Professional Association of CISOs

?? “I’m a CISO, and I Sell Jeans.” ?? Cybersecurity isn’t just about stopping threats—it’s about driving business forward. But where do CISOs draw the line between security leadership and business responsibility? ?? Join this must-attend webinar to find out: ?? Wednesday, March 19, 2025 ? 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM (PDT) ?? Register: https://lnkd.in/eJNpbpEg ?? What’s on the agenda? ? What’s actually a CISO’s responsibility—and what isn’t ? How security decisions impact business goals ? How to communicate security’s value to leadership ?? Featuring an all-star lineup of cybersecurity leaders: ?? Daniel Frye ?? Heather Hinton ?? Steve Zalewski This is a conversation every CISO, security leader, and aspiring cyber pro needs to hear. Because if you can’t sell security to your execs, you won’t get buy-in. Let’s talk strategy. Let’s talk leadership. And maybe, let’s sell some jeans. #Cybersecurity #CISO #Leadership #SecurityStrategy #BusinessAlignment #LitSec

Check out Moona Ederveen-Schneider’s latest article, Ripple Effects: Anticipating Consequences; Multiplying Impact, for the National Preparedness Commission. This piece dives into the complex ripple effects of interconnected risks, from technology outages to climate change, and how traditional preparedness strategies may be falling short. It also references the PAC, highlighting the need for a fresh approach to resilience and crisis planning. ?? In an era of increasing digital and global dependencies, what yesterday’s solutions got right might be tomorrow’s vulnerabilities. How can we rethink preparedness to anticipate cascading consequences instead of just reacting to them? ?? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ejE8H8H9 #CyberResilience #RiskManagement #Preparedness #RippleEffects #CrisisManagement #DigitalInterdependencies

?? Missed Our PAC Webinar? Here’s What You Need to Know! ?? In our recent PAC Code of Professional Conduct webinar, we tackled one of the toughest questions CISOs face: “Are we safe?” The discussion, led by David B. Cross, Stephen D., Heather Hinton, and Steve Zalewski, highlighted how the PAC Code helps security leaders navigate ethical challenges, communicate risk effectively, and be stronger business partners. One key takeaway? There’s no simple answer. Instead, reframing the conversation around risk posture, business context, and integrity is crucial. If you missed the webinar, catch the recap here: https://lnkd.in/gscJNqY2 ?? Want to watch the full discussion? Replay the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/g-Vs42-z ?? #Cybersecurity #CISO #Leadership #Ethics #RiskManagement #PAC #CodeProfessionalConduct?

?? Honored to Join #ReimaginingCyber! ?? We were truly honored to be hosted on the #ReimaginingCyber podcast! ?? Host Rob Aragao welcomed Demetrius Comes, a CISO executive advisor at EVOTEK and a leader within PAC, to discuss the Professional Association of CISOs (PAC) role and the critical challenges facing modern security leaders. ??? In this episode, we explore: ? How PAC is shaping the future of cybersecurity leadership ? The biggest challenges facing today’s CISOs ? Why a strong community of security leaders is more essential than ever A huge thank you to Reimagining Cyber for giving us the platform to share PAC’s mission and impact. If you’re a cybersecurity professional looking to understand how PAC supports and empowers CISOs, this episode is for you! Listen now! #CyberSecurity #CISO #PAC #Leadership #RiskManagement #InfoSec

We’re grateful to CISO Tradecraft? for giving us the platform to discuss something long overdue: a professional association built by CISOs, for CISOs. In our conversation with Steve Zalewski and Tyson Kopczynski, we explored how the Professional Association of CISOs (PAC) is: ?? Creating liability protections tailored for CISOs ?? Building an accreditation framework to define industry standards ?? Ensuring CISOs aren’t left to take the fall when incidents happen ?? The reality is apparent: If CISOs don’t define their profession, someone else will. And the results may not be in our favor. A huge thank you to CISO Tradecraft? for helping us spread the word and drive this critical conversation forward! ??? #ThankYou #CISOTradecraft #CISOs #CyberSecurity #Leadership #PAC

?? Happy New Year! Join the Professional Association of CISOs for our first webinar of 2025! On January 23rd, we'll explore the PAC Code of Professional Conduct—a vital framework for promoting ethical excellence and fostering trust in today’s complex cybersecurity landscape. ??? When: January 23rd ? Time: 11 AM EST / 2 PM PST Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/gNUDS_ue ?? #CISO #Cybersecurity #Leadership #EthicalExcellence #ProfessionalConduct #Integrity #Transparency #Accountability #PAC #CyberLeadership #SecurityProfessionals #TrustInCybersecurity #CISOWebinar #CyberEthics

??? Happy Holidays from PAC! ?? As we celebrate this festive season, we want to thank everyone who has been part of our journey. Your support, dedication, and engagement have made this year unforgettable. We’re excited for what’s to come in 2025 as we continue building a stronger, more connected cybersecurity community. Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and a wonderful start to the new year! #HappyHolidays #CISOCommunity #Cybersecurity

