an introduction to
CISO MindMap 2024
What do InfoSec professionals really do?
Rafeeq Rehman
https://rafeeqrehman.com
Copyright © 2002-24 Rafeeq Rehman – Proprietary, all rights reserved
CYBERSECURITY
What is CISO MindMap?
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Since its inception in 2012, the CISO
MindMap has served as a valuable
educational resource, offering insights
into CISO responsibilities and aiding
security professionals in crafting and
enhancing their security programs.
Continuously adapting to reflect the
evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the
CISO MindMap has been updated to
accommodate the latest developments
in the field.
Copyright © 2002-24 Rafeeq Rehman – Proprietary, all rights reserved
CYBERSECURITY
Update methodology
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Every update to the CISO MindMap undergoes thorough consideration,
research, and attention to detail. In addition to my ongoing engagements
with industry leaders, various methods are employed to ensure we capture
the pulse of the cybersecurity landscape:
1. Conducting interviews with experts
2. Distributing surveys to gather insights
3. Leveraging LinkedIn for targeted questions and discussions
4. Analyzing feedback and comments from previous versions of the
CISO MindMap
5. Staying abreast of industry news and conducting in-depth analysis
Copyright © 2002-24 Rafeeq Rehman – Proprietary, all rights reserved
CYBERSECURITY
The Latest Version
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New version is published at the end of Q1/start of Q2 every year.
1. Available at https://rafeeqrehman.com/ciso-mindmap/
2. Updated on annual basis. Updates are marked in different colors.
3. Contains 14 main categories.
4. Includes input from many industry leaders, surveys, threat landscape,
personal experiences
5. Has an expiration date 15-18 months in future
6. Comes with Recommendations
Copyright © 2002-24 Rafeeq Rehman – Proprietary, all rights reserved
CYBERSECURITY
Focus Areas and Recommendations
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Each year, I offer my recommendations as a practitioner, drawing insights
from discussions with information security leaders. The approach strives for
objectivity, steering clear of hype and focusing solely on data-driven
research. The goal is to propose actionable steps viable within a short to
mid-range timeframe. These recommendations do not constitute future
predictions.
1. Recommendation 1: Adopt a Cautious Approach Towards GenAI
2. Recommendation 2: Consolidate and Rationalize Security Tools
3. Recommendation 3: Cyber Resilience – Go Beyond Incident Response
4. Recommendation 4: Build a Brand for Security Team
5. Recommendation 5: Maximize Business Value of Security Controls
Copyright © 2002-24 Rafeeq Rehman – Proprietary, all rights reserved
CYBERSECURITY
How to use CISO Mindmap
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Here are some ways in which the CISO MindMap proves to be immensely
valuable:
1. Facilitating conversations with fellow technology professionals.
2. Instrumental in the design and refinement of security programs.
3. Adopted by certain security vendors for raising awareness.
4. Employed in CISO group discussions and community meetings.
5. Aiding aspiring security professionals in understanding the industry
landscape and charting their career paths.
6. Serving as an educational and awareness-raising tool.
Copyright © 2002-24 Rafeeq Rehman – Proprietary, all rights reserved
CYBERSECURITY
Call for Action
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• Join LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14044149/
• Volunteer as industry expert for 2025 and provide your input
• Volunteer to teach on Cybersecurity Learning Saturday
Copyright © 2002-24 Rafeeq Rehman – Proprietary, all rights reserved
CYBERSECURITY
About the presenter
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Based in Columbus OH, Rafeeq Rehman worked in various industries including
telecom, manufacturing, retail, and insurance/financial services building information
security programs. In addition to numerous security certifications (CISSP, CISM,
CISA, CCSK), Rafeeq also holds M.Sc. degree in Electrical and Computer
Engineering and MBA in Marketing. Rafeeq is author of many books including
Linux/UNIX and Information Security. He frequently writes on his personal blog site
where he publishes CISO MindMap used by many security leaders as an awareness
tool to highlight complexities of a CISO role. As an active member of technology
community, Rafeeq also serves on boards of multiple non-profit organizations.
His latest book, Cybersecurity Arm Wrestling: Winning the perpetual fight against
crime by building a modern Security Operations Center (SOC) is available on
Amazon.
Copyright © 2002-24 Rafeeq Rehman – Proprietary, all rights reserved
CYBERSECURITY
Published Books
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Copyright © 2002-24 Rafeeq Rehman – Proprietary, all rights reserved
