“Security. Cost cutting. Security. Saving money. Security.” That’s what one editor noted when we polled staffers to identify the major themes of CIO’s coverage this year. CIOs invested a huge chunk of their energy and time in managing costs and protecting their systems and employees against security breaches. When you consider the year’s other important themes?business continuity, systems integration and an examination of the CIO’s ethical responsibilities in an era of scandal and malfeasance?it’s clear that 2002 was devoted less to trying out new stuff than to making what the enterprise already had work better and more safely. Looking back, this is the continuing story that we wrote about and put on our covers. February 15 Return on Security Investment In the past, CIOs attempted to justify IT security spending by trying to scare the pants off their board members with chilling anecdotes. Now they can use hard numbers (developed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon, MIT and the University of Idaho) to show the ROI on their security investments. This ability could even lead to the development of a market for hacking insurance, with discounts offered for good security systems. April 15 Budget Basics: Penny Pinching All-Stars SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe A slowing economy led us to look for IT budgeting wisdom from CIOs at companies with low profit margins. Their advice: Invest only in projects linked to business goals with ROI due in three to six months. Check administrative and infrastructure costs for wasted dollars. And just say no to software upgrades. July 1 Ethics: Take the Pledge With pressure from the business to monetize customer data, the CIO today walks a razor’s edge. Say yes to sales and marketing, and open oneself up to questions about the ethical use of such data; say no and be the bad guy who cuts off potential revenue streams. Our community of CIO readers proposes six ethical commandments to help CIOs navigate this minefield. September 1 Disaster Recovery: Staying Power Three CIOs who led business recovery efforts at their companies near Ground Zero represented Wall Street’s comeback (at least in IT terms). All built up their business continuity programs?whether that meant moving into a new office building, equipping workers with wireless technologies or distributing IT assets geographically. A year after 9/11, they’re back in business with lessons for their peers. October 15 IT Procurement: Good Stuff Cheap The technology bubble went Pop! and now there’s so much used hardware lying around?and so much emphasis on cost-cutting?that secondary market hardware is now a mainstream business. For CIOs, that spells operational savings, even if it means buying maintenance contracts in the emerging third-party market. December 1, 2002 Homeland Security Defending the United States from terrorist attacks requires the federal government’s biggest reorganization since World War II. The proposed Department of Homeland Security demands the integration of hundreds of information systems at 22 agencies with offices around the globe and organizational cultures that many believe just won’t meld. Who’s going to make it work? The CIOs, of course. At least, they’re going to try. Related content feature Gen AI success starts with an effective pilot strategy To harness the promise of generative AI, IT leaders must develop processes for identifying use cases, educate employees, and get the tech (safely) into their hands. By Bob Violino Sep 27, 2023 10 mins Generative AI Generative AI Generative AI feature A fluency in business and tech yields success at NATO Manfred Boudreaux-Dehmer speaks with Lee Rennick, host of CIO Leadership Live, Canada, about innovation in technology, leadership across a vast cultural landscape, and what it means to hold the inaugural CIO role at NATO. By CIO staff Sep 27, 2023 6 mins CIO IT Skills Innovation feature The demand for new skills: How can CIOs optimize their team? By Andrea Benito Sep 27, 2023 3 mins opinion The CIO event of the year: What to expect at CIO100 ASEAN Awards By Shirin Robert Sep 26, 2023 3 mins IDG Events IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe