The Resilient CISO Awards 2027
Honoring the leaders who turn disruption into resilience
The Resilient CISO Awards recognize the security leaders redefining the role, moving beyond defense to keep the business running, no matter what comes.
Nominate a peer, a rising leader on your team, or yourself.
Nominations close February 28, 2027
Winners announced at RSAC, March 23, 2027
See last year's winners on the NASDAQ tower.
Why these awards matter
You already know the truth the industry took years to admit: the measure of a modern security leader isn't whether you get hit. It's how fast and how completely you recover, and whether the business ever feels the impact.
The Resilient CISO Awards celebrate the leaders answering that call. The ones shifting cybersecurity from pure protection to enterprise resilience, minimizing downtime, and making business continuity a measurable outcome. They're the leaders navigating board pressure, personal liability, and rising expectations while keeping their organizations running through ransomware, supply-chain shocks, and whatever the threat landscape delivers next.
Building on the inaugural 2026 program, the 2027 awards expand to recognize resilience at two stages of a leader's journey: those setting the standard today (CISOs), and those rising to define it next (Security Directors and above).
What this CISO Award recognition delivers
Validation that carries weight. This is recognition from a program built for CISOs, by CISOs. It resonates with boards, peers, and teams because it speaks their language: risk reduced, downtime minimized, continuity proven.
A stage at RSAC. Winners are announced and celebrated at the Resilient CISO Summit, hosted alongside RSAC 2027.
A seat in the inner circle. Winners and nominees gain access to the Resilient CISO Inner Circle, a peer community of resilient leaders trading hard-won lessons, ongoing events, and strategic insight.
A moment for the team. Resilience is never a solo act. These awards recognize the leaders and the organizations they protect.
Every recognition reinforces the shift the whole field is living through: from CISO as defender to CISO as driver of business strategy, trust, and continuity.
Category 1:
Resilient CISO
For current, sitting Chief Information Security Officers.
The Resilient CISO Award honors an established security leader who has demonstrated enterprise-wide influence, adaptability, and strategic risk leadership — turning cyber resilience into a measurable business outcome. These are the leaders who moved the role beyond defense: elevating security in the boardroom, minimizing disruption, and ensuring the business keeps running through whatever comes.
What we're looking for:
Enterprise-wide impact — resilience strategy that reaches across the business, not just the security organization.
Measurable outcomes — reduced downtime, faster recovery, quantifiable risk reduction, or continuity wins. Numbers speak loudest.
Board-level influence — translating cyber risk into business terms and shaping strategy at the executive and board level.
Adaptability under pressure — navigating real incidents, emerging threats including AI-driven risk, and change with composure and results.
Field leadership — mentoring, advancing the profession, and raising the standard for resilient security.
Eligibility:
Currently holds the CISO title or direct equivalent (VP and CISO, Global CISO, CSO with a CISO remit).
Self-nominations and third-party nominations are both welcome.
Category 2:
Next Up Resilient CISOs
For Office of the CISO leaders—Security Director & above—on their way up to the top seat
The Next Up Resilient CISOs Award recognizes the rising leaders defining the future of the role. Directors, senior directors, and deputy or VP-level security leaders driving resilience within their scope today and on the path to the CISO seat tomorrow. These are the people building resilient programs, championing a continuity-first culture, and demonstrating the leadership the next era of cybersecurity will demand.
What we're looking for:
Resilience leadership within scope
— ownership of programs, teams, or initiatives that measurably strengthen continuity and recovery.
Impact beyond the job description — driving change, influencing peers, and stepping up beyond a formal remit.
Trajectory and potential — a clear path toward top security leadership and the vision to match.
Culture-building — championing resilience thinking across teams and the wider organization.
Initiative and innovation — bringing new approaches to old problems, from AI to automation to recovery.
Eligibility:
Currently holds a role of Security Director or above within the Office of the CISO (Director or Sr. Director of Security, Deputy CISO, VP of Security) and does not currently hold the top CISO title.
Self-nominations and third-party nominations are both welcome.
Key dates
Nomination Close
February 28th, 2027
Winners announced & awards presented
RSAC, March 23, 2027
Winners are celebrated at the Resilient CISO Summit, hosted alongside RSAC 2027.
Submit your nomination before February 28!
Nominate
Choose a category and submit the nomination form. Put forward a peer, a rising leader on your team, or yourself.
Review
A panel of security leaders evaluates each nomination against the category criteria.
Celebrate
Winners are announced and honored at RSAC
on March 23, 2027.
Know a leader redefining cyber resilience? Put them forward.
The best in this field keep the business running when others can't.
Make sure their work is seen.
