Exploring Discrepancies in CISO Job Advertisements: A Comparative Content Analysis

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Presented at BSides Munich 2023 by

Leonhard Kurthen

Daniel Fall

This study presents a **qualitative content analysis** of public job advertisements for the position of **Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)** in both the DACH area (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) and the United States of America. The analysis comprises a representative sample of recent public job advertisements collected over a period of three months. The primary objectives of the research are twofold. Firstly, the study compares the **roles, responsibilities, resources, and duties** outlined in the **job advertisements** with the actual requirements derived from contemporary security best practices, such as ISO/IEC 27001. By evaluating this alignment, we aim to ascertain any potential **discrepancies between the advertised expectations** and the industry's current security standards. Secondly, we investigate potential **regional variations** in CISO job descriptions, taking into account cultural, legal, and organizational differences between the DACH region and the United States. Understanding these distinctions could provide insights into the specific demands and preferences of each region concerning information security management. The ultimate goal of this research is to identify any adverse impact that might arise from discrepancies between the requirements set forth by organizations in job advertisements and the actual best practices. By shedding light on these potential mismatches, we hope to contribute to the **enhancement of information security recruitment and practices**, thereby fortifying companies' security management efforts.