100+ Registered Members: A Milestone for PAC! ?? We are thrilled to announce that the Professional Association of CISOs (PAC) has crossed 100 registered General Members! This incredible milestone is a testament to the vision, dedication, and support of our community. ?? A huge thank you to: - The PAC Core Working Group for their tireless effort in shaping this organization. - Our Support Team for ensuring seamless operations and addressing every detail. - Executive Sponsors and Founding Team Members for believing in the mission and paving the way. - Our Members and Future Members who are actively engaging in the process, embracing the Code of Conduct, and participating in the CISO Attestation Program. This journey has been nothing short of exhilarating — from thoughtful discussions to groundbreaking initiatives, your contributions have laid the foundation for a future where cybersecurity leadership is stronger, more connected, and truly professionalized. ?? The road ahead is exciting, with more opportunities to collaborate, grow, and drive positive change in the cybersecurity profession. Together, we’re building something remarkable, and we can’t wait to welcome many more members into this vibrant community. We are picking up the pace in processing over another 100 applicants. While everyone is taking it slow this holiday season, the backend team at PAC is going to work on scaling up the PAC to go from Pilot to Phase 1 of rigorous but speedier onboarding at scale. If you have applied, we thank you for your support and patience as we get the onboarding process going for you. In the next 30-60-90 days going into the new year and 2025.Q1, two more meaningful benefits are going to be operationalized from legal counsel and professional development and transition support, so please stay tuned. And if you have not already, please save the date for the PAC's Inaugural Conference and Workshop at RSAC 2025: THU May 1st Conference 8-11 AM , Professional Advancement Trainings 1PM - 3 PM, Working Group Meetings 3PM - 5PM. Pre-register here: https://lnkd.in/gm4NKXs4 For our global friends, we will be in Davos with the CFF Delegation and have an exciting agenda to pull you into action. In please take the Survey Now: https://lnkd.in/gVz8xQQH Thank you for being part of this incredible journey so far, and here’s to even greater milestones ahead! ?? General David H. Petraeus, US Army (Ret.) Charles Blauner Heather Hinton Tyson Kopczynski Steve Zalewski Gadi Evron Adnan D. Alain Espinosa Demetrius Comes ?? Joshua Scott Supro Ghose Sameer Sait Stephen D. Karl Mattson Ross Young David B. Cross Maria U. Eden Litvin Sarah Levin Lee Vorthman David Hirsch Katherine Kuehn Katherine Thompson John C. Averill Michael Piacente Brian Fricke, and more! #PAC100 #CISOLeadership #CybersecurityCommunity #TogetherWeSecure #CFF #CISOPAC Cyber Future Foundation Professional Association of CISOs

At #CFS2024, we tackled one of the most pressing topics for today’s cybersecurity leaders—protecting the personal and professional interests of CISOs. ?? Key Takeaways from the Discussion: . What is CISO PLI? – John Averill introduced Professional Liability Insurance (PLI) as an essential support for CISOs, helping mitigate personal risks tied to their high-pressure roles. . “The psychology of the profession requires us to recognize that CISOs operate under immense stress. Having insurance backing can provide critical peace of mind.” – John C. Averill. . The evolving role of insurance: As the cybersecurity landscape grows more complex, the insurance industry’s role in supporting CISOs is becoming indispensable. Join the Professional Association of CISOs (PAC) and let’s build a supportive network to tackle these challenges together! #CISOs don’t have to navigate these challenges alone—let’s amplify our community efforts and find innovative ways to safeguard and support our leaders. #CyberFutureSummit2024 #CISOLiability #CyberLeadership #CISOProtection Anderson Lunsford Heather Hinton Renee Guttmann Valmiki Mukherjee, CISSP, CRISC Katherine Thompson Usman Choudhary Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC PETER VOGEL (MS Computer Science and JD) Jennifer Foy Diana L. Burley, Ph.D. Tyson Kopczynski Alain Espinosa Steve Zalewski

Today at #CFS2024, we delved into what it means to professionalize the cybersecurity industry with the incredible panel of Alain Espinosa, Amit Basu, Heather Hinton, and Ross Young. Together, they explored how a Professional Association of CISOs could shape the future of this vital field. ?? Key Highlights from the Discussion: “We need globally recognized pathways for cybersecurity professionals – from analysts to CISOs – to standardize roles and create clear career trajectories.” Amit Basu . Lessons learned from 15+ years emphasize that cybersecurity is no longer just about technology; it’s about risk management, governance, communication, and leadership. . “Normalizing standards and defining what’s ‘good enough’ for the cybersecurity profession will help the industry mature globally.” Allain Espinosa . The importance of codes of conduct: “Committing to ethical practices strengthens our profession and provides a negotiating advantage for cybersecurity leaders.” Ross Young The Vision for the Professional Association of CISOs: . Establish defined career paths and standardized roles to guide the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. . Set global benchmarks to ensure clarity in practices and expectations. . Foster community-driven governance and collaboration to meet emerging challenges like regulatory demands, legal complexities, and new cyber threats. . Advocate for the multifaceted role of CISOs, emphasizing skills like communication, risk management, and leadership alongside technical expertise. “Everyone in this room, regardless of what you do, can be a CISO.” – Steve Zalewski Let’s unite to elevate the profession, define its standards, and build a resilient future for the cybersecurity industry. #CyberFutureSummit2024 #CISOLeadership #CybersecurityProfession #ProfessionalPathways Valmiki Mukherjee, CISSP, CRISC Katherine Thompson