What does a Director of Security do?
Security managers oversee asset protection for businesses and companies, from the protection of people and staff to the prevention of theft and inventory loss. These professionals develop and implement security standards and ensure that they are followed by all company staff. As a security manager, you might be in charge of managing a budget for security operations and hiring security staff. Work settings for security managers range from public organizations to privately run businesses, corporate and retail settings. Generally, security officers may work their way up to becoming security managers through experience and reputation within an organization. Security managers may someday decide to own their own security company.
A high school diploma or GED is generally required at minimum. College education is commonly preferred by employers, as is certification from security training programs. To succeed as a security manager, you must have excellent communication and organization skills to communicate with clients and manage security operations.
- Identify and protect company assets through the development and implementation of security protocols
- Make sure that staff follow security procedures and guidelines through training programs and assessments
- Ensure the safety of staff and customers within the workplace
- Perform security process evaluations and inspections
- Prepare the organization and staff for external inspections
- Manage the budget for security operations within an organization
- Control security department spending
- Hire and train security staff
- Any security certifications required by the employing organization or company
- Post-secondary training in security management is preferred by many organizations
- Previous experience working as a security manager, security officer or other security-related job
- Working knowledge of any required computer programs and security technology
- Strong communication and organizational skills
- Ability to monitor surveillance systems and respond to emergency situations
- Excellent team-building and leadership skills
- Ability to pay close attention to detail
- Interest in protecting the people and assets within the organization or company
Director of Security Career Path
Learn how to become a Director of Security, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Years of Experience Distribution
Director of Security Insights
Saint-Gobain“All good.. excellent work culture.. one of the best company to work with.”
Lowe's Home Improvement“My direct management was difficult to please and I was not trusted or empowered to do my job.”
Prairie Flower Casino“The casino is a fun place to work and other departments assist in making it worth your time.”
Bugcrowd“One of the best platform to work on bug bounty programs.Triage team is so Knowledgeable and helpful towards the global researchers.”
Trilogy Education Services“I really can't think of any it is a good job with good pay.”
HSBC“Although I felt a bit struggle with work life balance may being my first organisation.”
United Airlines“I’ve been so happy since I’ve left this hellhole and am blessed to have finally started a great career for myself .”
Best Buy“Really good with working with your schedule and starting Pay is great.”
Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of security managers
Security managers are information technology professionals who supervise teams of analysts and cybersecurity specialists. The goal of a security manager is to protect the integrity of the company's IT infrastructure. During a typical day for a security manager, they create internet security strategies and policies, then supervise their implementation.
Yes, security management is a STEM career, and STEM jobs are outpacing the number of qualified graduates. Candidates interested in the field can expect a relatively stable future.
Working as a security manager is about ensuring that all the team members are working closely together. It is a leadership role that holds a great deal of responsibility. Ultimately, the security manager can be held accountable for any network breaches or data security protocol infractions. Security managers sometimes struggle to communicate cybersecurity protocols to other employees.