CSO
CSO is a B2B cybersecurity media brand under FoundryCo Inc. providing news, analysis, podcasts, buyer's guides, events, and awards to enterprise security decision-makers such as CISOs and security executives globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersFramingham, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What CSO does
CSO is a B2B cybersecurity media brand operated under FoundryCo Inc. (privately held, formerly IDG). It delivers news, analysis, opinion, feature reporting, podcasts, videos, buyer's guides, and awards programs targeting enterprise security decision-makers — primarily CISOs, security executives, and IT security professionals — across topics spanning risk management, network defense, application security, cloud security, compliance, identity and access management, and emerging areas such as generative AI and AI security posture management. The core product surface is the CSO Online publication (csoonline.com), supplemented by the Cyber Sessions podcast, CSO Executive Sessions regional video series, the CSO Update newsletter cadence, the Expert Contributor Network, an annual Security Priorities Study, and the CSO Awards / CSO30 Awards programs.
The underlying technology stack is a digital publishing and audience-engagement platform rather than a proprietary SaaS product. Distribution runs through owned channels (website, email, YouTube, podcast platforms, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Google News) and regional editions serve ASEAN, India, the United Kingdom, and Australia/New Zealand alongside the US flagship. The business model is classic B2B media monetisation: advertising and sponsored content (including BrandPosts and the Foundry Expert Contributor Network), events and conferences (CSO Cybersecurity Conference & Awards), entry-fee-based or sponsor-backed awards programs, and likely lead-generation and data products for enterprise technology vendors selling into security buyers. No subscription paywall is described and pricing is not publicly disclosed. Compliance posture includes GDPR, CCPA, and a CSA STAR self-attestation referenced in privacy disclosures, with a Member Preferences Portal handling subscriber consent.
CSO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CSO
- Legal name
- FoundryCo Inc.
- Website
- https://csoonline.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CSO is a B2B cybersecurity media brand under FoundryCo Inc. providing news, analysis, podcasts, buyer's guides, events, and awards to enterprise security decision-makers such as CISOs and security executives globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CSO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cybersecurity Media
- NAICS
- Information (51), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Blogging & CMS Content Platforms (BPAMAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Consent, Preference & Privacy Management (CMP) (BPAFAFAL), Consent, Preference & Compliance Management (Opt-in/Privacy Operations) (MPAAAIAM)
Keywords
Where CSO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Framingham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
CSO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
CSO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CSO (CSO Online) is a cybersecurity media brand that publishes news, analysis, opinion pieces, in-depth feature stories, and multimedia content covering risk management, network defense, fraud prevention, data loss prevention, and broader security disciplines. Content is delivered through its website (csoonline.com), email newsletters, podcasts (Cyber Sessions), video series, events, awards programs, and buyer's guides, targeting enterprise security decision-makers and CISOs.
Product overview
CSO is a cybersecurity media brand under Foundry that operates primarily through its CSO Online platform, offering a unified content ecosystem that includes news and analysis, video/podcast content (Cyber Sessions, CSO Executive Sessions), awards programs (CSO Awards), enterprise research resources (Buyer's Guides), and community platforms (Expert Contributor Network). The core platform distributes content across multiple formats including newsletters (CSO Update), while the Member Preferences Portal handles subscriber privacy and consent management under GDPR and CCPA frameworks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CSO Online A cybersecurity media platform providing news, analysis, opinion, and feature stories for enterprise security decision-makers, covering topics from risk management to network defense and fraud prevention.
- Cyber Sessions Podcast
- CSO Awards Program
- Enterprise Buyer's Guides
- CSO Update Newsletter
- CSO Executive Sessions
Companies that use CSO
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CSO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CSO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CSO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Krebs on Security: Krebs on Security is an influential independent investigative cybersecurity blog run by Brian Krebs. It attracts a highly engaged security practitioner audience that overlaps with CSO readers, particularly around cybercrime and breach reporting.
Direct peers
- Dark Reading: Dark Reading is a leading cybersecurity media brand covering news, analysis, and research for security professionals. It is the closest direct peer to CSO, competing head-to-head for CISO readership, vendor sponsorship, and event mindshare.
- Cybersecurity Dive: Cybersecurity Dive is a B2B cybersecurity publication providing news and analysis for security and IT decision-makers. It targets the same enterprise security decision-maker audience as CSO and competes for digital advertising and event sponsorships.
- Bleeping Computer: Bleeping Computer is a cybersecurity news and technical support site known for its ransomware and vulnerability coverage. It overlaps with CSO's threat-intelligence and incident-response audience.
- Help Net Security: Help Net Security is a daily cybersecurity news publication serving infosec professionals. It competes directly with CSO for vendor sponsorship dollars and security practitioner readership.
- SecurityWeek: SecurityWeek is an independent cybersecurity media outlet publishing daily news, vulnerability reports, and hosting the annual ICS Cybersecurity Conference. It directly competes with CSO for enterprise security audience and vendor marketing budgets.
- SC Media (SC Magazine): SC Media is a long-standing cybersecurity publication offering news, analysis, and the SC Awards program. It competes directly with CSO on enterprise security editorial coverage and awards-based sponsorship revenue.
- The Record (Recorded Future News): The Record is Recorded Future's cybersecurity news outlet covering cybercrime, nation-state threats, and policy. It targets a similar CISO/practitioner audience as CSO and is backed by a well-capitalized parent, making it an aggressive direct competitor.
- The Hacker News: The Hacker News is a widely read cybersecurity news site covering breaches, vulnerabilities, and threat analysis. It competes with CSO for CISO and security practitioner attention, particularly in breach and vulnerability coverage.
Broad incumbents
- CIO (Foundry): CIO is CSO's sister brand under FoundryCo Inc., focused on IT leadership. The shared parent enables cross-selling and bundled sponsorship, but CIO targets a broader (IT + security) audience, making it a horizontal incumbent rather than a pure security competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CSO social profiles
Digital presenceCSO compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
CSO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CSO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
CSO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CSO M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CSO
What does CSO do?
CSO (CSO Online) is a cybersecurity media brand that publishes news, analysis, opinion pieces, in-depth feature stories, and multimedia content covering risk management, network defense, fraud prevention, data loss prevention, and broader security disciplines. Content is delivered through its website (csoonline.com), email newsletters, podcasts (Cyber Sessions), video series, events, awards programs, and buyer's guides, targeting enterprise security decision-makers and CISOs.
Is CSO a public or private company?
CSO is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was CSO founded?
CSO was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CSO based?
CSO is headquartered in Framingham, United States, in the North America region.
Who are CSO's main competitors?
Krebs on Security is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Dark Reading, Cybersecurity Dive, Bleeping Computer, Help Net Security, SecurityWeek, SC Media (SC Magazine), The Record (Recorded Future News) and The Hacker News. CIO (Foundry) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does CSO have an API?
No public API is recorded for CSO.
What industry is CSO in?
CSO's product category is Cybersecurity Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAJAG, Blogging & CMS Content Platforms, with a secondary code of BPAFAFAL, Consent, Preference & Privacy Management (CMP). Its NAICS code is 51 and its SIC code is 7370.