How do you know which CISO candidates will serve as a business driver? While there is no single blueprint, here are key qualities to identify.
Executive Presence
CISOs need the ability to communicate clearly, process information quickly, zero in on what's most important, handle conflict constructively, and build productive relationships. (None of which have to do with "charisma.") Look for someone who can command a room with clarity and credibility. Strategic CISOs build trust not just by demonstrating technical expertise, but by ensuring their communication, decisions, and priorities consistently reflect business realities.
Collaborative Thinking
Cyber security has its fair share of binary thinkers: my way or the highway. Instead of binary proclamations, CISOs present leaders with information, options, reasoned recommendations, and perhaps most importantly, questions. Empathy is a valuable underlying trait. The strongest CISOs partner across departments to enable innovation without creating unnecessary friction. They replace rigid “no’s” with flexible “how might we” recommendations.
A Risk Mindset
It's all about balancing risk, cost, and opportunity, based on considerations like company priorities and financial exposure. Security controls are a form of risk mitigation. A strategic CISO sees risk through a business lens, weighing security investments alongside opportunity cost, customer experience, and growth.
Relevant Experience
Maybe industry experience is most relevant. But in some cases, the industry connection can be over-emphasized. Depending on your business goals, perhaps experience leading security through change is the most relevant qualification. Or absorbing acquisitions, protecting intellectual property, hiring and developing staff, or dealing with massive regulatory shifts.
An Aversion to FUD
Fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) as a security sales tactic should be ancient history. Overstating risks to obtain budget is counterproductive (at best). A business-minded CISO will know that.
Two-way Translation Skills
A CISO translates business priorities into technical concepts for the security team, and also translates technical risks into business language for the c-suite. And the very best CISOs work to build the same translation skills throughout the security function. They enable the entire security function to think and speak in business terms.
"Enough" Technical Depth
There's frequent debate in the cybersecurity world about whether CISOs have to be deep technology experts. Some successful CISOs come from nontechnical backgrounds; others insist that's a recipe for trouble in leading an inherently technical field.
So how to gauge "enough" technical depth? Don't rely too much on the shorthand of a candidate's IT certifications. Peer references can be helpful. Security staff at your company may also help assess a candidate's technical strengths and weaknesses. Whatever their background, a strong CISO candidate also has a short list of personnel they can invite along to bridge technical gaps; the bigger the staff, the less hands-on technical work a CISO is likely to address.
Signals of Innovation Leadership
A business-enabling CISO doesn’t just protect what exists—they help build what’s next. Innovation-minded security leaders look beyond controls to unlock opportunity. They’ve partnered with product, engineering or go-to-market teams. They think of security as a differentiator, not a cost center. They may be involved in secure AI adoption, data governance, or digital trust initiatives. Some also contribute to industry conversations or help shape emerging policy.
Critical Incident Experience
As boxing champion Mike Tyson said, "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." It's hard to replicate the experience and lessons learned from dealing with a significant cyber incident or breach. Under pressure, a CISO remains not only calm but also smart. Ask about a breach or critical incident they have managed—and how it changed their leadership approach.
