Ability to work independently

The information security manager must be able to work independently without direct supervision or encouragement. In many cases, top management will not know exactly what he or she is doing. At the same time the manager must be accountable to top management and the Audit Committee on the Board of Directors.

The manager must be able to stay focused and get things done, even though the resources at his or her disposal are quite limited. The manager must also be accustomed to taking the lead and not waiting for users or other groups to tell him or her what to do.

A deep and abiding commitment to improve the information security status of the organization must carry the information security manager through the inevitable contentious and difficult situations that he or she will encounter. To work independently, the manager must be creative, proactive and inspired by a vision of how things could be.

INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGER QUALIFICATIONS

  Introduction
  Excellent communication skills
  Good relationship management skills
  Ability to manage many important projects simultaneously
  Ability to resolve conflicts between security and business objectives
  Ability to see the big picture
  Basic familiarity with information security technology
  Real world hands-on experience
  Commitment to staying on top of the technology
  Honesty and high-integrity character
  Familiarity with information security management
  Tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty
  Demonstrated good judgement
  Ability to work independently
  A certain amount of polish
 

Information Security Roles and Responsibilities Made Easy, Version 2 By Charles Cresson Wood 278 pages; $495 Published by Information Shield Download Appendix B, Personal Qualifications