The Pragmatic CISO

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the enterprise but for CISOs, it's a double-edged sword.

In The Pragmatic CISO: AI Risk, Reward, and Governance, Frank Vesce draws on more than 30 years of experience in technology, cybersecurity, and global financial institutions to deliver a practical guide to managing AI in the real world. This is not theory. It's a field-tested playbook for security leaders who must enable innovation while protecting their organizations from emerging risks.

From Shadow AI and data leakage to bias, compliance, and adversarial threats, this book explores the critical challenges CISOs face as AI adoption accelerates across industries. Vesce breaks down complex topics into actionable strategies, including AI governance frameworks, DLP controls, incident response playbooks, and risk vs. reward decision models.

Inside, you'll learn how to:

Identify and control Shadow AI before it becomes a hidden threat
Protect sensitive data in AI-driven environments
Build and operationalize AI governance frameworks
Balance innovation with security, compliance, and ethics
Respond to real-world AI incidents and failures
Leverage AI safely for competitive advantage and ROI

Through real-world case studies and practical checklists, this book provides a roadmap for integrating AI into the enterprise without compromising security or control.

Whether you're a CISO, security leader, or executive responsible for AI strategy, The Pragmatic CISO offers a clear, pragmatic approach to one of the most important challenges in modern business: enabling AI safely, securely, and at scale