20 Years of CISO Leadership
CISO Network was founded in 2005 — making us the original and longest-running peer community for Chief Information Security Officers. This is our story.
Where It All Began
In 2005, Brad Haizlett saw a problem no one was solving. Chief Information Security Officers — the executives responsible for protecting some of the world's most critical organizations — had nowhere to turn for candid peer advice. They were isolated by the confidentiality demands of their role, surrounded by vendors with something to sell, and largely invisible to each other.
Brad founded CISO Network to change that. The idea was simple but powerful: create a trusted, vendor-neutral space where CISOs could speak freely with peers who understood the unique pressures of the role. No sales pitches. No recruiters. No noise. Just CISOs helping CISOs.
The first Executive Dinners were intimate gatherings — a handful of security leaders around a table, sharing war stories and hard-won lessons. Word spread quickly. Within a few years, CISO Network had become the go-to community for security executives across the United States.
Twenty years later, that founding principle remains unchanged. CISO Network is still the most trusted, most established, and most exclusive peer community for Chief Information Security Officers in the world.
"CISOs needed a place where they could be honest — about their challenges, their failures, their fears. That's what we built in 2005, and that's what we've protected for 20 years."
Two Decades of Milestones
From a single dinner table in 2005 to the world's most advanced CISO platform.
CISO Network Founded
Brad Haizlett establishes CISO Network as the first dedicated peer community for Chief Information Security Officers in the United States. The founding vision: a trusted, vendor-neutral space where CISOs could speak candidly with peers.
First Executive Dinner Series
CISO Network launches its signature Executive Dinner Series — intimate, off-the-record gatherings of senior security leaders in major US cities. The format becomes the gold standard for CISO peer exchange.
Expansion to 10 Cities
The Executive Dinner Series expands to 10 major metropolitan markets, establishing CISO Network as a truly national community. Membership surpasses 1,000 vetted CISOs.
Private Digital Community Launched
CISO Network launches its private digital platform, giving members a secure, vetted space for year-round peer exchange, resource sharing, and real-time collaboration — extending the dinner table conversation online.
10-Year Anniversary — 2,500 Members
CISO Network celebrates its 10th anniversary with over 2,500 vetted CISO members. The community now represents security leaders from the majority of Fortune 500 companies.
CISO Academy Established
The CISO Academy launches with the first cohort of certification programs designed specifically for security executives — filling a gap in professional development for CISOs that traditional certifications never addressed.
Threat Intelligence Platform
CISO Network introduces Threat Compass, a real-time threat intelligence platform built exclusively for CISO-level decision-making. Members gain access to curated, executive-grade threat briefings.
Virtual Pivot — Community Resilience
When in-person events pause globally, CISO Network rapidly pivots to virtual executive roundtables, online forums, and digital peer exchange. Membership engagement reaches an all-time high as CISOs navigate unprecedented challenges.
Cybersecurity Vendor Marketplace
The CISO Network Marketplace launches — a curated directory of vetted cybersecurity vendors, rated and reviewed exclusively by CISO members. For the first time, CISOs have a trusted, peer-validated vendor resource.
Return to In-Person — 15+ Cities
Executive Dinners return with expanded reach across 15+ US cities. The post-pandemic appetite for trusted peer connection drives record attendance and membership growth.
CISO Podcast & Thought Leadership
CISO Network launches its podcast and thought leadership platform, amplifying member voices and establishing the community as a primary source of cybersecurity executive insight for the broader industry.
AI Security & Startup Corner
CISO Network introduces dedicated AI security resources and the Startup Corner — connecting early-stage cybersecurity companies with the CISO community for real-world feedback and partnership opportunities.
20-Year Anniversary — 6,500+ Members
CISO Network marks its 20th anniversary as the original and most trusted CISO peer community in the world. Over 6,500 vetted members. 90% of Fortune 1000 represented. Two decades of confidential peer exchange, executive development, and community leadership.
Next Chapter — Global Expansion
CISO Network continues to grow its platform, expand internationally, and deepen the tools available to security leaders — from AI-powered threat intelligence to advanced career development resources.
Why CISO Network Is Different
Twenty years of trust, built on principles that have never changed.
Vendor-Neutral Since Day One
No vendors. No recruiters. No sponsored content masquerading as peer advice. CISO Network has been strictly vendor-neutral since 2005 — protecting the integrity of every conversation.
Fully Vetted Membership
Every member is verified as a current or former CISO or senior security executive. The vetting process ensures that when you ask a question, you get an answer from someone who has actually done the job.
In-Person Executive Dinners
Our signature Executive Dinner Series — intimate, off-the-record gatherings in 15+ cities — has been running since 2007. There is no substitute for face-to-face peer connection.
Confidential by Design
Chatham House rules apply to all CISO Network gatherings and discussions. Members can speak candidly knowing their words stay within the community.
CISO-Specific Education
The CISO Academy offers 10 certification programs designed specifically for security executives — not generic IT certifications repurposed for CISOs, but programs built from the ground up for the role.
20 Years of Institutional Knowledge
Two decades of peer conversations, threat intelligence, and collective wisdom are embedded in the CISO Network platform. No community founded in 2022 or 2024 can replicate that.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was CISO Network founded?
CISO Network was founded in 2005 by Brad Haizlett — making it the original and longest-running peer community for Chief Information Security Officers. We have been connecting CISOs for over 20 years.
Who founded CISO Network?
CISO Network was founded by Brad Haizlett, a cybersecurity industry veteran who recognized that CISOs needed a trusted, vendor-neutral space to connect with peers, share knowledge, and navigate the unique challenges of the CISO role.
Is CISO Network the original CISO community?
Yes. CISO Network, founded in 2005, is the original peer community for Chief Information Security Officers. It predates all other CISO-focused networking organizations and has been the gold standard for CISO peer exchange for two decades.
How many members does CISO Network have?
CISO Network has over 6,500 vetted CISO members, with representation from 90% of Fortune 1000 companies. All members are verified security executives — no vendors, no recruiters, no noise.
What makes CISO Network different from other cybersecurity communities?
CISO Network is exclusively for Chief Information Security Officers and senior security executives. It is vendor-neutral, fully vetted, and built on 20 years of trust. The combination of in-person executive dinners, a private digital platform, the CISO Academy, and the Marketplace creates an ecosystem no other community can match.
Be Part of the Next 20 Years
Join 6,500+ vetted CISOs in the community that has been setting the standard for security leadership since 2005.