Moving from managing a Security Operations Center (SOC) to becoming a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is an important career leap. Not only does it require a solid foundation of technical knowledge, but it also requires leadership skills and business smarts.
This article will guide you through the practical steps and skills needed to take on executive cybersecurity work and enable promotion from SOC manager to CISO.
Is the role of CISO suitable for you?
It is always a good idea to think about how you can rise and grow in your career. Wanting to be a CISO can be a great career move.
Furthermore, certain operational tasks of cybersecurity, particularly SOCs, are increasingly automated and essential for developing strategic and leadership skills. Having an ambitious goal can be relevant and valuable in ever-changing fields, as a SOC analyst or lead.
However, the role of CISOs differs greatly from other roles in cybersecurity, and has unique challenges. So, it’s a good option, but it’s not the only path and may not fit everyone’s strengths and career goals. It is my hope that this article will reveal what it is to be a CISO. You can determine whether that is the path you take.
Key skills for executive growth
For those who want to take on executive and leadership roles like CISOs, developing skills beyond the scope of typical IT roles is essential.
Having a comprehensive IT background is a major advantage, especially when it comes to security vulnerabilities and how to respond to incidents. However, at the expense of the critical leadership, communication and strategic thinking skills required for a CISO position, we cannot focus solely on technical expertise.
Remember: complex security issues must be relayed to outside stakeholders. And they need to do so so that they can easily understand the issues at risk.
Let’s break down the areas needed for executive roles.
Strategic thinking
Strategic thinking requires a solid grip on the organization’s core operations, especially how it generates revenue and its key stream of value. This perspective allows security professionals to align their efforts with business goals rather than operating alone.
Business insight
This is related to strategic thinking, but emphasizes knowledge of risk management and finance. Security leaders must consider the economic impact to justify security investments and effectively manage risks.
Another important aspect is to balance security measures, user experience and system availability. Too strict security policies can lead to reduced productivity. If they are too generous, the company could be under threat. Decisions should take into account the impact of security actions on a broader business environment.
communication
Effective communication is essential to enable technical details to be translated and acted upon by senior language stakeholders. This means avoiding experts and abbreviations to communicate information in a simple way that resonates with multiple stakeholders, including executives who may not have a deep technical background.
By communicating the impact of security initiatives in a clear and concise language, decisions are well-informed and support your company’s goals.
Service Management
Technical services must meet business requirements, particularly in managing service delivery, implementing changes, and solving problems. All of this is essential for a secure and efficient IT infrastructure.
The above risk management knowledge is fundamental in identifying, assessing and mitigating risk. It helps align your security strategies with business goals and encourages informed decision-making and resource allocation.
compliance
Recognizing compliance requirements, including compliance with regulatory and industry standards (such as GDPR, HIPAA, NIS2, PCI DSS), is important to ensure legal and ethical work. Understanding these obligations will help you implement appropriate security controls and policies.
Exposure to legal aspects such as data privacy law and intellectual property rights broadens the perspectives required for the role of a CISO and the interactions with both external and internal, such as the GRC within an organization. Here, formal education, including computer science and cybersecurity degrees, is combined with continuous learning through industry courses and accreditations to enhance your expertise. It also shows you are prepared for leadership responsibilities and ready to take on the challenges associated with your work.
Practical Career Transfer Advice
To successfully migrate and advance your cybersecurity career, concrete strategic measures must be taken towards the role of CISOs.
Gain visibility, build influence, promote
To advance your cybersecurity career, let us know your values. Share contributions and achievements with both within the team and with other departments and leadership.
When presenting data, make it practical by showing how information promotes and supports business goals through tactical metrics and simple language. It also actively seeks opportunities to contribute to a broader initiative and provides solutions to challenges that go beyond current roles and responsibilities.
To stand out as someone ready to advance to the executive level, show your willingness to take initiatives and lead.
Avoid common pitfalls
One common mistake is to communicate based on your or another person’s assumptions. Always check and remember, opinions are not true.
Another pitfall is that you believe that your angle and perspective is the only correct thing. Other perspectives exist and retain value.
Whenever possible, embrace a collaborative approach focused on building consensus and defining the right direction, rather than prioritizing speed. This means engage in open discussions, listening to feedback and working towards a common understanding. This creates a stronger foundation for the initiative and avoids potential disagreements and misunderstandings.
What exactly does being a CISO mean?
To succeed at the executive level, you need to be aware of the nuances of the CISO’s work, expectations depending on the structure of the company, and the different roles that must be played before the CISO title is entrusted.
Who will your CISO report to?
The reporting structure of the Chief Information Security Officer varies widely across organizations. In many cases, the CISO will report to the Chief Information Officer. In this structure, security is considered a subset of it and focuses on the technical aspects of data and systems protection.
However, as cybersecurity risks become more business criticised, CISOs are increasingly reporting to the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Risk Officer. Reporting to CFOs highlights the economic impact of security breaches and the need for risk-based security investments. However, if you are reporting to a CRO, you should emphasize the overall company risk management perspective and ensure that security is integrated into a broader organizational risk strategy.
The reporting line has a significant impact on the CISO priorities and scope of authority, reflecting the overall security maturity and approach to risk. We recommend that you consider the structure of your own company and how it aligns with your career goals and potential advancements.
Top Change: Roles and Expectations
The transition from a technical lead to an executive role like CISO will involve a complete shift in expectations.
As a technical lead, it focuses primarily on practical implementation, troubleshooting and technical problem solving. At the executive level, emphasis shifts to strategy, leadership, and business alignment.
CISOs are expected to develop and implement comprehensive security strategies that protect the organization’s assets while enabling business operations. This is where decisions become more strategic and requires CISOs to balance risk mitigation and business goals.
It also requires effective communication of technical risks to senior management in terms of business impact. It covers everything from budgeting and policy development to regulatory compliance and security team management.
More important roles and responsibilities than technical leads
Advancements from technical leads to CISO include several intermediate roles. Each has a clear responsibility and is well versed in higher levels of leadership, strategic thinking, and business.
The SOC Manager oversees the day-to-day operations of the Security Operations Center. This means ensuring that incident detection and response is efficient and effective. Responsibilities here include managing staff, developing processes, and reporting on metrics.
Security directors typically have a broader scope and handle multiple security features such as network security, application security, and vulnerability management. Directors develop security programs, manage budgets, and ensure regulatory compliance.
CISO is a top security executive and is responsible for the organization’s overall security strategy and attitude. They align security with business goals, manage risk and communicate with executive leadership.
Becoming a CISO is a progressive journey of developing your skills and taking on broader responsibility.
Summary and important points
A journey from SOC analysts and managers to CISO is a key job. You’re not just a better professional, you’ve evolved into a leader who can align security with business goals.
Adopting leadership mindsets doesn’t just involve managing tasks. It needs to stimulate teams, influence stakeholders, and drive strategic decisions. All of this takes communication skills, strategic thinking, and business insight, manages risk effectively, and communicates complex technical information in simple terms.
Be proactive about seeking visibility and influence within your organization, make assumptions, and avoid common pitfalls such as prioritizing speed over consensus.
Finally, we understand the reporting structure and evolving expectations of CISO. Setting long-term goals and adopting leadership mindsets will help you navigate your transition to CISO and thrive in both challenging and rewarding roles.
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