Our Work

The Clarity Factory produces essential data, insights, operating frameworks, maturity models and benchmarking for CSOs and their teams. 

This includes: 

  • The Annual CSO Survey, which has become a must-read and go-to resource for security leaders and their teams. It contains latest data on governance, operating models, staffing and resourcing, budgets, use of AI and technology, teams and skills, security and geopolitical risks, reporting requirements, and KPIs. 
  • Major reports on hot topic issues for CSOs
  • High-level insights offering a expert analysis with practical recommendations for CSOs and their teams.
  • The Clarity Factory monthly newsletter, which contains insights, events, reports and reading recommendations for security professionals.

 

We are passionate about providing data, insights and new thinking to help security teams elevate their influence and impact. 

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Reports
Document titled "SIPLACEMENT" with community security details and bullet-pointed text on light blue background
Talent Report

10-Point Retention Plan for CSOs

Corporate Security: 10-Point Retention Plan for CSOs, is published by SI Placement and

ASIS corporate security report cover with geometric design featuring diverse people icons
Talent Report

Empowering DEI in Security

Organizations are faced with increasingly complex, complicated and fast-moving challenges – internally and externally – and corporate security leaders need to find new ways to deliver resilience in th
Information sheet titled "SI PLACEMENT" with bullet points and text about community benefits sourcing places listed
Talent Report

Securing Future Talent

Corporate Security: Securing Future Talent is a new insight paper from SI Placement and The Clarity Factory. 

Our study shows that:
Abstract black and white striped architectural pattern with "Connected Corporate Security" text overlay
Reports

Connected Corporate Security

Effective corporate security is increasingly dependent on the ability to connect: within the function, across the business, and between the business and external stakeholders.
White paper airplane leading three gray paper airplanes upward with dotted flight paths and blue geometric shapes
Reports

Effective Cyber Security Board Governance

Cyber security is no longer just a necessary hygiene factor – it is a key differentiator for the increasingly digital organisation.
Annual Chief Security Officer Survey 2025 report cover with teal and white bar chart design
Reports

Annual Chief Security Officer Survey 2025

The Clarity Factory produces research and thought leadership for professionals 

in corporate security, cyber security, resilience and national security. 

 
Book cover showing gradient from black to green with title "The business of security has shifted from protecting companies from risks, to being a new source of competitive advantage"
Reports

The Business of Resilience

Doing business is getting more and more complex.
White cover with title "The Business Value of Corporate Security" and blue section with word cloud including "crisis leadership" and "corporate reputation"
Reports

The Business Value of Corporate Security

This report seeks to understand what trends in the global business operating environment mean for the corporate security function: its value proposition, narrative and positioning, leadership, talent strategy, areas o
White paper cover with title "The Business Value of Corporate Security" and word cloud on blue background
Executive Summary

Business Value of Corporate Security
Document titled "PLACEMENT" explaining the future of cyber-outsourcing and corporate security on light blue paper
Talent Report

The Future of Talent: Outsourcing takes hold in corporate security

‘The key trend for the future will be increased outsourcing, contracting, and sub-contracting, including by country heads of security.
White paper cover titled "Holistic Security" with blue circuit board pattern and Zurich Insurance logo
Reports

Holistic Security

How physical and cyber security can join forces to strengthen operational resilience 

by Rachel Briggs OBE
White paper cover showing blue circuit board pattern with title "Holistic Security" and Gartner logo
Executive Summary

Holistic Security
Insights
Dramatic low-angle view of industrial silos towering against cloudy sky in black and white

Metrics, KPIs and storytelling

Clarity Up Front:
Security Culture:
Security Culture

Six Insights for Effective Security Culture

The front line of cybersecurity is as much about psychology and culture as software and technology.
I'm a hostage expert - here's what's happening between Israel and

I'm a hostage expert - here's what's happening between Israel and

Clarity Factory CEO, Rachel Briggs OBE, writes in The Independent as Hamas release the first proof of life vi
NEW: Clarity Factory launches Security Culture research project sponsored by the ASIS Foundation
ASIS

NEW: Clarity Factory launches Security Culture research project sponsored by the ASIS Foundation

The Clarity Factory is pleased to announce a new research project on Security Culture sponsored by the ASIS Foundation.
Three myths preventing diversity in corporate security
Corporate Security

Three myths preventing diversity in corporate security

CLARITY UP FRONT
CSO Insights: 2025 corporate security data and trends for 2026
Corporate Security

