Information security officer vs information technology security manager

The differences between information security officers and information technology security managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an information security officer and an information technology security manager. Additionally, an information security officer has an average salary of $135,040, which is higher than the $124,792 average annual salary of an information technology security manager.

The top three skills for an information security officer include risk management, risk assessments and incident response. The most important skills for an information technology security manager are NIST, risk management, and project management.

Information security officer vs information technology security manager overview

	Information Security Officer	Information Technology Security Manager
Yearly salary	$135,040	$124,792
Hourly rate	$64.92	$60.00
Growth rate	32%	32%
Number of jobs	145,907	120,463
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	6	6

What does an information security officer do?

Information security officers are responsible for planning and implementing policies to safeguard an organization's computer network and data from different types of security breaches. Their duties typically include identifying computer network vulnerabilities, developing and executing a plan to secure and protect the network, and tracking computer network usage to ensure adherence to security policies. In addition, information security officers are also expected to conduct penetration tests to look for flaws and work closely with the IT and management departments to improve security.

What does an information technology security manager do?

An information technology security manager is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the organization's network systems to prevent unauthorized access and illegal dissemination of information from the database. Information technology security managers resolve technical issues, configure network updates, and upgrade system infrastructures to enhance optimal performance and navigation. They also install applications, inspect security breaches, and fix faulty servers to avoid system downtimes and operational delays. An information technology security manager must have excellent technical and communication skills, especially in writing reports for system findings and design networks according to business requirements.

Information security officer vs information technology security manager salary

Information security officers and information technology security managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Information Security Officer	Information Technology Security Manager
Average salary	$135,040	$124,792
Salary range	Between $95,000 And $190,000	Between $91,000 And $170,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Twilio	PayPal
Best paying industry	Professional	Hospitality

Differences between information security officer and information technology security manager education

There are a few differences between an information security officer and an information technology security manager in terms of educational background:

	Information Security Officer	Information Technology Security Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common major	Business	Computer Science
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Information security officer vs information technology security manager demographics

Here are the differences between information security officers' and information technology security managers' demographics:

	Information Security Officer	Information Technology Security Manager
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 85.9% Female, 14.1%	Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between information security officer and information technology security manager duties and responsibilities

Information security officer example responsibilities.

Lead vulnerability scanning and penetration testing for PCI-DSS compliance.
Manage client relationships in conjunction with moving production environment to AWS.
Manage all printers, switches, routers, and data archiving.
Manage and ensure all AIS systems are operated in accordance with applicable DoD directives.
Avoid fines and penalties by achieving and maintaining PCI, HIPAA, and SOX compliance.
Engage to design and implement an enterprise-wide information security program to achieve SOX and HIPPA compliance.

Information technology security manager example responsibilities.

Manage and represent RMFMC when dealing with patients and employees regarding matters of breach of privacy and / or HIPAA violations.
Manage CoBIT compliance and control self-assessment program to identify control deficiencies.
Manage the conversion to a hybrid NAS/disk/tape CommVault base backup environment resulting in decreasing backup windows and improving recovery objectives.
Create and implement security controls (encryption, inventory management), policies and procedures to ensure HIPAA compliance.
Maintain the operation in conformity with ITIL standards and practices.
Assist NASA in its compliance with relevant security standards, including NIST and FISMA.

Information security officer vs information technology security manager skills

Common information security officer skills

Risk Management, 12%
Risk Assessments, 7%
Incident Response, 7%
Infrastructure, 6%
Governance, 5%
ISO, 5%

Common information technology security manager skills

NIST, 7%
Risk Management, 6%
Project Management, 6%
Risk Assessments, 4%
Incident Response, 4%
ISO, 4%

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Information Security Officer vs Information Technology Security Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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