Skills & Competencies for Chief Information Security Officer

Chief Information Security Officer job profile

JOB SUMMARY for Chief Information Security Officer

Responsible for determining enterprise information security policy and strategy.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES for Chief Information Security Officer

Oversees the development, implementation, and enforcement of information security standards and procedures. Ensures that all information systems are functional correctly regarding secure policy. In charge of IT risk evaluations, audits, and security incident investigation.

Chief Information Security Officer SALARY RANGE

BASE 50%
$243,764
TOTAL 50%
$295,818
Job Level
M05
Job Code
IT10000225
Education/Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Reports To
Top Management

Chief Information Security Officer Skills and Competencies List

Proficiency Levels and Behavioural Indicators
Salary.com identifies five increasing levels of proficiency for each skill/competency. Some jobs require only a relatively low level of proficiency in each skill/competency, while other jobs will require a more advanced level of proficiency in the same skill/competency. These levels rate the degree of proficiency (skill level, expertise) we expect the incumbent to perform in the given skill/competency for the given job. Note that we intentionally do not associate timeframes or years of experience in performing the skill/competency because that can be misleading. Proficiency levels identify what the incumbent knows and can do rather than how long they have been doing it. Also, note that the proficiency levels are cumulative, e.g., a level 4 proficiency implies the ability to perform all the behaviors at the lower levels.
Check each Chief Information Security Officer skill and competencie below to view definitions.

9 general skills or competencies (Job family competencies) for Chief Information Security Officer

1 Job Family Competencies – Business Continuity
Proficiency Level -3
Skill definition-Developing and executing innovative plans to ensure interoperability of business systems in the event of an emergency.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Compares the difference between contingency and business continuity plans.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Documents risk assessment processes to support the development of an IT business continuity plan.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Executes disaster recovery plans to meet organizational business continuity requirements.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Leverages metrics to monitor the performance of business continuity programs.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Develops recovery processes that align with the company’s business continuity strategies.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
2 Job Family Competencies – Cybersecurity
Proficiency Level -4
Skill definition-Applying technologies, processes, and controls to protect our organizational assets from cyber-attacks and threats.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Identifies cybersecurity techniques and related principles.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Follows established cybersecurity policies in performing related activities to ensure alignment with our organizational goals.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Implements cybersecurity mitigation strategies with our organization's risk capacity to protect from cyberattacks.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Integrates cybersecurity best practices to drive improvements in cybersecurity posture.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Leads the development and implementation of cybersecurity best practices to improve enterprise security.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
3 Chief Information Security Officer - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Chief Information Security Officer
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Chief Information Security Officer
Proficiency Level - 5

13 soft skills or competencies (core competencies) for Chief Information Security Officer

1 Core Competencies – Business Acumen
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Insight into our organization's business, goals, and values. Ability to design and implement initiatives that facilitate successful outcomes.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Discusses the strengths and weaknesses of our products and services.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Explains advantages and disadvantages of different organizational structures from an efficiency perspective.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Demonstrates an innate sense of how to achieve positive results in the current environment.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Leverages the latest technologies and tools that enhance business analytics.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Conceptualizes new and creative business initiatives to boost business growth.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
2 Core Competencies – Budgeting
Proficiency Level -3
Skill definition-Applying specific policies, tools and practices to plan and prepare projected revenues, expenses, cash flows, and capital expenditures.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Explains the different purposes and uses of our organization's budgets.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Gathers financial data to help support management in budgeting analysis and forecasting.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Prepares and reviews the annual budgeting process to ensure effective and efficient budgeting.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Monitors budgeting processes to ensure adherence to our organization's financial practices and standards.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Establishes operating procedures to guide the consistency and repeatability of our budgeting processes.
See 4 More Skill Behaviors
3 Chief Information Security Officer - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Chief Information Security Officer
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Chief Information Security Officer
Proficiency Level - 5

Summary of Chief Information Security Officer skills and competencies

There are 0 hard skills for Chief Information Security Officer.
9 general skills for Chief Information Security Officer, Business Continuity, Cybersecurity, Information Management, etc.
13 soft skills for Chief Information Security Officer, Business Acumen, Budgeting, Risk Management, etc.
While the list totals 22 distinct skills, it's important to note that not all are required to be mastered to the same degree. Some skills may only need a basic understanding, whereas others demand a higher level of expertise.
For instance, as a Chief Information Security Officer, he or she needs to be proficient in Business Acumen, be skilled in Budgeting, and be an expert in Risk Management.

It's Easy to Get Started

Get the precision you need to assess, hire, and develop top talent with skills and competencies – see how with a personalized demo.