Please don't laugh too hard but...anyone have any advice for someone wanting to become a CISO?

[Naozomi]

I've only got my GED and I'm about to enroll in college and I really want to make sure that I'm doing it right. I'm studying and about to take my A+ since I know it's better than nothing right now at least. I have decided that my current big goal in life is to someday work my way up to a CISO job. My question is what classes would be best to take, and what jobs would work me up the ladder? The more I can work from home the better too if possible?..

Right now I am looking into the "Associate in Applied Science Computer and Information Technologies Security Track". These are the class options http://. If that one doesn't look right then there are others on there too http://apps.elizabethtown.kctcs.edu/advisors/pathways/pathways02.cfm?path=AllI'm also hoping to apply soon for an at home Apple job to help pay for my education in addition to just filling out my FAFSA tonight. What would you recommend I privately self study as well? In what order of importance? Any resources you'd recommend as well? Thank you for the help in advance. ^_^

Please don't say anything that isn't helpful...I know I'm aiming pretty high..

 

[Chugalug_]

Its all about climbing the corporate ladder, start off in wherever your degree takes you and work hard to make your way to the top.
Use your textbooks and perhaps even arrange one on one sessions with your professors or career counselors if you have good ones at your university/college.

 

[cirdecus]

I think going into computer information security in college will work well, be sure to learn and understand network architecture and infrastructure as well as SQL. Get a Bachelors and find a small/medium business to start out and work your way up. What I did throughout my career, was to search for a job title "raise" at a low cost. So if you're an IT Technician and there is a Manager position open, apply for that job at a low pay and then prove value to the business later. Then continue to work through the titles until you're a Director. Finally at a Director level, you really want to see if you have the corporate business skills to become a top Executive. At the CISO or CIO level and heck, even at the Director level in some cases, you're really dealing with top level business strategy and processes and very little IT. You may use your background a little to design a top level strategy for the business but you're far removed from the actual work. At that level, you're talking usually mid 30's and 15-20 years experience.

But at some point, realize that there will be a significant transition and opportunity to transform from your IT role to a manager/executive role and you'll spend more time in meetings, planning budgets and doing presentations than any real IT work.

It is satisfying to be at that level and making huge decisions along with getting an enormous pay, but if you're really tied to the techy aspect of it, you may be more interested in a specialized field like a Cisco Engineer or something.

Oh and one last thing, big business and corporate business is not a great long term environment. It's far better to find a solid and profitable medium sized business with opportunity.

Don't worry about certs and grades. It's experience that counts and that BA

 

[Chugalug_]

Ditto, I did Business information systems in a double degree with an economics degree, and they tie in quite well, as most IT companies have a heavy economic aspect even in dedicated IT work.

 

[Ralston18]

In full agreement with the preceding posts.

Remain open minded and work on job skills that are applicable in any professional environment: speaking, writing, proposals, budget, planning, leadership, etc..

Read "Cybersecurity Leadership"by Dr. Mansur Hasib".

Easy to read format and covers many aspects of IT as well as business in general. The sort of things that you always find yourself wishing that you knew "x" years ago.

Be careful about what you do - you may want or need a security clearance someday. Big plus.