Security leadership.
Finally done right.
Four credential levels. Written by practitioners. Verified in person. From aspiring Associate CISO to Mythos CSO — with the content that actually matters.
Why forcisos exists
The certification market
has failed security leaders.
You passed the exam. You got the job. Then you walked into your first board meeting and realized nobody had ever taught you the actual job.
Certifications that test memory, not judgment
CISSP, CISM, and their peers are valuable technical credentials. They test whether you can pass an exam. None of them test whether you can lead a security organization under pressure — because that's not something a multiple-choice question can measure.
No credential designed for the actual CISO job
There are hundreds of certifications for security engineers. There is no serious credential for the person running the function — managing the team, reporting to the board, defending the budget, and making decisions that have real consequences.
Learning built for individual contributors
The cybersecurity training market was built for analysts and architects. Everything — the content, the format, the delivery — assumes you're an individual contributor. Nothing was built for the leader sitting across the table from the CFO.
The model
How forcisos works
From choosing your level to holding a credential that cannot be faked.
Choose your credential level
Select the level that matches where you are in your career. Each level has clear prerequisites and a defined scope — no guesswork about whether it's right for you.
Join a live cohort
Learn alongside a curated group of 20 security leaders. Virtual sessions run weekly over 6–12 weeks, culminating in an in-person intensive where your credential is verified and issued.
Verify in person
Every forcisos credential is verified through biometric identity confirmation at the in-person intensive. You must physically attend. This is the mechanism that makes the credential unfakeable.
Receive your blockchain credential
Your credential is cryptographically signed and issued on blockchain. Anyone — an employer, a board, a journalist — can verify it instantly without contacting us. It cannot be revoked, forged, or delegated.
Four credential levels
Every stage of the CISO career.
Start where you are. Advance when you're ready. Each level builds on the last.
Associate CISO
The foundation of security leadership. This level bridges the gap between technical expertise and executive responsibility — covering governance, risk communication, budget fundamentals, and your first board presentation.
Who this is for
Senior security engineers, security managers, and IT directors who have been handed CISO responsibilities without formal leadership preparation.
Sample modules
Live training cohorts
Learn alongside peers,
not alone.
A cohort is a structured, time-bound program with a curated group of security leaders — capped at 20 participants. Virtual sessions build toward an in-person intensive where credentials are verified and issued.
You don't just complete modules — you debate them, challenge the instructors, run live scenarios, and build real peer relationships with leaders who understand your world.
Verified identity credential
Proof that you're real.
And that you earned it.
In an era of AI-generated credentials and deepfake professionals, forcisos issues every cohort graduate a blockchain-based identity credential — cryptographically signed, tamper-proof, and tied to biometric verification performed during the in-person intensive.
Partnerships
Two ways to partner with forcisos.
Reach a verified audience of senior security leaders, or license the curriculum and deliver it yourself.
Sponsoring Partners
Place your brand alongside the content that CISO-level leaders actually read, trust, and act on. All sponsorships are transparently disclosed.
- Named placement alongside CISO-level content — not banner ads, editorial adjacency
- Access to verified attendee lists for cohort events (opt-in, GDPR compliant)
- Sponsored content slots in the monthly member newsletter (22k+ subscribers)
- Product demo opportunities at in-person intensives — the decision-maker is in the room
- Attribution reporting: impressions, engagement, and pipeline influence
- Category exclusivity options available — one vendor per vertical per cohort cycle
Training Partners
License the forcisos curriculum to deliver to your own client base. Revenue share model with full access to delivery toolkits and co-branded credentials.
- Full curriculum license with delivery toolkit, facilitator guides, and assessments
- Co-branded forcisos credential issued to your participants — our brand, your delivery
- Revenue share model: deliver to your client base, keep 60% of cohort fees
- Dedicated partner success manager and trainer certification program
- Translated curriculum available for German, French, and Spanish markets
- White-label option available for enterprise internal L&D deployments
About forcisos
Built by someone who has been in the chair.
Michael Reichstein spent 12 years in German military and NATO service before moving into enterprise security leadership — CISO roles at Daimler Truck North America and Detroit Diesel Corporation, and advisory work across US and European markets.
forcisos exists because the programs he needed when he stepped into his first CISO role simply didn't exist. The certification industry produces technically capable professionals. It has never produced security leaders.
The goal is a professional ecosystem that serves the CISO career end-to-end: from the first leadership role to the board seat, with the credentials, the community, and the career infrastructure to back it up.
Read the full storyMichael Reichstein
Founder — forcisos.com
FAQ
Common questions
How is forcisos different from CISSP or CISM?
What does the "verified in person" requirement actually mean?
Do I need to complete Level 1 before Level 2?
Is the credential internationally recognized?
What is the time commitment for a cohort?
What does membership include and do I need it to do a cohort?
Can my employer pay for this?
The credential that treats you
like the professional you are.
Pre-register now. Be first to access modules when they launch. No payment required.