Identifying Traits and Values of Top-Performing Information Security Personnel
ABSTRACT Enterprise information security is a talent-centric proposition. Information assurance is a product of the combined expertise, attention-to-detail, and creativity of an information security team. A competitive edge can be obtained by hiring the top information security professionals. Therefore, identifying the right people is a mission-critical task. To assist in the candidate selection process, this research analyzes the enduring traits and values of top security performers. It identifies the personality traits and values which distinguish high-performing information security workers. In a laboratory study, a series of simulations were administered to 61 subjects to assess their ability to solve various information security problems. The characteristics of top information security performers were contrasted against the rest of the cohort. In terms of personality, the top performers have higher levels of conscientiousness and openness. With respect to values, the top performers have stronger theoretical and economic values.