How to become a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Australia's attack surface is growing – and so are the consequences of poor cyber governance.

In the past few years alone, breaches have hit healthcare providers, telcos and government agencies. When sensitive data is leaked, services stall or systems collapse – the scrutiny falls fast and hard. Someone needs to own the risk, and increasingly, that rests with the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

CISOs don’t just defend systems; they make judgement calls that affect shareholders, regulators and the public. Far from being a back-office IT role, it’s a strategic leadership position that demands authority across infrastructure, law, policy and risk.

If you’re considering the CISO path, the time to embark on it is now. In this article, we’ll explore what the role entails, how to carve a C-suite cyber security career and why strategic postgraduate study – like the online Master of Cyber Security from UNSW – can equip you with the right mix of capabilities to lead in a high-stakes and highly paid frontier.

 

What does a Chief Information Security Officer do?

The CISO leads the entire cyber security strategy for an organisation. While often – albeit incorrectly – portrayed as a technical executive, the CISO’s role goes well beyond infrastructure and threat detection. In practice, CISOs are responsible for:

• defining and updating the organisation’s security architecture
• assessing and mitigating information risk across all business units
• leading incident response and breach remediation efforts
• ensuring compliance with local and international regulations (e.g. Privacy Act, GDPR, SOCI Act)
• communicating risks and strategies to the board, regulators and stakeholders
• working across departments – including HR, legal, finance and procurement – to embed security standards into everyday operations and ensure compliance with evolving regulations.

They’re also expected to oversee internal security education, vendor contracts, insurance discussions and sometimes direct engagement with law enforcement or national security agencies.

The role requires both high-level fluency in emerging threats and an ability to explain cyber risk in business terms.

In Australia, where sectors like health, finance and logistics are heavily targeted, the CISO is often the difference between a contained incident and a full-blown crisis. With such high stakes, it’s no surprise that the high demand for qualified professionals is driving higher earning opportunities.
 

How to become a Chief Information Security Officer

There’s no direct entry to a CISO role. It’s generally the result of a career spanning a decade or more, underpinned by a mix of education, certifications and leadership experience. But the right decisions, especially around study and specialisation, can accelerate your progression – whether you’re just starting your cyber security career or are looking to level-up.

Education

Most CISOs begin with an undergraduate degree in computer science, IT, information systems or engineering. Technical fluency is essential, but it’s not enough on its own.

CISOs must also understand the broader ecosystem – legal frameworks, regulatory obligations, business operations and human behaviour. This is where advanced education with proven relevance in the modern landscape becomes crucial.

The UNSW Online Master of Cyber Security equips professionals with the expertise they need to succeed in a constantly evolving field. This program combines cutting-edge cyber skills with the strategic awareness required to lead effectively in high-stakes environments.

Whether you're focused on high-level strategy or technical mastery, this program offers two specialised pathways designed to match your goals:

• Security Management and Leadership for those aiming to lead large teams, mitigate cyber risks and shape governance frameworks.
• Security Engineering for professionals looking to refine their technical expertise in penetration testing, engineering secure systems and combating emerging threats.

For aspiring executives, the Security Management stream includes vital areas such as Cyber Risk and Resilience, Cyber and the Law and Cyber Management and Governance. These courses prepare you to address the challenges of regulatory compliance, communicate clearly with stakeholders and lead with confidence.

Alternatively, the Security Engineering stream focuses on practical applications, with courses like Advanced Penetration Testing and Principles of Security Engineering. You’ll develop the knowledge needed to analyse vulnerabilities, design solutions and respond to today’s fast-changing threat landscape.

For those needing a bridge between their current professional or educational qualifications and the master's degree, future-conscious institutions like UNSW Online also offer a Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security and a Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security.

Certifications

Alongside academic qualifications, most CISOs hold one or more certifications that validate their operational and strategic skills. Common credentials include:

• CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) – a globally recognised benchmark for information security leadership, covering eight domains including asset security and security operations.
• CISM (Certified Information Security Manager) – focused on governance, risk and compliance – ideal for those moving into leadership and policy oversight roles.
• CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) demonstrates hands-on capabilities in penetration testing and vulnerability assessment – valuable for CISOs overseeing offensive and defensive teams.

These certifications demonstrate credibility, but also help bridge the gap between tactical knowledge and strategic execution.

