YOUR FIRST 90 DAYS AS A CISO
Succeed in the most critical first 90 Days of your CISO journey.
The first 90 days set the tone for success. CISOs who establish quick wins and alignment early are far better positioned for the long run. In fact, 40% of CISOs report struggling to make it past 18 months when expectations and strategy aren’t aligned.
This Ebook provides a CISO 90 Days Plan to lead with impact
from Day One.
What’s inside the ‘First 90 Days as a CISO’ Ebook?
Days 1 - 30: Assess & Build Trust
- Gain a full 360° view of your security posture and key stakeholders
- Identify urgent “house-on-fire” risks
- Begin establishing credibility through engagement - not authority
Days 31 - 60: Strategize & Align
- Prioritize the top 3–5 critical security issues
- Map your roadmap to business goals and risk reduction
- Begin executing quick wins to show momentum
Days 61 - 90: Execute & Communicate
- Deliver meaningful security improvements
- Strengthen processes and incident response readiness
- Present a compelling 90-day impact report to leadership
Beyond 90 Days:
- Build for scale with sustainable governance, communication, and alignment
Key Insights from security leaders
Start with empathy, build trust, and ensure your program is visible and well-embraced by the entire organization.
Being hands-on in my first 90 days - embedding with operations earned me trust and credibility fast
Communication is your secret weapon: get others to care about controls as much as you do
(Former CISO, CoinSwitch)
Cybersecurity succeeds when it aligns with business goals — understanding the enterprise vision and driving outcomes like reduced risk, higher efficiency, and better user experience.
Before spotting red flags, understand the business, align with stakeholders, strengthen governance, secure board buy-in, and communicate early and clearly.
Start with empathy, build trust, and ensure your program is visible and well-embraced by the entire organization.
Being hands-on in my first 90 days - embedding with operations earned me trust and credibility fast
Communication is your secret weapon: get others to care about controls as much as you do
(Former CISO, CoinSwitch)
Cybersecurity succeeds when it aligns with business goals — understanding the enterprise vision and driving outcomes like reduced risk, higher efficiency, and better user experience.
Before spotting red flags, understand the business, align with stakeholders, strengthen governance, secure board buy-in, and communicate early and clearly.
How this “Your First 90 Days
as a CISO” Ebook helps you
Practical and focused: Real, experience-driven steps - not theory
Scannable and actionable: Structured around a clear 30-60-90 framework
Credibility-first approach: Center empathy, communication, and quick wins
Designed for new CISOs: From risk assessment to executive alignment
Frequently asked questions
Why are the first 90 days as a CISO so important?
What should I prioritize in my first 90 days as a CISO?
Days 1–7: Understand the business model, key assets, and existing security landscape.
Days 7–30: Identify critical vulnerabilities, quick mitigation opportunities, and engage with leadership to align on risk appetite.
Days 30–60: Strengthen your security roadmap, establish governance, define metrics, and begin implementing priority actions.
Days 60–90: Communicate progress to stakeholders, refine policies, and set a long-term vision for continuous improvement and resilience.
The ebook breaks down these phases step by step to help you navigate your first 90 days confidently.
Does this ebook apply to both startups and established companies?
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