The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving, and staying ahead requires more than just technical expertise. CISOs, security professionals, and even beginners need to sharpen their strategic, operational, and leadership skills to navigate today’s challenges.

To help you stay informed and build a robust knowledge base, we’ve curated a list of must-read books for 2025. Whether you’re an aspiring CISO, a seasoned pro, or just starting your cybersecurity career, there’s something here for everyone.

To build our list, we pulled our favorite titles from Ohio State University’s Institute for Cybersecurity & Digital Trust Cybersecurity Canon, and added a few recent publications from our own bookshelves.

Books for CISOs and information security leaders

Leadership in cybersecurity isn’t just about knowing how to defend against attacks — it’s about building relationships, aligning security and business objectives, and creating resilient cyber defense strategies. These books focus on the business, leadership, and strategic skills that cybersecurity executives need in order to work effectively with stakeholders, deliver value, and excel in their careers.

11 Strategies of a World-Class Cybersecurity Operations Center

This book by Kathryn Knerler, Ingrid Parker, and Carson Zimmerman offers actionable guidance on building and managing a high-performing Security Operations Center, with strategies to optimize operational efficiency, align with organizational goals, and respond to threats effectively. While many of these practices are aspirational, cybersecurity leaders will benefit from insights into the staffing, processes, and technologies that can elevate their SOC to a world-class level.

The core of the book covers different SOC models, including centralized, virtual, and hybrid. The authors also address common challenges faced by SOCs, including alert fatigue, talent shortages, and keeping pace with evolving threats. Pick up a copy to gain insights into how to align your SOC organizational goals and enhance your overall security posture.

The CISO Mentor: Pragmatic Advice for Emerging Risk Management Leaders

Experienced Chief Information Security Officers and Risk Officers reveal their invaluable lessons learned through a unique blend of technical expertise, determination, and business acumen. Written for rising leaders in cybersecurity, this book provides practical advice on stakeholder communication, team building, and strategic decision-making, along with strategies for creating and implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity roadmap that balances short-term needs with long-term objectives.

Tribe of Hackers Security Leaders: Tribal Knowledge from the Best in Cybersecurity Leadership

By compiling the wisdom of some of the field’s most accomplished professionals, Marcus J. Carey and Jennifer Jin have created a practical and inspirational resource for navigating the challenges and opportunities of security leadership.

Featuring interviews with top security leaders from around the world, each chapter provides unique perspectives, lessons learned, and actionable strategies for overcoming the challenges of cybersecurity leadership — from risk management and incident response to building teams and navigating organizational politics. The book offers a wide range of perspectives on leadership in cybersecurity, and because each chapter is its own self-contained interview, it’s a perfect book to pick up between meetings or during a commute.

CISO Compass: Navigating Cybersecurity Leadership Challenges with Insights from Pioneers

From managing board expectations to addressing technical vulnerabilities, this comprehensive guide by Todd Fitzgerald explores the challenges facing CISOs and provides a roadmap for balancing security and business priorities. Each chapter features real-world case studies and expert insights, collecting knowledge from over 75 cybersecurity leaders who share their experiences, lessons learned, and proven strategies. These firsthand accounts provide diverse perspectives on tackling challenges like incident response, board engagement, and emerging threats.

The Aspiring CIO and CISO: A Career Guide to Developing Leadership Skills, Knowledge, Experience, and Behavior

Ideal for professionals aiming to transition into leadership roles, this book provides actionable insights into developing the technical, managerial, and strategic skills necessary to excel as a CIO or CISO. Topics include career planning, stakeholder communication, and fostering a security-minded organizational culture, as well as the personal growth and mindset needed to succeed. It’s a valuable resource for anyone aiming to lead technology or security initiatives while driving business success.

Books for cybersecurity practitioners

From mastering threat intelligence and building secure pipelines to understanding the nuances of AI-driven attacks, these resources provide practical guidance and actionable strategies to tackle the day-to-day challenges of cybersecurity. Each book offers deep insights into specific areas of expertise, helping cybersecurity practitioners elevate their knowledge and make a meaningful impact in their roles.

