Some CSOs have shared that, at the conclusion of their interview process, the CEO would concede, “I want to hire you to be our CSO, but I’m not sure what I want you to do.” While academics may debate the benefits and pitfalls of “Blue Sky” job descriptions, we should not be too surprised. After all, most organizations did not have CSO or “top security executive” level job positions, descriptions or requirements.

In some cases, the incoming CSO brought their own job description with them. The friction this created among IT, HR, legal, facilities and other established departments should have been predicted, since we saw this play out before when the CIO position was created about two decades earlier.

The last half-decade has again proven that organizations may adapt slowly but they adapt. The CSO role, job description and professional development have emerged as a core and valuable component of organizational strategy. Most CEOs believe security can provide a competitive advantage and generate a measurable return on their security investment.

But what do those in your organization or outside it – your customers – think of the job you are doing? Many have been impacted by the advent of bigger, broader security efforts, along with new policies, surveillance, investigations, audits and the associated cost. In this month’s cover story, “What Internal Customers Expect from Security,” Security Magazine, with help from Maddry Associates and materials from Deloitte and The Conference Board, analyze with your executive peer groups and regular Joe and Jane employees from sales, facilities, IT and more.

The informative and surprising results begin on page 28.

“We Believe That Every Night Our Most Important Assets Walk Out These Doors”

I searched for who initially said this management cliché; it was hard to find a CEO who hasn’t said it. As a security leader you know your biggest risks walk in and out of your doors 24/7. Maybe we can develop a postulate for our industry:

“Every Night and Day Our Most Important Risks Walk In and Out of These Doors” (and databases and networks). Share your axioms with us and we’ll post them on securitymag.com.

To the point: Access controls are quickly evolving and being integrated into enterprise-wide solutions. It is difficult to keep up and be certain that your organization and your partners are delivering cutting edge but proven solutions.

In this year’s Annual Access Control Special Report, Bill Zalud and his team offer help through their in-depth look at best practices, new technologies and solutions that are delivering results beyond just security, but all the way to the bottom line. Special report topics range from wireless access and video to biometrics, the door card, mesh nets, gates and more.

Security Goes Global

“We’re being asked to provide security in places we have never heard of,” a panelist shared at our recent Security-Xchange. There is no question that to expand globally a sound security strategy is required. The best organizations include security in the early planning stages enabling speed to market as a competitive advantage. We too are going global. Beginning with this month’s issue, Security Magazine and our sister publication, SDM will be published in Mandarin and distributed at the China Public Security Expo in Shenzhen. In 2008, Security’s Chinese language edition will be published quarterly.

Continuing our expansion, we will be exhibiting at The Security & Safety Technologies Russia Show in Moscow next February and IFSEC in England next April.

The Security 500 is November 14th in New York City

If you have not registered at www.securitymagazine.com/500 yet, please visit the site and consider joining us for this outstanding one-day executive management program. Featuring keynote presentations by Ms. Chris Kite of Cisco and Mr. Marshall Sanders of L-3 Communications; the focus will be on sharing success stories and best management practices.

I hope to see you there!