ClubCISO

What ClubCISO does

ClubCISO is a global private members forum for CISOs and senior information security leaders, founded in 2014 and registered in England and Wales as ClubCISO Limited. Its core product is a peer-led, non-commercial community platform that provides access-controlled networking, proactive peer discussion under Chatham House Rule, problem-solving, and practical guidance for information security leaders in public and private sector organisations. Membership is free and gated by application and admission criteria to preserve seniority and industry balance, with a stated community of 500-600+ CISOs across EMEA and internationally.

The technical surface is intentionally modest: a members-only website, a dedicated mobile application built on the Plek community platform (available on iOS and Android), a WhatsApp community, and a private LinkedIn group, supported by conventional SaaS back-office tooling (CRM, email marketing, file management). The most differentiated asset is the annual ClubCISO Security Maturity Report, a longitudinal benchmarking publication produced for over ten years, with the 2023 edition compiled from 182 senior executive respondents. The community is also delivered through an events programme including dinner debates, roundtables, webinars, and presence at Infosecurity Europe and CISO 360 Congress.

ClubCISO is a non-commercial organisation with no disclosed pricing tiers and no commercial revenue from membership. Operations are underwritten by Telstra International / Telstra Purple as sponsor, and ownership is in the process of transitioning to Cyberhash, led by Manoj Bhatt, as part of Telstra's Connected 30 strategy. The primary customer segment is enterprise CISOs; the typical go-to-market is community-led, driven by member advocacy, industry events, and the annual Security Maturity Report as a demand-generation asset rather than direct sales.

Name

ClubCISO

Legal name

ClubCISO Limited

Website

https://clubciso.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ClubCISO is a global, non-commercial private members forum for 500-600+ senior CISOs and information security leaders, providing peer networking, Chatham House Rule discussions, benchmarking via its annual Security Maturity Report, and a multi-channel community platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Leadership Community

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Hosting & Membership Platforms (MPACAJAF)

Keywords

• Cybersecurity leadership community
• CISO peer network
• Information security forum
• Security maturity benchmarking
• Cybersecurity professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership and Community Services: ClubCISO is a non-commercial organisation. Membership is provided free of charge to qualified information security leaders. The organisation does not generate commercial revenue from its core community activities. ClubCISO is powered by and supported by Telstra International / Telstra Purple as a community sponsor.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ClubCISO operates a global private members forum for CISOs and senior information security leaders, providing peer networking, proactive discussion under the Chatham House Rule, problem-solving, mentorship, and benchmarking. Membership is free for qualifying senior information security leaders. The community is supported by an annual Security Maturity Survey and Report (10+ years running), a members-only mobile app, and an events programme of dinners, webinars, and conference partnerships.

Product overview

ClubCISO is a peer-led, independent, non-commercial members forum for information security leaders. The core offering is the ClubCISO Members Forum, a private community platform where security leaders can network, engage in proactive discussions, solve problems, and access practical guidance. This is supported by the ClubCISO Members' App and ClubCISO WhatsApp Community for real-time engagement, a ClubCISO LinkedIn Private Group for ongoing discussions, the ClubCISO Security Maturity Report (an annual research publication surveying members since 2014), and a comprehensive ClubCISO Events Programme including dinners, webinars, and conference partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ClubCISO Members Forum A global private members forum for CISOs and senior information security leaders working in public and private sector organisations, providing peer networking, proactive discussion, problem-solving, mentorship, and access to practical guidance that advances the information security profession.
• ClubCISO Members' App A members-only mobile application (iOS via App Store and Android via Google Play) where members access real-time security topic chat groups, community news, event information, and connect with other security leaders.
• ClubCISO Security Maturity Report An annual research publication benchmarking the role of CISOs and the maturity of information security functions, with full results and executive summaries published yearly since 2014 and downloadable from the website.
• ClubCISO Events Programme A calendar of in-person and virtual events including annual Security Maturity Report reveal events, networking dinners, roundtables, webinars, wellness workshops, and presence at major industry conferences such as Infosecurity Europe and CISO 360 Congress.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% of CISOs surveyed report delivering significant improvements in security culture within their organisations, and 88% say their existing security infrastructure held up well during the COVID-19 pandemic (ClubCISO Annual Survey findings)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Telstra International / Telstra PurplecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerClubCISO is powered by Telstra International. Telstra Purple (the security-focused division of Telstra) provides operational support, sponsorship, and infrastructure to ClubCISO. Telstra Purple is described as the largest Australian-owned technology services business with over 1,500 certified experts across network, security, cloud, collaboration, mobility, software, data, analytics, and design. As part of Telstra's Connected 30 strategy and portfolio simplification, ownership of ClubCISO is transitioning from Telstra to Cyberhash, led by Manoj Bhatt, with Telstra remaining a supporter throughout the transition period.
• CyberhashcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCyberhash, led by Manoj Bhatt (former Advisory Board member and Head of Security Advisory at Telstra Purple), has been selected as the new owner/custodian of the ClubCISO community. The transition is part of Telstra's portfolio simplification as it refocuses on core connectivity and digital infrastructure. The transition is designed to preserve ClubCISO's long-term independence and sustainability. Manoj Bhatt is a familiar and trusted figure within the CISO community.
• Thrive (Mental Health & Wellbeing)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClubCISO partnered with Thrive, a mental health and wellbeing company, to deliver bespoke Stress Management workshops for CISOs. These complimentary workshops (valued at £300 each) were offered to ClubCISO members to address CISO stress and burnout. Two workshop formats were offered: Stress Management Principles and Stress Management Practices.
• Infosecurity EuropeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClubCISO partners with Infosecurity Europe as a community partner. ClubCISO hosts sessions and roundtables at the annual Infosecurity Europe conference, which is one of the leading information security industry gatherings in Europe.
• CISO 360 CongressminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClubCISO partners with CISO 360 Congress, attending and presenting at the annual congress held in various locations including Europe and Asia. ClubCISO hosts sessions and contributes to the congress programme.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Evanta (a Gartner Company): Operates CISO and other executive peer communities and governing body events globally. Direct comparable in building invitation-only CISO communities with executive roundtables and benchmarking, though commercially funded rather than non-commercial.
• ISACA: Global professional association for IT governance, risk, security, and audit professionals, including CISOs. Direct comparable as a membership-based community providing certifications, peer networking, research, and events for senior information security leaders.
• ISSA (Information Systems Security Association): International nonprofit professional association of information security professionals. Direct comparable with local chapters, peer networking, and a similar member-driven model targeting senior security practitioners.
• (ISC)²: International nonprofit membership association for cybersecurity professionals (CISSP, etc.). Direct peer offering credentialing, member chapters, thought leadership, and a global community of senior security practitioners that overlaps with ClubCISO's audience.
• FS-ISAC: Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center; a member-driven community of CISOs and security leaders from financial institutions. Directly comparable as a peer-led, vendor-independent community for senior security leaders with threat-sharing and benchmarking content.

Emerging players

• Marene Allison / CISO Executive Network type communities: Smaller CISO peer community platforms (e.g., CISO Executive Network) running invite-only gatherings and roundtables for senior security leaders. Comparable niche peer community serving CISOs with curated in-person programming.
• IAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals): Global nonprofit membership association for privacy professionals, with growing overlap into the CISO role as privacy and security converge. Comparable as a membership-based, peer-led professional community with annual research and large-scale events.

Broad incumbents

• Telstra Purple: Security services arm of Telstra and the historical sponsor/operator of ClubCISO. Comparable as the broader security services incumbent that has hosted the community and has deep reach into the CISO buyer base across APAC and EMEA.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clubciso
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/8603098

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ClubCISO