--- title: In-flight Beers and CISO Fears description: While enjoying an in-flight beer together, a CISO from a major retailer shared his biggest data security concerns with me. image: https://insights.comforte.com/hubfs/blog%20header%20image%20business%20flight.jpeg --- [![Hubspot\_blog\_logo](https://insights.comforte.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hubspot_blog_logo.png?width=295&name=Hubspot_blog_logo.png)](http://www.comforte.com) [![Subscribe to comforte Insights](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4026697/ba125972-4bdc-4e47-b9a9-81df496120a0.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4026697/ba125972-4bdc-4e47-b9a9-81df496120a0) [![blog header image in-flight beers and ciso fears](https://insights.comforte.com/hubfs/blog%20header%20image%20business%20flight.jpeg)](https://insights.comforte.com/in-flight-beers-and-ciso-fears) [Dan Fritsche](https://insights.comforte.com/author/dan-fritsche) l May 13, 2021 l [Data Protection](https://insights.comforte.com/tag/data-protection), [Data Discovery & Classification](https://insights.comforte.com/tag/data-discovery-classification) # In-flight Beers and CISO Fears Back when travel didn’t require a mask, I had an insightful discussion with a CISO over a beer on an airplane. I was excited to get my upgrade into first class, and the gentleman next to me turned out to be a CISO at a large chain of stores. When we each requested a beer, I asked one of my favorite questions: “What keeps you up at night?” Without hesitation he answered, “the media.” I replied, “I assume you mean negative press of some sort?” “Yes, my CEO loves to be in the spotlight, and that’s fine if he’s talking about our latest innovation, but if something bad happens, well, I just don’t believe that line about any press is good press,” he said. “May I ask, what exactly are you worried about when you say something bad happening?” I replied. “I wish I knew,” he said as he took a long sip of his beer, “I’ve got a great team, and we’ve implemented a host of different security processes and tools, but I constantly have this feeling that someone will manage to steal something important and use it in a way that will show just what I’ve been missing despite all my efforts in the last year.” As we talked, it was clear this young CISO (it turns out he has been in this specific security role for only about a year) was still struggling to overcome one of the first critical aspects of data security: what data do I have that matters? While he knew that he had to protect his customer’s credit card data, he was not sure what other data about his customers, and even his employees, he needed to protect. Unfortunately the flight was barely long enough to offer us that one beer, so I didn’t have the opportunity to dig into his specific data concerns, even if such a conversation would have been appropriate on a plane with someone I just met and others within earshot. However, I did at least get to review with him a quick overview of where to start. First, to complete the question we had already: Define specifically what data to protect. Once you know what to protect, you need to prioritize or classify that data so you know how to properly secure it. Next, we discussed how to map out where the data is within his environment and how it moves around in and out of his infrastructure. As we began to descend for landing, we ran out of time to discuss additional stages such as regular assessments and how to minimize risk through reducing the scope of data handling and access to sensitive data. Thankfully, we were able to connect again later, and as things turned out, he had several good tools and procedures in place. One major aspect he was missing was a holistic approach to protect all his data while leveraging both his security tools and his newer cloud infrastructure. As I helped him learn to leverage a single data protection platform, we were able to address multiple compliance standards and privacy regulations and improve his overall security posture in a way that allowed him complete control over all his sensitive data. There are always new challenges this CISO will face, but he tells me he sleeps better at night, and he thanks me that he’s been able to stay out of the media for the right reasons. If you want to explore how your organization can benefit from a data protection platform, [contact us](https://www.comforte.com/contact), we’d love to help you sleep better at night! --- | Share this: | [![LinkedIn](https://insights.comforte.com/hubfs/Social%20Icons/linkedin%20icon.