How SAFE Can Help CISOs Make Cost-Effective Decisions During Economic Uncertainty

Automate risk management, quantify ROI on investments and more techniques for cybersecurity program resilience

By Nicola (Nick) Sanna

In today’s turbulent economic landscape, Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) are being asked to do more with less. The pressure is mounting from all sides—shrinking budgets, growing cyber threats, and a regulatory patchwork that spans continents. As cybersecurity leaders grapple with how to navigate these challenges, SAFE emerges as a vital ally in making smarter, cost-effective, and risk-informed decisions.

Author Nicola (Nick) Sanna is President of SAFE

Navigating a Perfect Storm: The CISO’s Dilemma

CISOs today are under intense pressure due to three converging forces:

1. Economic Uncertainty and Budget Cuts: 

The ongoing tariff-induced economic downturn is compelling organizations to tighten budgets across the board—including cybersecurity. CISOs are being asked to justify every dollar and identify opportunities to trim spending without compromising the organization’s security posture.

2. Elevated Threat Landscape:  

The macro threat environment continues to worsen. In the U.S., the redirection of federal cybersecurity resources toward immigration enforcement has emboldened threat actors, who now face reduced chances of detection and prosecution. This has made targeted attacks on U.S. businesses more frequent and potentially more damaging.

3. A Complex and Evolving Regulatory Environment

Regulatory requirements are multiplying and diverging across jurisdictions. From the SEC’s new cyber risk disclosure rules in the U.S., to the EU’s NIS2 and DORA regulations, to evolving mandates in the UK, Canada, and Australia—CISOs must build adaptable, compliance-ready cyber risk management programs without breaking the bank.

Key Questions for Today’s CISO

In this volatile environment, cybersecurity leaders must be able to answer some tough questions with confidence:

• What threat actors do we need to prioritize right now?  
• Which cybersecurity initiatives are delivering real ROI, that we should continue to invest in?
• Which aren’t providing value and can be cut?  
• Can we maintain strong cyber defenses while spending less?  

How SAFE Helps

SAFE enables CISOs to confidently address these challenges by providing a data-driven, continuous cyber risk management platform that delivers actionable insights. Here’s how SAFE can help:

1. Identify Emerging Threats

SAFE integrates threat intelligence to provide real-time visibility into who is most likely to attack your organization and why. By aligning external threat data with internal vulnerabilities, SAFE helps CISOs prioritize threat actors that are most relevant to their business, geography, and industry.

2. Optimize Cybersecurity Spend with Quantified ROI

Every dollar counts. SAFE quantifies cyber risk in financial terms, enabling CISOs to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of existing security controls. Investments that deliver a high return in risk reduction can be maintained or scaled, while low-impact initiatives can be deprioritized or cut altogether.

3. Automate for Efficiency Gains

Manual risk assessments are time-consuming and prone to human error. Using AI, and the world’s most advanced risk models, SAFE automates risk identification, scoring, and reporting—freeing up security teams to focus on strategic tasks. Automation also ensures consistent, repeatable processes across the enterprise, regardless of region or business unit.

4. Communicate Clearly with Stakeholders

In times of uncertainty, clear communication is critical. SAFE translates technical risk into business language that board members, regulators, and investors can understand. This enables CISOs to justify decisions, demonstrate ROI, and build trust across the organization.

Cyber Resilience through Continuous Cyber Risk Management

Economic uncertainty doesn’t mean CISOs have to compromise on security. With the right tools, leaders can make smarter decisions that balance risk, cost, and compliance. SAFE empowers CISOs to navigate today’s challenges with clarity, confidence, and control—transforming cybersecurity from a cost center into a value driver.

In an era where every dollar and decision counts, SAFE ensures you spend wisely, act decisively, and defend effectively.

Learn how SAFE can help your cybersecurity program stay resilient: Schedule a Demo