Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Job Description & Salary

A CISO’s job reaches many different parts of a healthcare organization.

Information security is one of the biggest issues facing healthcare today. Following events such as Wannacry, the Anthem hack of 2015, and a number of other ransomware attacks, consumer confidence in the security of health information systems has suffered.

As a result, the role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has never been as important as it is in the era of digitized health information exchange. This C-level position is an important figure in the life of a health IT team, as decisions vital to information security programs and protocols fall to the CISO.

Job Duties for a CISO

On a day-to-day basis, the CISO’s job reaches many different parts of a healthcare organization. They are expected to anticipate new threats and work to prevent them from happening. But their duties can include any of the following:

  • Overseeing identity and access management
  • Reviewing investigations after breaches or incidents that reveal vulnerabilities
  • Implement and test disaster recovery and business continuity plans
  • Implement an effective process for incident reporting
  • Stay up to date with the latest cybersecurity technology and best practices
  • Manage the IT security team
  • Ensure compliance with government regulations
  • Create the strategy behind, and design of, information security systems
  • Conduct security awareness training for employees

This is not an exhaustive list of the duties a CISO may have to execute, it is merely a list of some of this position’s core functions. The CISO must work with other executives across departments to understand and reduce the organizational risk healthcare companies face as they collect huge amounts of patient data.

Job Growth and Salary

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track the title of Chief Information Security Officer specifically. However, it does profile the position of Computer and Information System Managers, a job category with a projected growth rate of 15%, which is much faster than the national average for all other occupations.

Professionals in these positions earned an average of $169,510 per year as of May 2023, with the top 10% averaging more than $230,000 in annual income.

Education and Skills

This position will require executive leadership skills. Managing people and empowering them to meet goals in a digital environment is necessary. The quickly evolving IT landscape requires a passion for technology, an analytical mind capable of multi-tasking and excellent communication skills.

Candidates for CISO positions must have at least a bachelor’s degree and a number of standard IT certifications. In today’s market, it’s more likely that the job will require a master’s degree in a related field to attain top positions. If you are looking to attain a CISO position in a healthcare organization, a master’s degree or a graduate certificate in health informatics or healthcare analytics could help separate you from the competition.

*National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions,
and do not guarantee actual job growth. Information provided is not intended to
represent a complete list of hiring companies or job titles, and program options
do not guarantee career or salary outcomes. Students should conduct independent
research for specific employment information.

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Academic Calendar

SUMMER I – 2024

Application Deadline April 12, 2024
Start Date April 29, 2024
End Date June 23, 2024

SUMMER II – 2024

Application Deadline June 7, 2024
Start Date June 24, 2024
End Date August 18, 2024

FALL I – 2024

Application Deadline August 2, 2024
Start Date August 19, 2024
End Date October 13, 2024

FALL II – 2024

Application Deadline September 27, 2024
Start Date October 14, 2024
End Date December 8, 2024

SPRING I – 2025

Application Deadline December 13, 2024
Start Date January 6, 2025
End Date March 2, 2025

SPRING II – 2025

Application Deadline February 14, 2025
Start Date March 3, 2025
End Date April 27, 2025

SUMMER I – 2025

Application Deadline April 11, 2025
Start Date April 28, 2025
End Date June 22, 2025

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