Sponsor FAQ

Q: What is the CISO Executive Network (formerly CSO Breakfast Club)?

A: The CISO Executive Network is a peer-to-peer, professional network consisting of executive level decision makers from large organizations with responsibilities for information security, privacy, IT risk management, audit and compliance. We are a for-profit, privately-owned company.

Q: How many members do you have?
A: There are currently over 900 executives in our member database. This list grows weekly as new members join.

Q: How do you recruit members?
A: We use networking as our main recruiting vehicle. Once a member has attended one of our events, he or she is motivated to recruit peers to the Network. We also utilize business-networking tools to identify and recruit potential members. In addition, we invite sponsors to suggest potential members.

Q: What are the titles of most of your members?
A: The majority of our members have the CISO or equivalent title. Many are EVP, GVP, SVP and VP level executives.

Q: What types of organizations make up your membership?
A: Most are Fortune ® 1000-sized organizations including large financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail organizations. We also serve higher education institutions and government agencies.

Q: What is the cost of membership?
A: Membership in the CISO Executive Network is free to qualified candidates. Members are approved after review by Bill Sieglein of their title, role, and company. Bill’s personal review assures that the make-up of membership is consistent with the focus of the executive network.

Q: What types of events do you host?
A: Our primary events are our unique breakfasts, each one organized around a specific topic. We host half-day breakfast events in our chapter cities every 6 weeks. These breakfast meetings are held at host law firms in each chapter city. During these breakfasts, our sponsors speak for 20 minutes each to our members about topics that are timely and relevant. Our breakfast events follow a standard format:

• Short networking over coffee and breakfast
• Introduction of the topic by Bill Sieglein
• Welcome from host law firm
• Sponsored speaker (20 minutes)
• Sponsored speaker (20 minutes)
• Sponsored speaker (20 minutes)
• Member closed-door session
• Concluding remarks and close

In addition to our breakfast events we host regional events where we bring together executives from numerous chapters to discuss challenges and solutions by industry, including an annual Healthcare Information Security Summit. We also host year-end dinner events and we periodically host special events.

Q: How many people attend your events?
A: Our breakfast events are kept purposely intimate to encourage dialogue among members and sponsors. Breakfast events average between 12 and 20 attendees, with some meetings attracting between 30 and 40 members. Regional events are generally 100-150 attendees. Dinners are limited to about 20 attendees.

Q: Where are your events held?
A: For regular breakfast events, most of our meetings are held at host law firms in our chapter cities. Special events are held at conference facilities in central locations.

Q: How do you attract members to events?
A: CISO Executive Network publishes a member newsletter every two weeks informing members of current and upcoming events. In addition, we send email invitations for events to members and request that they register for the event in advance. For each regular breakfast event, we are in touch with members five or six times, assuring a good response.

Q: Do you offer sponsors other events for reaching your members?
A: Yes. We can customize special requests from sponsors for interaction with CISO Executive Network members. Such events can include: sponsored-topic meal events; product launch evaluations; surveys, etc. We are happy to work with sponsors to effectively reach CISO Executive Network members. If you would like to reach our members through a customized program, please let us know at info@cisoexecnet.com.

Q: What other ways do you interact with your members?
A: We offer secure access to chapter pages on our website, including for a Virtual Chapter comprised of members who cannot attend live events in a chapter city. Through the website, we offer all materials from our live events, special interviews, articles, and videos featuring members, regular written and video blog entries updating members on developments in information security, and interviews with other industry experts and CISO Executive Network sponsors.

As part of our content program, we offer sponsors the opportunity to distribute content to our members through our website. This program is driven by our biweekly newsletter, and gives sponsors the chance to share with our members through white papers, checklists, videos, etc. Our program is flexible, so long as the sponsor’s content provides value to our members.

Q: What do you look for in sponsor presentations?
A: Sponsor presentations must be on-topic in keeping with the theme of the breakfast series. Sales and marketing pitches are discouraged, as CISO Executive Network members are looking to the sponsors to bring thought leadership to the topic. We find that sponsors who bring a thought-provoking topic expert resonate best with our members.  Sponsors must adhere to the Speaker Guidelines provided by CISO Executive Network.