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://insights.comforte.com/in-flight-beers-and-ciso-fears&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) | [![Bluesky](https://insights.comforte.com/hubfs/Social%20Icons/bluesky_logo.png)](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?url=https://insights.comforte.com/in-flight-beers-and-ciso-fears&utm_medium=social&utm_source=Bluesky) | ![Twitter](https://insights.comforte.com/hubfs/Social%20Icons/twitter_x_logo-1.png) | [![XING](https://insights.comforte.com/hubfs/Social%20Icons/xing-color2.png)](https://www.xing.com/spi/shares/new?url=https://insights.comforte.com/in-flight-beers-and-ciso-fears&utm_medium=social&utm_source=xing) | [![Email](https://insights.comforte.com/hubfs/Social%20Icons/email%20icon.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://insights.comforte.com/in-flight-beers-and-ciso-fears&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://insights.comforte.com/in-flight-beers-and-ciso-fears&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ## Nagging fear there's a vulnerability you missed? Oftentimes the hardest challenge in protecting sensitive data is being able to locate all of it. Comforte can help you to discover, classify, and protect sensitive data throughout your enterprise, whether in the cloud, on-premises, or both. Check out our data discovery & classification fact sheet below to learn more: [![Download Fact Sheet](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4026697/49cc9442-9de2-4bbf-a42a-d41e2b8ec02c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4026697/49cc9442-9de2-4bbf-a42a-d41e2b8ec02c) ### Related posts ![Reuse, Reward: How Banks Can Safely Unlock the Value of Their Data](https://insights.comforte.com/hubfs/comforte%20AG_%20Reuse%20Reward_%20How%20Banks%20Can%20Safely%20Unlock%20the%20Value%20of%20Their%20Data_03.2025.png) Mar 12, 2026 l [Data Protection](https://insights.comforte.com/tag/data-protection) , [Payments Transformation](https://insights.comforte.com/tag/payments-transformation) , [Business Value](https://insights.comforte.com/tag/business-value) ### [Reuse, Reward: How Banks Can Safely Unlock the Value of Their Data](https://insights.comforte.com/reuse-reward-how-banks-can-safely-unlock-the-value-of-their-data?hsLang=en) The financial world is awash with data. But too few organizations are able to use it effectively. In [Bank Director’s *2025 Technology Survey*](https://www.bankdirector.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025TechReport-OpenVersion.pdf), one-third of US banking leaders cite an inability to harness data as a top technology challenge facing their... 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[Read more](https://insights.comforte.com/delivering-a-secure-trusted-foundation-for-cloud-growth-at-lgt?hsLang=en) ![Top Indicators You Have a Cybersecurity Problem—and What to Do About It](https://insights.comforte.com/hubfs/comforte%20AG_Top%20Indicators%20You%20Have%20a%20Cybersecurity%20Problem_and%20What%20to%20Do%20About%20It.png) May 22, 2025 l [Data Protection](https://insights.comforte.com/tag/data-protection) , [Digital Enablement](https://insights.comforte.com/tag/digital-enablement) ### [Top Indicators You Have a Cybersecurity Problem—and What to Do About It](https://insights.comforte.com/top-indicators-you-have-a-cybersecurity-problem-and-what-to-do-about-it?hsLang=en) Data is both blessing and curse to the modern enterprise. Yes, when analyzed effectively it can surface intelligence to improve decision making, customer engagement, process efficiency and, ultimately, drive revenue. But it also represents a major... [Read more](https://insights.comforte.com/top-indicators-you-have-a-cybersecurity-problem-and-what-to-do-about-it?hsLang=en) ### Service - [Contact](https://www.comforte.com/contact/) - [About us](https://www.comforte.com/company/) - [Blog](https://insights.comforte.com/) - [Press Releases](https://www.comforte.com/company/press-releases/) - [Career](https://www.comforte.com/company/career/) - [Resources](https://www.comforte.com/resources/) ### EMEA comforte AG Abraham-Lincoln-Str. 22 65189 Wiesbaden Germany Phone: + 49 611 93199 00 Fax: + 49 611 93199 05 ### Asia-Pacific comforte PTY Suite 20, 1 Rivett Road North Ryde NSW 2113 Australia Postal Address: PO Box 1710 Lane Cove NSW 1595 Australia Phone: +61 2 8197 0272 ### Americas comforte Inc. 30 Wall Street, 8th Floor New York, NY 10005-2205 USA Phone: +1-646-438-5716 ### Southeast Asia comforte Asia Pte. 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