Australian CISOs are highly motivated

Australian CISOs are most likely to see themselves as “business bodyguards” keeping their organisation safe, according to a new study from Thycotic.

A survey of 100 IT security decision-makers in Australia found that 27% see being the business bodyguard as their top motivator for getting out of bed in the morning, closely followed by the ability to be an instrument for change (25%).

Other motivators include being a “puzzle master” — enjoying the intellectual challenge of keeping an organisation safe (23%), while a further 23% call their top motivation as being an “upholder of ethics” and a protector of the integrity of data and privacy of customers and employees.

Just 2% of Australian security professionals struggle to get out of bed in the morning due to a lack of motivation.

But CISOs also report that common frustrations with their jobs include lack of support from senior leaders in how to train, appraise and develop staff (48%), burnout and stress from long hours and pressures at work (46%), and lacking opportunity to express themselves in challenging or interesting projects (46%).

The most stressful aspects of their job meanwhile include trying to meet the growing number of compliance and regulatory demands (41%), not having the budget to do their job effectively (38%), facing lengthy shifts and the need for out of hours availability (37%) and firefighting a growing number of security incidents (34%).

“Today, CISOs have one of the most challenging and dynamic jobs but our study clearly shows that IT professionals are content to live with this and that all they really desire is for the business to show they are valued,” said Thycotic Chief Security Scientist and Advisory CISO Joseph Carson.

“However, being constantly on duty, ensuring the ongoing protection of their company’s assets, educating the rest of the business and keeping their finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest compliance mandates and regulations does take its toll.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Drobot Dean