Establishing Security Governance Following a Major Operational Crisis

Client Overview
A multi-billion-dollar energy company faced significant organizational and regulatory scrutiny following a major operational incident. In response, executive leadership made substantial investments in cybersecurity and risk management, including the appointment of a newly hired Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

While the CISO was tasked with building the organization's technical security capabilities, leadership recognized the need for a mature governance, risk, and compliance function to support long-term security objectives and meet increasing stakeholder expectations.

The Challenge
The organization faced several complex challenges:

• Limited cybersecurity governance and oversight structures
• Inconsistent security policies, standards, and procedures
• Growing regulatory and compliance obligations
• Increased board and executive focus on risk management
• Need for enterprise-wide security accountability
• Rapid expansion of cybersecurity initiatives without a governance framework to support them
• A newly appointed CISO requiring strategic support while building a security program from the ground up

Leadership needed a practical approach that would strengthen security governance while enabling the CISO to accelerate broader cybersecurity transformation efforts.

Our Approach
Gilliam Security partnered closely with executive leadership and the newly appointed CISO to establish a scalable governance, risk, and compliance program that aligned with the organization's business objectives and risk profile.

Security Program Development

We designed and implemented the foundational elements of the organization's security governance function, including:

• Cybersecurity governance structures and committees
• Security policy and standards framework
• Enterprise security metrics and reporting
• Risk management processes
• Roles, responsibilities, and accountability models
• Cybersecurity roadmap planning and prioritization

Compliance and Risk Management

To strengthen oversight and improve organizational maturity, we:

• Developed risk assessment methodologies
• Established compliance monitoring processes
• Defined control management procedures
• Integrated cybersecurity considerations into business decision-making
• Enhanced executive and board reporting capabilities

Strategic CISO Advisory Services

In parallel, we served as a trusted advisor to the newly hired CISO, providing guidance and support as the broader cybersecurity program was developed.
Key activities included:

• Security strategy development
• Program maturity planning
• Organizational design and staffing recommendations
• Executive communications
• Board-level engagement and reporting
• Alignment of governance activities with technical security initiatives

Client Results
The engagement delivered lasting improvements across the organization's cybersecurity program.

Established Governance Function

The company successfully implemented a formal cybersecurity governance and compliance organization that provided structure, accountability, and oversight across the enterprise.

Established Governance Function

Leadership gained a clear understanding of cybersecurity risks through improved reporting, governance processes, and decision-making frameworks.

Stronger Compliance and Risk Management

The organization implemented repeatable processes for managing cybersecurity risk, supporting regulatory obligations, and maintaining security program effectiveness.

Accelerated Security Program Growthf

With governance and compliance capabilities established, the CISO was able to focus on building and maturing technical security operations while maintaining alignment with executive and board expectations.

Business Impact
The organization transformed cybersecurity from a primarily technical function into an enterprise-wide business capability. By establishing strong governance, risk management, and compliance processes, the company strengthened accountability, improved executive oversight, and created a sustainable foundation for long-term cybersecurity maturity.

The engagement helped position security as a strategic business enabler while supporting the organization's efforts to rebuild confidence among leadership, stakeholders, and regulators following a period of heightened scrutiny.