Cyber for Builders: The Essential Guide to Building a Cybersecurity Startup

Although written with entrepreneurs in mind, Cyber for Builders is far more than a guide for startup founders—it’s an essential resource for any cybersecurity professional eager to deepen their understanding of the industry, think strategically about their role, and drive innovation.

Cybersecurity professionals often focus on technical execution, but this book bridges the gap between technical expertise and business acumen, offering a fresh perspective on how to align technical skills with broader organizational objectives. Haleliuk explores emerging trends shaping the future of cybersecurity, including AI, cloud-native security, and zero-trust architecture — critical areas for professionals striving to stay relevant and competitive in an evolving field.

By adopting the forward-thinking, entrepreneurial mindset outlined in this book, readers will learn how to look beyond immediate technical challenges and embrace strategic opportunities to deliver value and innovation within their organizations.

Operationalizing Threat Intelligence: A Guide to Developing and Operationalizing Cyber Threat Intelligence Programs

This book offers a comprehensive guide to cyber threat intelligence (CTI), providing actionable steps for building, implementing, and optimizing effective CTI programs. It covers critical areas such as defining objectives that are aligned with organizational goals, structuring teams, and identifying the necessary skills, tools, and resources. The book shares practical techniques for collecting and analyzing threat data from sources like open-source intelligence (OSINT), proprietary feeds, and threat-sharing communities, as well as methodologies for identifying trends, assessing risks, and producing actionable insights. With its focus on practical implementation and real-world application, this book is an invaluable resource for cybersecurity professionals looking to enhance their organization’s threat intelligence capabilities, stay ahead of evolving threats, and build a resilient security posture.

The DevSecOps Playbook: Deliver Continuous Security at Speed

This book delivers an expert analysis of maintaining security through the critical balance of people, processes, and technology. By examining every component of DevSecOps in depth, it serves as an essential guide for organizations that want to integrate security into their development workflows without compromising speed or agility.

Sean D. Mack’s practical, holistic approach provides actionable advice for embedding security into code reviews, design phases, and testing frameworks. The book also offers valuable insights into measuring the success of DevSecOps initiatives with specific KPIs and metrics, and real-world examples illustrate how leading organizations have overcome common challenges of adopting DevSecOps.

The Language of Deception: Weaponizing Next Generation AI

This book provides a compelling and comprehensive exploration of how artificial intelligence (AI) can be weaponized for deception, manipulation, and cyberattacks, highlighting one of the most pressing challenges in modern cybersecurity. Hutchens delves into foundational concepts, including the history of social engineering and social robotics, while examining the dark potential of AI technologies to exploit human behavior, systems, and vulnerabilities.

With a balanced approach, the book not only identifies the risks associated with AI-driven threats but also offers practical strategies for individuals, organizations, and governments to defend against them. Hutchens emphasizes the importance of awareness, education, and using AI as a defensive tool to counteract malicious uses. By addressing the intersection of AI, psychology, and cybersecurity, this book provides readers with both a thought-provoking analysis and actionable solutions, making it an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand and mitigate the dangers of AI while leveraging its potential for safeguarding security and global stability.

How to Measure Anything in Cybersecurity Risk

This book simplifies and demystifies the challenging task of quantifying cybersecurity risks, offering a clear framework for measuring the likelihood and impact of threats. It provides tools and techniques, including statistical and probabilistic models, to help cybersecurity teams make data-driven decisions about resource allocation, risk prioritization, and security investments.

Authors Douglas W. Hubbard and Richard Seiersen challenge the misconception that cybersecurity risks are too complex or uncertain to quantify effectively. Instead, they introduce practical methods for collecting meaningful data, even in resource-constrained environments, and show how to apply proven measurement and risk analysis techniques effectively. This approach enables organizations to confidently evaluate risks and justify their security strategies with defensible, actionable insights.

