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The Top Skills of Fortune 100 CISOs

What does it take to become a top CISO? We analyzed CISOs of Fortune 100 companies to find the most common skills and educational background of the world's top cybersecurity leaders today.
Rob Sobers
1 min read
Published September 4, 2018
Last updated October 21, 2021

The role of CISO is constantly expanding and evolving with the growing awareness of cyber attacks. As cyber attacks increase in density and sophistication, organizations are beginning to look at security as a business priority and the role of CISO has become more critical.

Companies need to look beyond basic technical expertise and the necessary leadership skills and instead look for someone who can also understand their organization’s operations and can express IT security priorities from a business perspective. In addition to skills in IT security, it is evermore important to have a business background as well as leadership and management soft skills like teamwork and communication in order to make your way to the top.

So what does it actually take to become a leading CISO?

In an effort to shine some light on this query, we analyzed the CISOs of Fortune 100 companies. By looking at their common endorsements and educational backgrounds on LinkedIn, we were able to gauge what it takes to become one of the top leaders in cybersecurity today.

Check out our infographic below to learn more about the expertise and educational background of the world’s top cybersecurity leaders.

what it takes to become a fortune 100 CISO

Because of the increase in cyber attacks, the role of CISO is constantly evolving to fit cybersecurity business needs. By diversifying their skill sets, these top CISOs are paving the way for a better future in cybersecurity. In addition, check out the top 10 female CISOs that are leading the way for women in tech.

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