Definition: CSO

(Chief Security Officer) The person in charge of all staff members who are responsible for promulgating, enforcing and administering security policies for all systems within an enterprise or division. A more specific title is Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), which refers to a person responsible for information security in particular.

Sometimes an organization will define the CSO as the person responsible for physical or facilities security and the CISO as the person responsible for the security of paper files, networks and computers within the organization. Some of the titles used by different organizations to identify staff members who may report to a CSO or a CISO include Data Security Officer (DSO), Information Systems Security Officer (ISSO), Security Officer (SECOFF), and System Security Officer (SSO).