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What is an information security director and how to become one
An information security director is an individual who oversees and manages an organization's information security program. They are responsible for protecting the organization from cyber threats, ensuring compliance with regulations, and managing the team of information security professionals. They also work closely with other departments to ensure that the organization's information assets are protected and secure. Overall, an information security director plays a critical role in safeguarding an organization's sensitive data and ensuring business continuity.
Avg. Salary $141,813
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 32%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.43%
Asian 9.64%
Black or African American 9.15%
Hispanic or Latino 8.99%
Unknown 6.09%
White 65.70%
Genderfemale 12.95%
male 87.05%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being an information security director?
Pros
High salary
High demand for skilled professionals
Opportunities for career advancement and growth
Ability to make a significant impact on the organization's security posture
Exposure to cutting-edge technology and security trends
Cons
High level of responsibility and accountability
Long hours and high stress
Constant need to stay up-to-date with evolving threats and technologies
Need to balance security needs with business objectives
Difficulties in communicating technical security concepts to non-technical stakeholders
Information security director career paths
Key steps to become an information security director
Explore information security director education requirements
Start to develop specific information security director skills
Skills Percentages Cloud Security 6.46% Risk Management 6.09% Incident Response 5.41% NIST 4.95% Risk Assessments 4.43% Complete relevant information security director training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New information security directors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an information security director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real information security director resumes.Gain additional information security director certifications
More About CertificationsInformation security director certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific information security director certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for information security directors include Certified Information Systems Security Professional - Architecture (CISSP) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).
Research information security director duties and responsibilities
- Design and lead implementation of extensive business-wide customer data encryption effort.
- Lead projects to include standards and policy development, business strategy formulation, infrastructure implementation and process re-engineering.
- Manage the conversion to a hybrid NAS/disk/tape CommVault base backup environment resulting in decreasing backup windows and improving recovery objectives.
- Complete regular network scans and submit the results to the ISO.
Get information security director experience
Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become an information security director. The most common roles before becoming an information security director include information security manager, information security officer team lead and senior manager.Prepare your information security director resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your information security director resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an information security director resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable information security director resume templates
Build a professional information security director resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your information security director resume.
Apply for information security director jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an information security director job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first information security director job
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Average information security director salary
The average information security director salary in the United States is $141,813 per year or $68 per hour. Information security director salaries range between $99,000 and $201,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do information security directors rate their job?
Information security director reviews
Providing training on professionalism, cultural diversity, emergency management protocols, fire and emergency evacuation, directing a team of professional security officers and and supervisors. Working as one team.
Untrained individuals with no background in security Interfering with security operations. that put life and property at risk. Folk who fail to take security and safety serious.
Updated January 8, 2025
