The security industry changes quickly. New theories come out and disprove the old, new technologies make the previous versions obsolete, new solutions are infinitely more effective than their predecessors.

As a corporate security professional, it's crucial for you to read books that strengthen your skills and introduce you to new strategies (like this free eBook about the benefits of managing security investigations with software).

We made this list to help you stay a relevant, knowledgeable professional. Here are ten corporate security books you absolutely must read this year:

Kingpin: How One Hacker Took Over the Billion-Dollar Cybercrime Underground

Author: Kevin Poulson

As a former hacker himself, author Kevin Poulsen offers a unique perspective into the journey of brilliant programmer and cybercrime ring-leader, Max Butler.

Butler, also known as “Iceman”, is currently serving 13 years in prison for infamously hacking thousands of computers, stealing nearly two million credit card numbers and racking up more than $85 million in fraudulent charges.

Kingpin is a must-read for any security professional seeking a better understanding of the threats they deal with every day.

Out of the Ashes: The True Story of How One Man Turned Tragedy into a Message of Safety

Author: Charlie Morecraft

As a long-time employee at the Exxon refinery, Charlie Morecraft knew standard safety procedures. Excited to leave for vacation, Morecraft made the unfortunate decision to ignore protocol, causing an explosion that left him with burns covering half of his body, dozens of surgeries and months of rehab.

In Out of the Ashes, Morecraft uses his story to stress the importance of workplace safety and to show what could happen when proper standards are ignored.

Profiling the Fraudster: Removing the Mask to Prevent and Detect Fraud

Author: Simon Padgett

Author Simon Padgett teaches the reader how to recognize characteristics and behavioral patterns commonly displayed in current and potential fraudsters, and how to use this profiling strategy to improve on your existing fraud detection process.

Profiling is a great tool but can bring about legal troubles if done incorrectly. Profiling the Fraudster is a great step-by-step learning resource for fraud investigators, auditors, accountants, attorneys or anyone else who plays a role in protecting company assets.

If you like Simon Padgett's work, he hosted a webinar with us about investigating blockchain, bitcoin and wallet transactions. Watch for free here.

Improving Organizational Security: A Guide to Understanding and Preventing Inside and Outside Threats

Authors: Dr. Kelley and Dr. Badake

Improving Organizational Security is a must-read for security leaders looking for tips to minimize and prevent physical and cyber threats to their organization. Learn how to establish a strong security policy and train staff effectively to defend against threats.

The two authors, Dr. Njideka Kelley and Dr. Komlan G. Badake, are award-winning experts in the fields of leadership and training, and firmly believe that threat awareness and preparation is the ultimate security defense.

The Art of War for Security Managers: 10 Steps to Enhancing Organizational Effectiveness

Author: Scott A. Watson

Scott A. Watson adopts time-honored advice from Sun Tzu’s famous book, The Art of War, into a contemporary business version: The Art of War for Security Managers.

This book teaches the reader that while conflict in business is inevitable, it doesn’t need to be costly and damaging. The author creates a framework for understanding conflict while minimizing their harm, with a specific focus on the responsibility of a security manager in the modern-day organization.

Extrusion Detection: Security Monitoring for Internal Intrusions

Author: Richard Bejtlich

In this book, top security consultant and creator of The Tao of Network Security Monitoring blog, Richard Bejtlich shares his most effective tips for preventing, detecting and mitigating internal security breaches.

Anyone interested in or responsible for addressing insider security risks will find value in this book. Extrusion Detection offers practical, step-by-step solutions to assessing internal threats, detecting anomalies, responding effectively to attacks, defending against malicious bots, setting reasonable policies and more.

Offensive Countermeasures: The Art of Active Defense

Authors: John Strand, Paul Asadoorian, Benjamin Donnelly, Bryce Galbraith and Ethan Robish

Many of the techniques used in cyber defense today either don’t work at all, or just barely. To confront this issue, the authors use this book to begin a conversation to the widely criticized idea of “hacking back”.

If you're looking for a new approach to cyber defense, Offensive Countermeasures is the book you need to read. The authors provide a long list of advanced, unique defense countermeasures to help you beat cyber criminals and hackers at their own game.

Surveillance Zone: The Hidden World of Corporate Surveillance Detection & Covert Special Operations

Author: Ami Toben

In Surveillance Zone, author Ami Toben gives a behind-the-scenes look at espionage, surveillance detection and covert protective operations happening right now in the private sector. Learn how to apply surveillance operations into your corporate security effort for a more effective defense against criminal threats.

With more than two decades of experience as an FBI agent and nearly a decade working as a corporate security professional, there is no one better to share real-life expertise about this mysterious industry.

Effective Physical Security (Fifth Edition)

Author: Lawrence Fennelly

If you’re looking to learn more about the latest developments in physical security defense, this is the book for you.

Author Lawrence Fennelly compiled this book of best practices to contain all the key elements of physical organizational defense, including locks, lighting, CCTV and surveillance, environmental design, risk management, network system infrastructure and more.

Effective Physical Security also contains additional references, websites, appendices and checklists to extend your learning beyond the book’s pages.

The Manager’s Handbook for Corporate Security: Establishing and Managing a Successful Assets Protection Program

Authors: Edward Halibozek and Gerald L. Kovacich (CFE, CPP, CISSP)

The authors, with more than 55 years combined in government and corporate security, put their experience to good use in this handy reference full of corporate security solutions.

The authors create a fictional corporation riddled with common challenges and solutions to help the reader apply this teachings of this book to their own situations. The Manager’s Handbook for Corporate Security contains a wealth of information and advice suitable for managers with any level of experience to meet their security goals.