Skills and expertise

The transition from technical specialist to executive leader hinges on developing a broad suite of capabilities and the ability to adapt as the threat landscape inevitably changes. These include:

• Strategic thinking - Aligning cyber initiatives with organisational objectives.
• Policy and governance acumen - Navigating frameworks like ISO 27001, SOC 2 and NIST.
• Communication skills - Reporting risks and strategies to boards and non-technical stakeholders.
• Crisis management - Leading breach response with clarity and calm.
• Regulatory awareness - Keeping up with fast-evolving compliance requirements.
• Technical currency - Staying informed on emerging threats, attack vectors and defensive technologies to ensure decisions remain relevant and effective.

For a deeper view of how skills and expectations differ across security roles, this guide to cyber security careers in Australia is a valuable resource.

Career path to becoming a CISO

Most CISOs build their careers across a series of progressively senior roles. While the route can vary depending on industry, the progression often follows three stages.

Early-stage roles, for example:

• Systems administrator
• Network engineer
• Cyber security analyst

These positions offer hands-on experience with infrastructure, access control and incident response. Analysts often support senior staff in threat detection, and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) monitoring.

Mid-level roles, for example:

• Security architect
• Risk and compliance officer
• IT security manager

Here, professionals start designing frameworks, managing teams and creating internal policies. They also begin presenting security issues to business units and interacting with auditors.

Senior roles, for example:

• Security director
• Head of governance and risk
• Program manager (information security)

These positions involve strategic planning, budget oversight and board-level communication. CISOs often emerge from this third tier after demonstrating operational leadership and stakeholder trust.

 

Build a strong professional network

Progressing into executive cyber leadership requires more than technical expertise; it demands visibility and strategic relationships. Joining associations like AISA or ISACA, attending industry events and seeking mentorship from experienced CISOs can provide critical insights, advocacy and access to unadvertised leadership roles. Building on these networks early can be pivotal to stepping into a CISO position.

Networking and mentoring matter at each stage of career advancement, particularly for professionals navigating structural barriers to advancement. Women remain underrepresented in senior cyber security roles, though pathways are expanding and guidance for women starting a career in cyber security on how to enter, grow and lead in the field is becoming more prioritised.

Expected salary and job prospects

Australia’s cyber security job market is in a sustained growth phase, and senior roles are commanding increasingly high salaries. Current job listings on SEEK.com for CISO positions range from $160,000 - $260,000, but can reach upwards of $300,000 across banking, energy and critical infrastructure.

More importantly, the demand for CISOs is outpacing supply. Industry research estimates a shortfall of more than 30,000 cyber professionals by 2026. The demand is especially acute for those who can combine technical knowledge with executive leadership.

This pressure is driving up salaries and opportunities, and with them, increased expectations. Boards now bank on CISOs to be more than firewall specialists. They must understand business models, manage operational risk and shape organisational resilience.

To meet these expectations and secure the highest-paying positions, the right professional and educational qualifications are a must.

Why now is the right time to become a CISO

If the 2020s have proven anything, it’s that cyber security is now central to national resilience and organisational survival. A single breach can sink stock prices, trigger class actions or bring operations to a halt.

The role of the CISO is well beyond niche – it’s critical. And there are three key reasons why stepping into this role now makes strategic sense for ambitious professionals:

• Escalating threats: Recent sieges on Medibank, Optus and QANTAS serve as cautionary tales. Nation-state attacks, ransomware gangs and insider threats are becoming more sophisticated, coordinated and damaging.
• Regulatory pressure: Laws such as the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act and Privacy Act reforms mean greater personal liability for directors and higher expectations for CISOs.
• Workforce gaps: With an undersupplied talent pipeline, professionals with the right blend of experience and credentials are in a strong position to negotiate roles with influence, flexibility and reward.

How UNSW’s Master of Cyber Security can help you succeed in the industry

The Master of Cyber Security through UNSW Online is designed for professionals ready to lead. Choose from two focused specialisations – Security Management and Leadership for those stepping into strategic, governance or policy roles, or Security Engineering for those seeking deep technical mastery in areas like penetration testing and reverse engineering.

The program is delivered 100% online in accelerated seven-week blocks, allowing you to upskill without putting your career on hold. Through a capstone project, you’ll apply your knowledge to a real-world challenge, solving problems that matter in context. Delivered by a top-ranked Australian university for Engineering and Technology, UNSW is known for equipping graduates with industry-recognised credentials and skills. You won’t just walk away with a degree – you’ll emerge as a capable, credible professional ready to influence cyber strategy at the highest level.

Cybercrime is escalating and organisations need leaders like you to keep their systems secure. Explore UNSW Online’s Master of Cyber Security today to begin your path toward becoming a chief information security officer. Speak to a Student Enrolment Advisor to learn more.