Packed with guidance on measurement tools, practical examples, and techniques for overcoming data limitations, this book equips cybersecurity professionals with the knowledge needed to make informed and impactful decisions. It’s an essential resource for those looking to transition from reactive security practices to a proactive, quantifiable approach to risk management.

Defensive Security Handbook: Best Practices for Securing Infrastructure - Second Edition

This updated edition is a comprehensive and practical guide to securing IT infrastructure, with in-depth guidance on protecting critical components such as computer networks, endpoints, servers, and cloud environments while addressing the latest threats and technologies shaping the modern security landscape.

The book covers essential tactics such as containment strategies, forensic investigations, and minimizing downtime and data loss during security incidents and data breaches. With expanded sections on securing cloud environments, DevOps pipelines, and managing third-party risks, this edition reflects the evolving challenges of cybersecurity and provides up-to-date best practices to address them effectively.

Books to understand the threat landscape and real-world cyberthreats

These books provide in-depth insights into real-world cyberthreats, exploring the history, motivations, and methods behind some of the most notorious hacking techniques and cyberattacks. Through case studies and expert analysis, they reveal how cybercriminals operate and the far-reaching consequences of their actions, as well as offer valuable lessons on the strategies used to defend against these sophisticated threats.

This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyberweapons Arms Race

Through detailed accounts of high-profile cyberattacks like the Stuxnet worm and the NotPetya attack, investigative journalist Nicole Perlroth unveils the devastating power and far-reaching consequences of these digital weapons in our hyper-connected world.

The book goes beyond technical analysis to explore pressing ethical and regulatory questions like: Who bears responsibility for fixing these vulnerabilities? Should governments stockpile or disclose them? And how do we address the glaring lack of global regulation around cyberweapons? With investigative rigor and compelling storytelling, Perlroth delivers a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the high-stakes battle over cybersecurity, national security, and the fragility of global stability in the digital age.

Worm: The First Digital World War

Mark Bowden delivers a riveting account of the Conficker worm, one of the most notorious and technically sophisticated pieces of malware in cybersecurity history. Bowden masterfully unpacks the technical intricacies of the worm while shedding light on the global effort to combat a rapidly evolving threat.

Through compelling storytelling, the book illustrates the immense challenges faced by cybersecurity experts as they joined forces across disciplines, industries, and borders to counter Conficker's spread. More than just a history of a singular cyber crisis, Worm offers readers a profound understanding of how cyber threats have evolved and the critical importance of collaboration in addressing large-scale digital emergencies. It’s an essential read for anyone looking to grasp the complexities of combating global cyber threats.

Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin's Most Dangerous Hackers

This book offers a gripping and meticulously researched account of a Russian cyber-espionage group whose actions have redefined the landscape of modern cyberwarfare. Author Andy Greenberg illustrates how Sandworm has escalated cyberattacks from espionage and sabotage to devastating assaults on critical infrastructure, including power grids and hospitals, marking a dangerous new frontier in warfare.

Through detailed case studies, including the infamous NotPetya attack, the book provides a comprehensive examination of the motivations, tactics, and implications of advanced persistent threats (APTs). It’s a must-read for understanding how cyberwarfare has evolved and what it means for the future of global cybersecurity.

Countdown to Zero Day: Stuxnet and the Launch of the World's First Digital Weapon

Kim Zetter uncovers the intricate planning and execution behind Stuxnet, revealing the geopolitical motivations that drove its creation as a covert operation targeting Iran’s nuclear program. Beyond its technical brilliance, Zetter examines the far-reaching ethical and strategic implications of Stuxnet, including its unintended consequences and the risks of escalation in cyber conflicts. By highlighting the dangers of deploying cyberweapons that can’t be fully controlled, the book raises critical questions about accountability, global security, and the future of cyberwarfare.

Cybersecurity books for beginners

Whether you're looking to understand basic principles, learn hands-on skills, or explore career opportunities in the field, these beginner-friendly guides break down complex concepts into clear, practical lessons. Perfect for students, career changers, or anyone curious about cybersecurity, these books offer the fundamental tools and knowledge you need.

