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FREE DOWNLOAD

The CISO Boardroom Influence Checklist

A practical checklist used by top CISOs to communicate cyber risk in business language and secure board buy-in. Used by 200+ CISOs globally.

Download Free Checklist (PDF)

By Dr. Erdal Ozkaya • Microsoft MVP • Author of 26 Books

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Recognized Globally • Trusted by Governments, Enterprises & NATO

🏆 Microsoft MVP 🎖️ Microsoft Regional Director 📚 26 Published Books 🌍 200+ Global Keynotes ⭐ Top CISO Award 🛡️ Super CISO Award 🏅 CIO50 Award ✅ CCISO | CISSP | CISM | CEH

As Seen In & Featured By

Forbes BBC CNN Reuters Al Jazeera Microsoft NATO Cybersecurity Excellence Awards EC-Council

The Executive Lounge

Personal reflections, awards, media appearances, speaking engagements, and off-topic insights from Dr. Erdal Ozkaya.

GEC News Wire -recap of 2025

The definitive 2025 cyber rewind and 2026 roadmap

In this article, I explore:

The Compliance Tsunami: Why “can I go to jail for doing my job?” is no longer a joke for CISOs.

The $20 Million Deepfake: How social engineering 2.0 has compromised the boardroom.

The 2026 Roadmap: Why “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” means you need to care about Quantum-Agility today.

The definitive 2025 cyber rewind and 2026 roadmap Read More »

NATO award

Uniting Global Leaders Against Cyber Terrorism

Uniting Global Leaders Against Cyber Terrorism

The fight against terrorism has moved to a new battlefield: the digital frontier.

Last week, I had the distinct honor of serving as a lecturer for the NATO Centre of Excellence Defence Against Terrorism (COE-DAT). Contributing to the “Terrorist Use of Cyber Space in General Terms” course was not just a professional milestone; it was a powerful reminder of why global collaboration is the only way to secure our future.

Uniting Global Leaders Against Cyber Terrorism Read More »

Erdal in the news

Tourism Technologies Summit – Antalya

Tourism Technologies Summit
I recently had the pleasure of speaking at the Tourism Technologies Summit, where we discussed the critical intersection of hospitality and digital security. With the rapid rise of cloud technologies and AI, the tourism sector is facing a digital transformation—but with that comes new risks.

In my recent interview regarding the event, I highlighted why data security in tourism is as critical as it is in banking, and shared my thoughts on the “technology war” we are currently fighting.

Here are the highlights from that discussion:

Tourism Technologies Summit – Antalya Read More »

Erdal in the news

Tech Valley Cybersecurity Summit addresses current cyber threats

Tech Valley Cybersecurity Summit addresses current cyber threats
The 4th annual Tech Valley Cybersecurity Symposium took place Tuesday at Rivers Casino in Schenectady. It brings the top cybersecurity experts and chief security information officers from across North America together to discuss today’s most challenging cybersecurity issues.

Tech Valley Cybersecurity Summit addresses current cyber threats Read More »

Catalyst for Global Tech Leadership

Catalyst for Global Tech Leadership

Catalyst for Global Tech Leadership
Representing the U.S. at CIO 200 Grand Finale:
It was an immense privilege and a profound honor to represent the United States as an ambassador at the recent CIO 200 Grand Finale in Egypt. This distinguished event, hosted by the Global CIO Forum, brought together over 200 CxO IT leaders from around the world, all dedicated to shaping the future of technology and cybersecurity.

Catalyst for Global Tech Leadership Read More »

Celebrating 40,000 LinkedIn Followers

Celebrating 40000 LinkedIn Followers

Celebrating 40,000 LinkedIn Followers It’s About Impact, Not Just Numbers
Reaching a significant milestone like 40,000 followers on LinkedIn is more than just a number—it’s a testament to building a thriving professional community, fostering meaningful connections, and consistently sharing valuable insights. While the follower count is certainly something to celebrate, the true value lies in the impact, engagement, and collaborative learning that such a network represents.

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Celebrating Another Year as a Microsoft MVP

Celebrating Another Year as a Microsoft MVP! 2025

Celebrating Another Year as a Microsoft MVP!
I’m absolutely thrilled to share that I’ve been renewed as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for another year! This exciting news marks a significant milestone, extending a remarkable journey that first began all the way back in 2009

Celebrating Another Year as a Microsoft MVP! 2025 Read More »

Dr. Erdal Ozkaya — Strategic CISO, Microsoft MVP & Cybersecurity Author