A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is responsible for developing effective security policies to protect their organization from the ever-growing threat of cyber breaches. They must be able to lead a team of security professionals, talk to board members and C-level executives, and explain security issues to management in both business and easy-to-understand technical terms. Here are the essential skills:
Increasingly, CISOs have a combination of computer science skills and business experience, often possessing an MBA with a specialization in information systems, finance, or accounting. Business degrees give the potential CISO the ability to talk with other C-level executives in terms they understand.
A CISO should have a good deal of experience with security solutions and systems. Experience with crafting security policies, testing web applications for security vulnerabilities, or network call center support provide great security experience. Testing a variety of security solutions, auditing information systems and working in a security team are essential.
Companies often look for a CISO who has had experience handling a breach. It’s commonly accepted that most companies will suffer a breach. The CISO should be familiar with the Incident Response Standard and be aware of potential point of failure in IT systems.
Several third party certifications include the CCISO (certified chief information security officer) by the EC-Council, CISSP (certified information systems security professional) by ISC², and the CISM (certified information security manager) by ISACA.
CISOs must possess core competencies that include governance, system controls, auditing, compliance management, operations management, strategic planning, and finance and risk management.
A CISO must be able to articulate the return on investment (ROI) for any security solutions that may be implemented. Articulating the ROI to upper management in business terms will help get their buy-in not only for the initial investment but to communicate its importance throughout the organization.
A CISO must also be able to communicate with business managers about their operational needs and security requirements. After identifying the issues, they must determine what solutions will best suit the business needs while mitigating risk.The job of the CISO is an increasingly important and challenging role. It’s essential that candidates come to the role fully armed for the many business, regulatory and technical challenges they will face.
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