enforcement, risk assessment, and compliance tracking. To keep up with these developments, CISO Platform provides a space for security leaders to exchange insights, strategies, and best practices.

 >> CISO Platform (Invite Only Platform for CISOs) and engage with industry leaders driving     AI-powered security advancements.

AI in Legal Risk Management

CISOs often take on the role of Data Protection Officers (DPOs), managing legal risk in addition to security oversight. A Deputy CISO AI can:

• Identify compliance gaps before they turn into legal liabilities.
• Assess legal risks based on industry regulations.
• Generate strategies for regulatory defense and incident response.

AI and Data Localization Laws

Data localization regulations are shaping the way organizations handle sensitive information. A Deputy CISO AI can:

• Analyze jurisdiction-specific compliance requirements.
• Provide guidance on cross-border data storage risks.
• Ensure adherence to RBI, SEBI, and TRAI data protection policies.

With AI’s ability to analyze vast amounts of legal data, organizations can align with evolving regulatory requirements while mitigating legal risks.

AI as a Knowledge Hub for CISOs

CISOs do not always have the time to analyze every policy update, regulation, or security alert. However, AI can:

• Process and analyze incident reports.
• Compare legal case studies and compliance frameworks.
• Generate real-time insights for strategic decision-making.

By leveraging AI as a Deputy CISO, organizations can automate policy recommendations, security operations, and compliance audits.

AI-Driven Decision Making

A Deputy CISO AI enhances decision-making by:

• Providing data-driven insights for security strategy.
• Reducing security noise by prioritizing actionable threats.
• Acting as a compliance consultant by cross-referencing regulatory frameworks.

Preparing for AI in Cybersecurity

AI will continue to play a pivotal role in cybersecurity, assisting CISOs with policy enforcement, risk mitigation, and legal compliance. Organizations that adopt AI-driven security solutions now will be better equipped for future threats and regulatory changes.

As the cybersecurity landscape evolves, AI will become a standard feature in risk assessment, compliance, and security automation. Organizations that integrate AI-powered SIEM and policy enforcement tools will stay ahead of emerging threats.

Join 10,000+ CISOs on www.cisoplatform.com and be part of the next cybersecurity revolution.

AI isn’t here to replace CISOs—it’s here to empower them. The future of security isn’t just human. It’s AI-powered.

About Prashant Mali:

Adv. Dr. Prashant Mali is a renowned cybersecurity lawyer, author, and expert in cyber law, AI, and data protection. With a Ph.D. in International Cyber Law and over 25 years of experience, he has advised organizations on cybercrime, compliance, and risk management. At the CISO Platform Top 100 Awards 2025, he delivered a keynote on "AI as a Deputy CISO," exploring how AI can assist in policy management, legal compliance, and real-time threat intelligence. His insights continue to shape the intersection of law, AI, and cybersecurity governance.

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