How Cybersecurity Really Works: A Hands-On Guide for Total Beginners

An accessible and practical introduction to cybersecurity, this guide is designed for those who are new to the field and want to understand how cybersecurity concepts apply in real-world scenarios. It takes a hands-on approach, teaching foundational skills and offering practical exercises to build confidence and competence. Each chapter includes exercises and practical activities, such as setting up secure passwords, configuring a home network, and identifying phishing scams. Grubb also emphasizes the importance of adopting a proactive security mindset, teaching readers how to think critically about potential risks and make informed decisions.

Discovering Cybersecurity: A Technical Introduction for the Absolute Beginner

This beginner-friendly guide offers a clear and comprehensive introduction to the technical foundations of cybersecurity, making it ideal for readers with no prior experience but a curiosity about how cybersecurity works. Designed to demystify technical concepts, the book equips readers with the essential knowledge to confidently explore the field further.

Mathews introduces core topics such as network security, web application security, pentesting, cryptography, and operating system vulnerabilities, explaining how these elements work together to protect systems and data. Complex concepts are broken down into simple, digestible explanations, ensuring accessibility for readers at all levels. Whether you're starting your career or simply looking to understand the basics, this guide provides an approachable and engaging pathway into the world of cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity Blue Team Toolkit

This book focuses on the essential tasks and responsibilities of a blue team — those responsible for detecting, responding to, and mitigating security threats. Designed to equip cybersecurity professionals with the tools, techniques, and strategies needed to defend networks and computer systems against cyberattacks, it covers a wide range of tools used by blue teams, including SIEM platforms, endpoint detection and response tools, and intrusion detection systems, with practical guidance on configuring and using these tools effectively. The book also features real-world examples and scenarios to illustrate common security challenges and how blue teams can address them, helping readers connect theoretical concepts to practical applications.

Confident Cyber Security: How to Get Started in Cyber Security and Futureproof Your Career

This accessible and engaging guide simplifies complex cybersecurity concepts while offering practical advice for building a successful and sustainable career in the industry. Jessica Barker shines a spotlight on the often-overlooked human element of cybersecurity, exploring behaviors, motivations, and the psychology behind cyber risks, making the book relatable and insightful for newcomers.

Barker provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse roles available in cybersecurity, ranging from technical positions like penetration testers and SOC analysts to non-technical roles such as policy development and security awareness training. She also offers actionable advice on identifying your interests, developing foundational skills, and gaining entry into the field.

The Art of Invisibility, The Art of Deception, and The Art of Intrusion

Authored by renowned ethical hacker Kevin Mitnick, these titles offer a comprehensive exploration of cybersecurity's most critical challenges. In The Art of Invisibility, Mitnick delves into how personal data is collected, exploited, and protected in the digital age, offering practical advice for safeguarding privacy. The Art of Deception focuses on the psychology of social engineering, revealing how attackers manipulate human behavior to breach security systems. The Art of Intrusion provides a fascinating study of real-world exploits, profiling the attackers behind them and the vulnerabilities they exploit.

Together, these books offer an invaluable resource for understanding the interplay between human behavior and digital systems. Whether you're a security professional, an ethical hacker, or someone fascinated by the world of cybercrime, this series delivers both eye-opening insights and practical knowledge for navigating today’s interconnected world.

Cybersecurity for Beginners: Learn Practical Skills to Defend Against Cyber Threats and Prepare for Certification Exams

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to cybersecurity, covering foundational concepts, practical skills, and essential knowledge to help readers launch their cybersecurity journey. It also prepares readers for key certifications such as CompTIA Security+ and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), making it a valuable resource for those looking to validate their skills.

Readers will find tips on building a standout resume, gaining hands-on experience, and identifying areas of specialization. It also explores various career paths, from penetration testing to security analysis, giving readers a clear roadmap to align their interests with their professional goals. Anyone interested in cybersecurity but unsure where to start will find this book an ideal entry point.

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