CSO Insights: 2025 corporate security data and trends for 2026

Rachel Briggs was joined by Manish Mehta (Ontic), Meredith Wilson (Emergent Risk International), and Jules Parke-Robinson (Philip Morris International) to discuss data from the 2025 Annual CSO Survey and trends to wat
Increasing risk appetites put security front and center as an influencer - Security Management Magazine

Increasing risk appetites put security front and center as an influencer - Security Management Magazine

Our Founder and CEO, Rachel Briggs OBE, spoke with Claire Meyer of Security Manag
Security Culture: What is it, why it matters, and how to build it
Culture

Security Culture: What is it, why it matters, and how to build it

Why security culture matters
Towards an Effective Partnership between Corporate and Cyber Security

Towards an Effective Partnership between Corporate and Cyber Security

The relationship between corporate security and cyber security has been a hot topic among corporate security professionals for almost two decades.
Corporate Security: Future Talent
Corporate Security

Corporate Security: Future Talent

The corporate security function is at an inflection point; trends outside organizations are impacting what the function does, how it positions itself, its relationship with other functions, and

From corporate security intelligence to intelligence-informed business insights

From corporate security intelligence to intelligence-informed business insights

CLARITY UP FRONT
Watch Rachel Briggs' Keynote at 2024 Ontic Summit: The business value of corporate security
Ontic

Watch Rachel Briggs' Keynote at 2024 Ontic Summit: The business value of corporate security

Clarity Factory CEO, Rachel Briggs OBE, delivered the keynote at the 2024 Ontic Summit in Austin Texas in February.
Rachel Briggs discusses latest CSO trends data
CSO

Rachel Briggs discusses latest CSO trends data

Clarity Factory co-founder and CEO, Rachel Briggs, sat down for a conversation with Manish Mehta on Ontic’s Connected Intelligence podcast.
Is corporate security an attractive profession for the next generation of workers?
Corporate Security

Is corporate security an attractive profession for the next generation of workers?

Security is a very attractive profession for the next generation; 69% of young people working in corporate security who completed a survey said that they agreed.
Six Insights for Effective Security Culture
Culture

Six Insights for Effective Security Culture

Clarity Up Front:
Webinar: How to measure and communicate the impact of corporate security, 14 April
Corporate Security

Webinar: How to measure and communicate the impact of corporate security, 14 April

Webinar: 
How to measure and communicate the impact of corporate security 
April 14, 4pm UK / 11am EST
What do shifting social and political dynamics mean for corporate security?

What do shifting social and political dynamics mean for corporate security?

Clarity Up Front:
What can corporate security learn from HR's journey to the C-Suite?
Corporate Security

What can corporate security learn from HR's journey to the C-Suite?

Clarity Up Front:
The 2025 Annual Corporate Security Survey
Survey

The 2025 Annual Corporate Security Survey

The Clarity Factory 2025 Annual Corporate Security Survey is now CLOSED. Thank you to everyone who completed it and we look forward to sharing the data in September.
New Research: The Future of Corporate Security
Corporate Security

New Research: The Future of Corporate Security

In 2005, ten companies came together to commission a white paper to explore the future of corporate security.
Storytelling for Security Leaders Workshop
Storytelling

Storytelling for Security Leaders Workshop

The Clarity Factory is delighted to partner with leading storytelling consultancy, HumanStory, to offer a

What growing outsourcing means for security management

What growing outsourcing means for security management

Our report on the rise of outsourcing in corporate security, co-authored with Kathy Lavinder of SI Placement, is covered by

Clarity Factory August 2025 Insight
Insight

Clarity Factory August 2025 Insight
Effective Cyber Security Board Governance

Effective Cyber Security Board Governance

Cyber security is no longer just a necessary hygiene factor – it is a key differentiator for the increasingly digital organisation.
Ontic Connected Intelligence Podcast
Ontic

Ontic Connected Intelligence Podcast

Clarity Factory CEO, Rachel Briggs, and Kathy Lavinder of SI Placement joined Chuck Randolph of Ontic to discuss their joint study on the

What has happened to the 'missing' hostages in Gaza - Business Insider

What has happened to the 'missing' hostages in Gaza - Business Insider

Clarity Factory CEO, Rachel Briggs, spoke with Business Insider about the potential explanations for some 40 ho
2025 CSO Survey Published by The Clarity Factory
CSO

2025 CSO Survey Published by The Clarity Factory

The Clarity Factory 2025 Annual CSO Survey is published.

