An information security officer, also known as an ISO, is a person employed a company who is in charge of ensuring the security and privacy of various types of data within the company. This typically involves maintaining computer networks to ensure that sensitive financial or private information is kept secure and cannot be accessed anyone who is not authorized to do so, depending on the needs of the client. A chief information security officer or another member of upper management, such as a vice president or president in charge of information technology (IT) or security, usually reports to an information security officer.
As more businesses turn to computers to store private and financial information digitally, allowing for more storage space and organization, those businesses have become aware of the security risks associated with such data. Many businesses hire someone like an information security officer to ensure that data security protocols are established and followed in order to keep data private. An information security officer may not be in charge of setting up servers and networks, but he or she will frequently supervise others who are. He or she may also be called upon to deal with emergencies or critical matters involving privacy and information security.
The skills needed to become an information security officer are typically technical as well as interpersonal. While the individual usually reports to someone higher up in the organization, he or she may also be in charge of hiring other employees who are in charge of other aspects of information security. This means that he or she will almost certainly need interpersonal skills in order to deal with hiring, firing, and managing a team of people. An information security officer must also be familiar with the technical aspects of computer data privacy, which includes knowledge of networks, firewalls, and other security protocols.
Although this officer is not typically a high-ranking executive within a company, he or she may be eligible for advancement to positions such as chief information security officer or vice president of IT security. The starting pay for an information security officer is typically determined the company for which he or she works and the company’s security needs. Promotion within a company can be common as employees demonstrate reliability and trustworthiness when dealing with private information, and salary can increase significantly for someone promoted into a higher information security position within a company.