**Laxman Prakash Named SVP and CISO at The Standard**
*What This Leadership Move Signals for Cybersecurity Executives*
**Introduction**
What happens when a company elevates cybersecurity to a top leadership priority? For The Standard, it means promoting seasoned IT executive Laxman Prakash to Senior Vice President of IT Infrastructure and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). This recent announcement highlights a growing trend: companies are no longer siloing security— they’re building it into the fabric of enterprise leadership.
Over the past few years, the role of CISO has evolved from operational oversight to strategic business enabler. The Standard’s decision reflects more than internal succession; it underscores the shifting expectations for security leaders across industries. As digital transformation accelerates, business resilience now hinges on how effectively companies integrate security into core business strategies.
For those of us in information security—or those leading organizations through risk management—this promotion poses key questions: What does it mean to elevate a CISO to SVP status? What should security leaders take from this move to strengthen their own posture? And how can CEOs support cybersecurity as a board-level priority?
In this article, we’ll explore:
– The strategic significance of dual IT infrastructure and CISO responsibilities
– What Laxman Prakash’s background signals for the future of cybersecurity leadership
– How CISOs and CEOs can align for long-term resilience and innovation
Let’s look at what The Standard’s announcement means for the wider enterprise security landscape.
**Dual Leadership: When Infrastructure and Security Converge**
Appointing Laxman Prakash as both SVP of IT Infrastructure and CISO isn’t just a promotion—it’s a strategic realignment. By combining these roles, The Standard signals that infrastructure and cybersecurity are no longer separate tracks. They are two sides of the same coin.
This dual title represents a growing best practice for organizations looking to streamline decision-making, align operational priorities, and future-proof their digital ecosystems. It signals an understanding that robust infrastructure and airtight cybersecurity can’t function in isolation.
**Why this matters:**
– **Unified command structure**: One reporting line reduces silos between IT operations and cybersecurity teams, improving incident response times and system resilience.
– **Better budget alignment**: With a single executive overseeing both disciplines, resource allocation can be optimized for both performance and protection.
– **Risk-aware infrastructure design**: When infrastructure leaders understand security deeply, they build systems from the ground up with resilience in mind.
A 2023 survey by Gartner found that organizations with integrated IT and cybersecurity leadership reduced incident-related downtime by 30% on average. For enterprises aiming to minimize operational risk, combining these roles isn’t just efficient—it’s effective.
**Action tip:** If you’re in a CISO or CTO role, start auditing your interdepartmental synergies. Where do IT and security priorities intersect? Are there opportunities to unify leadership or reporting structures to improve effectiveness?
**Leadership With Depth: Why Laxman Prakash’s Background Matters**
Laxman Prakash brings over a decade of IT leadership experience at The Standard, with a deep track record of modernizing technology infrastructure and driving enterprise security initiatives. His promotion suggests more than internal recognition—it reflects a strategic choice to place cybersecurity leadership in the hands of someone who understands both enterprise IT and the evolving threat landscape.
In today’s environment, technical skills alone don’t define effective security leadership. Vision, collaboration, and business acumen are equally important. Prakash’s history of cross-functional leadership offers a model other CISOs can learn from.
**Key qualities that stand out:**
– **Long-term institutional knowledge**: Having spent years with The Standard, Prakash is equipped to align security goals with business priorities.
– **Cross-functional experience**: Prior roles included both IT infrastructure and architecture, demonstrating agility and holistic systems thinking.
– **Boardroom readiness**: As SVP, Prakash will now serve not just as a security authority but an executive partner—bridging technical and strategic viewpoints.
According to a 2024 PwC report, 51% of CEOs say their CISO plays a “critical role” in company decision-making. That figure has doubled in five years. Elevating someone like Prakash reflects this trend and creates a leadership model where security is not an afterthought, but a pillar of organizational performance.
**Action tip:** If you’re in a security or technology leadership role, map your existing skills against corporate strategy. Invest in high-visibility projects that drive business impact—not just compliance checkboxes. And communicate wins in business language, not just security metrics.
**Security as Strategic Advantage: Aligning C-Level Leadership**
Laxman Prakash’s expanded responsibilities carry broader implications—especially for CEOs and boards. By naming a CISO as a senior VP, The Standard is acknowledging that cybersecurity is a business risk, not just an IT issue.
This shift should prompt C-suite teams in other organizations to reevaluate how they involve security leaders in long-term planning.
**Here’s what alignment can look like:**
– **Quarterly board-level briefings led by the CISO**
– **Shared KPIs between CISOs, CIOs, and COOs that connect security to core operations**
– **Executive education on emerging risks—from generative AI threats to third-party vulnerabilities**
The 2023 IBM Cost of a Data Breach report found that organizations with high levels of CISO involvement at the executive level saved an average of $1.6 million per breach compared to those with little CISO engagement. That’s a clear ROI story that CEOs and CFOs can’t ignore.
If you’re a CISO, don’t wait for an invitation—proactively build relationships with fellow executives. Demonstrate how your role supports revenue resilience, customer trust, and competitive edge.
For CEOs, elevating cybersecurity requires more than titles—it means collaboration, investment, and cultural shift.
**Action tip:** Start treating cybersecurity like you would any core business function. Integrate it into strategic planning cycles, ensure cross-functional support, and challenge teams to measure not only risks—but opportunities to lead on trust and resilience.
**Conclusion**
Laxman Prakash’s promotion to SVP and CISO at The Standard is more than corporate news—it’s a signal to the broader security and business community. Organizations that elevate cybersecurity leadership are setting the stage for resilience, innovation, and long-term value.
By unifying infrastructure and security, The Standard is reducing internal friction and aligning operational efficiency with protection. With Prakash at the helm, they’re betting on a leader who understands both the technical architecture and the strategic landscape. And in doing so, they’re modeling what modern security leadership looks like: integrated, empowered, and forward-thinking.
For CISOs, the message is clear—step into the strategy suite. Don’t just protect the business—help shape it. For CEOs, the takeaway is to treat cybersecurity as a critical business lever, not just a technical concern.
**Call to action:**
Assess your organization’s cybersecurity leadership structure, whether you’re a CISO, CEO, or business unit leader. Is it integrated enough to support today’s digital demands? If not, now’s the time to recalibrate. Follow leaders like Laxman Prakash not just in title—but in impact.
0 Comments