Download the 2025 CSO Survey Report
Outsourcing takes hold in corporate security
Corporate Security

Outsourcing takes hold in corporate security

The Future of Talent: Outsourcing takes hold in corporate security
Take our Talent Survey
Survey

Take our Talent Survey

We have teamed up with SI Placement to conduct a survey on the future talent needs of security functions, as part of our joint industry-w
Rachel Briggs shares 2025 Annual CSO Survey data and insights
CSO

Rachel Briggs shares 2025 Annual CSO Survey data and insights

Clarity Factory CEO, Rachel Briggs, joined Kirsten Meskill from Solventum and Joshua Levin-Soler from Take Two Games for a conversation hosted by Ankur Arora of Ontic.

They covered:
Five questions on the future of security leadership
CSO

Five questions on the future of security leadership

The Clarity Factory CEO, Rachel Briggs, sat down with Corporate Security Advisors (CSA) to discuss the changing role of the CS
Rachel Briggs Talks Physical-Cyber Security Partnership
Podcasts

Rachel Briggs Talks Physical-Cyber Security Partnership

Clarity Factory CEO, Rachel Briggs, joined Manish Mehta on this week’s Ontic Connected Intelligence podcast to discuss our Holistic Security report and maturity model.
plant leaves

The Business of Resilience

The business of security has shifted from protecting companies from risks to being the new source of competitive advantage.
NEW REPORT: Holistic Security
Holistic Security

NEW REPORT: Holistic Security

“We need to shift our focus from convergence and wholesale organisational redesign towards partnership through holistic security to reach security maturity."
2026 CSO Survey Open
Survey

2026 CSO Survey Open

TAKE THE 2026 CSO SURVEY
Holistic Security: How to right-size the relationship between corporate and cyber security
Holistic Security

Holistic Security: How to right-size the relationship between corporate and cyber security

Clarity Up Front
Holistic Security Assessment Service
Holistic Security

Holistic Security Assessment Service

The Clarity Factory Holistic Security Maturity Model provides a frame
The CSO Skillset
CSO

The CSO Skillset

The role and purpose of the corporate security function has changed due to several trends both inside of, and external from, the business.
How Activism and Executive Risk Converge Today, Rachel Briggs and Cynthia Marble
Rachel Briggs

How Activism and Executive Risk Converge Today, Rachel Briggs and Cynthia Marble

Rachel Briggs of The Clarity Factory and Cynthia Marble of Ontic explore the impact of increased activism and protest on executive risk and EP p
Rachel Briggs predicts trends for 2025
Rachel Briggs

Rachel Briggs predicts trends for 2025

The Clarity Factory Founder and CEO, Rachel Briggs OBE, shared her predictions for 2025 in Ontic's annual forecast. She stressed the growing imperative f
The bad guys don't respect organisational silos - physical and cyber security must plug the gaps to deliver holistic security

The bad guys don't respect organisational silos - physical and cyber security must plug the gaps to deliver holistic security

A national museum suffers an IT outage after a terminated technology contractor gains access to an unauthorised area of the building and turns off the IT systems.
Rachel Briggs speaks alongside Secretary Blinken on hostage diplomacy
Rachel Briggs

Rachel Briggs speaks alongside Secretary Blinken on hostage diplomacy

Clarity Factory CEO, Rachel Briggs, spoke alongside US Secretary Blinken this week at an event on hostage diplomacy co-sponsored by the State Department and the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Future of Corporate Security
Corporate Security

The Future of Corporate Security

Are you a security professional under the age of 35? We want to hear from you!  
BBC News - Clarity Factory on the hostage crisis
Videos

BBC News - Clarity Factory on the hostage crisis

Our CEO, Rachel Briggs OBE, joined BBC News to talk about the hostage crisis in Gaza, what lies ahead and the plight of the hostages and their families.
How to measure and communicate the impact of corporate security
Corporate Security

How to measure and communicate the impact of corporate security

CSOs tell us that measuring and communicating the impact of corporate security is one of their biggest and most enduring challenges. In our 2025 CSO Survey, CSOs said that the top challenge to their effectiveness was

The News Agents podcast - The Clarity Factory comments on Gaza hostage crisis
Podcasts

The News Agents podcast - The Clarity Factory comments on Gaza hostage crisis

Clarity Factory CEO, Rachel Briggs OBE, joined Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel to discuss the unfolding hostage crisis in Gaza, the options for Israel and its allies in getting the hostages home, and the plight of the hos
Clarity Factory featured in HR Magazine

Clarity Factory featured in HR Magazine

The Clarity Factory's new report, The Business Value of Corporate Security, was featured in

Corporate Security: Securing Future Talent
Talent

Corporate Security: Securing Future Talent

Corporate Security: Securing Future Talent is a new insight paper from SI Placement and The C