The 15 best sites to hire Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) in 2024

Every business should prioritize cybersecurity to prosper commercially by staying safe from online threats. As your company grows, this requires you to hire a chief information security officer.

As an example, Stephen Katz became the world’s first CISO in 1995 for Citicorp/Citigroup. The company created the position in response to a series of cyberattacks. His work was clearly a success as the stock price was over eight times higher when he left the firm in 2001.

An indicator that you are ready to add this role is when you are about to become a mid-sized firm. A recent Navisite survey found that only about a third of small businesses hire a CISO, while nearly half of mid-sized companies do.

You should also start finding CISO candidates if you face any of the following challenges:

• Repeated security breaches

• Strict governance, risk, and compliance regulations

• A complex threat environment

• Coordination of multiple cybersecurity employees

• Preparation for transitions, such as a merger or an IPO offering

However, finding, hiring, and retaining a capable CISO can be a challenge because of the high demand and turnover rate. The average staff turnover rate for cybersecurity experts is unexpectedly high at 20%. At the same time, there is nearly 35% growth in the information security analyst sector.

Fortunately, you can look at our guide to find the best sites to uncover top candidates. We also show you how to hire chief information security officers.

Why Should You Consider Hiring a Freelance Chief Information Security Officer?

The growth of SMBs that can profitably cater to niche markets has corresponded to the rise of fractional executives. These professionals can care for your company’s needs in vital areas without being full-time, on-site employees. This provides a refreshing level of freedom and flexibility for all parties.

For cybersecurity, this is why you see more experts offering their services as virtual CISOs or vCISOs. When you hire a freelance chief information security officer, you have a cost-effective and convenient way to access top talent from around the globe.

What Does a Chief Information Security Officer Do?

Naturally, any discussion of a CISO’s responsibilities also involves the word “risk.” Stephen Katz said: “The role is all about business risk… Cybersecurity is a tool for managing business risk — it is not an end in itself.”

However, the position is not about just identifying and avoiding or eliminating risk. To accomplish that, the CISO must be able to communicate the reality of that risk to other stakeholders and leaders so they will invest in solutions that reduce threats. What does a chief security officer do in the modern age to meet that challenge?

Yael Nagler, CEO of a CISO coaching and consulting firm, says, “As the role has evolved, it’s actually moved further away from the keyboard of technology and more into the executive meeting room. So, the CISO’s skills have evolved, but their interactions have also really shifted.”

In a separate interview, Katz explains: “It’s the ability to articulate risk in a way that is related to the business processes in the organization. You need to be able to translate what risk means.”

Therefore, a primary reason why you hire a chief information security officer is to have a “technical security translator.” Determining your need for locks, barriers, and personnel is easier for brick-and-mortar operations. However, security is much more challenging in the digital realm. A CISO’s job is to make that plain and show how you can do it.

Additionally, when you hire a dedicated CISO, your company can more easily stay compliant with increasing government regulations, whether local or international. Remember, your company is on the hook for following the rules anywhere it does business. In the digital age, that is literally worldwide.

This is all the more important as you now likely process and retain your customers’ sensitive information, such as bank account and credit card details, as well as passwords and personal data.

Furthermore, well-rounded cybersecurity requires having a strong offense and a solid defense, alongside many other valued contributors. A CISO is capable of overseeing all sides and coordinating their efforts. Cybersecurity experts often represent these tasks with the different colors you see below.

If you hire a CISO, you also get these benefits:

• A trusted advisor with the education to make sound decisions about your cybersecurity roadmap

• An industry expert who stays aware of current trends and potential threats

• Someone to ensure you do not invalidate your cybersecurity insurance and have to pay out of pocket for a breach

With this support, you do not have to worry so much about cyber attacks and can focus on running your team. These advantages give you every reason to search for qualified chief information security officers for hire.

How To Hire Chief Information Security Officers

In a highly sophisticated field like cybersecurity, you cannot afford a misstep when hiring a freelancer CISO. The stability and strength of your company is at stake.

The key thing is to start your search as soon as you discern a need for a CISO. Because you are looking for a trustworthy member of your executive team, you need to pay particular attention to screening and vetting.

If you only need to hire a freelance CISO, trustworthiness is even more important. Fractional executives who work only part of the time must be completely reliable and able to work remotely on their own schedule.