Q: Who can present for sponsors?
A: The CISO Executive Network expects companies to bring thought leadership to its sponsorship. Therefore, we look for technology leaders in the companies or VP-level executives who can are comfortable with presenting to high-level executives with a compelling message. Account managers and sales representatives are not allowed to present.

Q: What are the advantages of becoming a sponsor?
A: CISO Executive Network is the shortest route to CISO decision makers in large organizations. We make personal introductions at our events, allowing sponsors the chance to talk directly to executives they often have trouble reaching. Our members understand the relationship we have with sponsors and welcome the interaction. In addition, specific benefits include:

• At breakfast events, a 20-minute speaking slot for a company executive or technology leader.
• Thought leadership among influential executives.
• Direct interaction with executive level information security decision makers in an intimate atmosphere.
• Full contact information for all registrants for each sponsored chapter event.
• For content distribution, full contact information for those members who click through to the sponsor’s content. 

Q: What levels of sponsorship do you offer?
A: For breakfast events, we offer three sponsored-speaker slots for each chapter city. For special events, we offer Gold, Silver, and Bronze sponsorships, each with its own set of unique benefits. For content, we offer sponsorship pricing based on the nature of the content to be distributed. We offer annual premium sponsorships, including one (1) Platinum sponsorship, three (3) Gold sponsorships, and five (5) Silver sponsorships, each with its own set of unique benefits.

Q: How many sponsor representatives can attend an event?
A: Sponsors are allowed to bring to each breakfast event a speaker and one executive or customer representative. For special events, more representation is allowed, depending on the sponsorship level.

Q: How many events do you host a year?
A: The CISO Executive Network hosts seven breakfast series each year in its chapter cities. In addition, it hosts two special events each year focusing on a critical topic. In 2011, the special events will be a CISO Executive Summit in May and our annual Healthcare Information Security Summit in November. In addition, we offer occasional special events on hot topics such as cybersecurity.

Q: What are some of the topics you cover?
A: In 2010, our breakfast events includes coverage of legal and regulatory issues, application security, third-party vendor risk management, cloud security, social media, audit & compliance frameworks, and DLP. The 2011 schedule with breakfast event topics can be found on this page.

Q: How much opportunity is there for sponsor interaction with CISO Executive Network members?
A: Each event starts with a breakfast period intended to promote interaction among members and sponsors. Regular breaks are scheduled throughout all events to further this interaction. Members typically stick around for a time immediately following each event, often to make contact with sponsor representatives. Of course, the sponsor has 20 minutes to present directly to members.

Q: How many times can a company be a sponsor?
A: There is no limit to the number of times a sponsor can participate. In fact, we know from our members that they appreciate seeing a sponsor multiple times throughout a year. This helps to establish an environment of trust with the sponsor. Sponsors that are successful with our members are those who sponsor multiple events across all of our chapter cities.

Q: How does a company become a sponsor?
A: Read through these materials related to how sponsorship works, choose events from the schedule that the company would like to sponsor, and then contact us at info@cisoexecnet.com to confirm sponsorship and initiate the contract process.

Q: How much does sponsorship cost?
A: The Pricing Guide is available on this site when you are a register user. Log in and access the document.  Discounts for multiple city sponsorship are available for our Premium Sponsors.

Q: What is the process for sponsoring an event?
A:
1. Companies choose the events they wish to sponsor and contact us.
2. They execute a contract for sponsorship, which includes payment terms.
3. Sponsor representatives, including the designated speaker, participate in a planning conference call with CISO Executive Network two to three weeks before the event the company will sponsor.
4. Companies forward their presentation to CISO Executive Network two weeks prior to the event.
5. A speaker and one company representative attend the event in the city or cities they will sponsor.
6. The company will receive for follow-up the registration list with all registrant contact information within 24 to 48 hours after conclusion of the event.

Q: How does a sponsor schedule a customized event?
A: Contact us at info@cisoexecnet.com to initiate the discussion for what type of event you would like to sponsor.