Organizational design is the way an organization structures roles, decision-making authority, accountability, and communication. It determines who owns particular decisions, how teams coordinate, and how issues are escalated.
In cyber security, clear organizational design helps ensure that security responsibilities are not overlooked or duplicated. For example, an organization may define who approves access, who responds to incidents, and how technical teams report risks to leadership. Shared authority can help teams act quickly, but only when ownership and escalation paths are explicit; otherwise, gaps or delays can weaken defenses.