By default, a chief information security officer is a senior-level position. However, you might consider someone to be an “entry-level” CISO if they are handling the position for the first time or have less than a couple of years of experience.

Such a professional is likely ready to lead a smaller team or work part-time with a small company. You would want to look for someone with more experience if you are larger or need an expert to correct a significant data breach.

Much like any other C-suite executive, what determines the skill level of a CISO will often be the individual’s management and leadership experience more than any technical skills. To get a balanced perspective, discuss your company’s needs with representatives from each department your CISO will interact with and create a comprehensive list. You must also have the necessary services to perform a full background check.

If you do not have time for all of this, consider a staffing service or freelance agency that handles the screening and vetting for you. Toptal, at the beginning of our list of sites to find freelance CISOs, can do this work.

Skills To Look For When Hiring A Chief Information Security Officer

One way to determine the level of qualifications when hiring a CISO is by an applicant’s certifications and experience. A bachelor’s is typical, but years of hands-on interaction and leadership can be just as valuable. Top CISOs usually have a master’s in some specialty.

Anyone with top chief information security officer skills has a string of letters next to their name. Look for someone with the certifications that address your particular challenges and pain points. The following credentials are a good starting point:

Various “soft” skills are also essential for a successful CISO. Three of the top ones include:

1. Leadership: What makes a CISO different from other tech experts is the ability to manage a team to get results. This person typically reports directly to the CEO or CIO and regularly discusses action items with the board of directors.

2. Financial fluency: CISOs need to be able to competently express the financial impact of any action or inaction. This is key to helping other stakeholders commit to important cybersecurity initiatives.

3. Tenacity: Since adequate cybersecurity is nonnegotiable, you need someone who sticks to the assignment until finishing the job. Most CISOs regularly work more than the standard 40-hour workweek.

As with any assignment, look for the right cultural fit when you hire a CISO. As an integral part of your team, you need someone who will blend well with your crew.

The Cost To Hire Chief Information Security Officers

Though the pay rate for a freelancer CISO varies, the median base annual salary is $243,783. This equals roughly $117 per hour.

The average CISO typically also earns another $52,000 in bonuses. The lower percentiles will make closer to $213,000 in total, while top executives rake in nearly $400,000.

Tips for Writing a Chief Information Security Officer Job Description

Writing a CISO job description can be more challenging than it initially appears. Too little information brings in an overwhelming amount of unqualified candidates. Too many details discourage competent job seekers or freelancers from applying.

After clearly stating the job title as the header, the following layout works well:

1. Company overview describing your culture and the kind of teammates you need

2. Primary responsibilities and strategic objectives of the role

3. Preferred and essential qualifications, skills, and experiences

4. Compensation, benefits, and opportunities

5. How to apply

With the exception of the overview, you can use bullet points that focus on action words to show CISOs what someone in the role will be doing, which is most important.

Common Interview Questions To Ask When You Are Looking To Hire a Chief Information Security Officer

When hiring a CISO, your interview questions must go deeper than the standard queries. This is a challenge if you do not have an IT background.

We find the questions to be effective:

• What steps do you take to stay within budget when implementing a new security system strategy? Uncover their flexibility and reasonableness.

• How do you explain tech jargon to staff members with an IT background? Understand the quality of the applicant’s communication skills.

• How would you persuade a CFO or executive team to adopt new cybersecurity measures? Get a better idea of the candidate's persuasive skills.

• Describe a time when you had to make a decision and neither option was ideal. Learn how the individual employs critical logic for difficult choices.

• What do you consider to be the most important qualities of a CISO? Find out if the person focuses more on being a big-picture facilitator than a techie.

Talk with other hiring managers to determine additional questions you can ask to see whether a CISO freelancer will work well with you.

How To Find Freelance Chief Information Security Officers For Hire

The key to success when you want to find chief information security officers as job candidates is to keep your eyes and ears open. You might try various job boards, outsourcing agencies, networking, or freelance marketplaces.

When you want to make the process as smooth and painless as possible, we recommend examining our list of sites to hire CISOs. Find a match that meets your needs for speed of hiring while locating world-class talent. For that, we have found that Toptal can do it all.

Finding and hiring a CISO keeps your organization safe in the digital realm. You can locate and retain top talent by understanding the market, creating an intelligent hiring strategy, and carefully vetting candidates. By doing these things, you will run a safer and more productive team.