Trend Micro | Life of a CISO – Managing Your Cyber Risk

Being a CISO isn’t just a job—it’s a high-stakes juggling act where one missed risk could mean disaster. Trend Micro’s latest ad captures the pressure of modern cybersecurity leadership, showing the relentless, never-off-the-clock reality of managing threats, compliance, and business expectations—all while keeping everything from spiraling into chaos.

The Formula (That Works at Any Budget):

Authenticity = Instant Credibility – This isn’t a dramatization. It’s a real-world look at the daily pressures of a CISO, grounded in actual cybersecurity challenges.
→ Lesson: Speak directly to your audience’s lived experience—no fluff, just real talk.

Fast-Paced Editing = Tension You Can Feel – Quick cuts, layered visuals, and a sense of constant motion mirror the nonstop demands of cyber risk management.
→ Lesson: Match the pacing of your ad to the intensity of the problem you’re solving.

Emotional Weight = Stronger Connection – The stress, the urgency, the responsibility—this ad doesn’t just tell you about cyber risk; it makes you feel it.
→ Lesson: Cybersecurity isn’t just about technology—it’s about people making high-pressure decisions.

Product as the Silent Hero – Trend Micro isn’t shouting about features. Instead, it subtly reinforces how its solutions help CISOs take control of the chaos and manage risk proactively.
→ Lesson: Let your audience feel the pain first—then position your product as the relief.

The Tone & Humor Breakdown:

Serious, Not Fearmongering – This ad leans into realistic tension rather than overblown cyberattack horror stories.

Hyper-Relatable Situations – Every CISO watching this will nod along, thinking, “Yep. That’s my life.”

No Gimmicks, Just Realism – The power of this ad comes from its honest portrayal of the job—no need for exaggeration.

Final Verdict:
A compelling, high-stakes look at cyber risk leadership, Trend Micro’s ad resonates because it respects its audience. It doesn’t just market a product—it validates the challenges CISOs face daily.

Brave-o-meter score: 

B-7 | R-9 | A-8 | V-8 | E-9

BRAVE – 8.2/10

Watch the full ad & learn more:

Website: https://www.trendmicro.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trendmicro

(See what BRAVE means in our collection)

Understanding the B.R.A.V.E. Scoring System

The B.R.A.V.E. scoring system uses AI to deliver an unbiased evaluation of top-of-the-funnel B2B brand ads. It measures potential impact, memorability, and effectiveness by assessing five key components of a video ad or commercial. This system gauges an ad's capacity to drive brand recall and enhance salience, ensuring that creative work not only captures attention but also leaves a lasting impression.

What B.R.A.V.E. Stands For:

Each letter represents a key factor in determining an ad’s success:

  • BBoldness: Is the ad original, creative, or daring? Does it break away from generic B2B marketing, or is it just another forgettable corporate video?
  • RRelevance: Does it connect with a real buyer pain point? Is it addressing a specific frustration or need, or just listing product features?
  • AAttention: Does it grab and hold attention in the first few seconds? Is it visually or tonally engaging, or easy to skip?
  • VVibe: Does it create an emotional response—laughter, recognition, or surprise? Or does it feel like just another corporate info dump?
  • EEffectiveness: Will buyers remember the brand when they need a solution? Does the ad make an impact that lasts beyond the moment?

How It’s Applied to B2B Video Rating

Each video is scored 1 to 10 in all five categories, based on how well it meets the criteria. The total score (out of 50) is then divided by 5 to give a final B.R.A.V.E. score out of 10.

For example:

  • An ad scoring B-8 | R-9 | A-7 | V-6 | E-8 has a total of 38/50.
  • The final B.R.A.V.E. score is 7.6/10.

Why It Matters

B2B ads often struggle with being bland, forgettable, or ineffective. The B.R.A.V.E. system ensures they are judged by their ability to break through, connect with buyers, and drive action.

Simply put: If your ad isn’t B.R.A.V.E., it’s invisible.

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