Chief Security Officer Job Description - Salary, Education and Career Guide for Becoming a Chief Security Officer

You might hear on the news about a company experiencing a breach of security, or a different company making sure that new security measures are put into place. If so, you've just been exposed to the realm of corporate responsibility delegated to a chief security officer, or CSO. This relatively new position is evolving in its responsibilities as technology develops. It is an important position with a great deal of responsibility for the person who fills it.
 
A CSO is a vital corporate executive in today's business world. Read on for information about becoming a chief security officer.

Job Description

A chief security officer must make certain that private information of individuals, as well as industrial secrets within the company, are secure against infiltration and retrieval from someone outside the company. If an outsider is able to get that information, he or she can use it to create false identities (if the information includes social security numbers and the like) or sell product development and research information to rival companies. In addition, some CSO's are responsible for the physical security of buildings and employees.
 
Companies first created chief security officer jobs to free up the chief information officer to run the technological side of information, such as building networks or infrastructures. A CSO is responsible for:
  • checking employee passwords to be certain they're strong enough
  • maintaining a company's network security, especially those areas that are vulnerable to an attack through the Internet
  • purchasing security software for the company's computer systems
  • training employees in security procedures.
 
Some corporate executives are both CSO and CIO. Other CSO's serve double duty as the chief technology officer. The multiple levels of functioning require a person with strong technical and interpersonal skills - a combination not always found in one person. A CSO must be able to predict technology's impact on business potential and present that information to the CEO.

Salary Guide

The chief security officer is no entry-level position, but the rewards for experience are usually quite hefty. About a third of CSO's make six-figure salaries. Large corporations typically offer a chief security officer salary between $400,000 and $750,000.

Education and Training

A CSO usually possesses a bachelor's degree. Many CSO's do not have graduate degrees, since experience in the workplace is the most vital qualification.

Prior Work Experience

Previous work experience depends on a company's desired area of expertise. For example, some companies require a CSO to have about a decade's worth of time spent in the military or law enforcement, usually in a tech-savvy capacity. On the other hand, a company might desire a candidate who has at least eight years' worth of time spent building networks and ensuring information security.

Career Advancement

Because a chief security officer is one of the most senior executives in the company, the only advancement potential would be to attain one of the two positions to whom the CSO reports: either the CIO or the CEO. Of course, CSO's also have the option of moving to a bigger or more prestigious company with the same job title.

Related Associations and Groups

Chief security officers have a variety of national and local associations available to them, including:
  • Information Systems Security Association
  • Information Technology Association of America
  • International Computer Security Association.
 
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