Stress, burnout, rage, despair- all common experiences to many in the information security community. This panel will discuss the issues, compare and contrast them to other industries. We’ll also discuss how to recognize stress in ourselves and others, and steps that can be taken to combat it. We aren’t looking at medical or psychological cures, but rather what the average would call common sense approaches to dealing with stress in your life. We will start with a presentation of common stress and burnout issues and triggers encountered in information security. These factors can be internal (for example, some of the personality types drawn to the field), external (harassment by coworkers, lack of respect by business), and cultural (stereotypes of “geeks”). The discussion will continue with a look at other high stress careers and examine what (if anything) we can learn from them. Many of the commonly considered “high stress” occupations, such as law enforcement, medicine, and military have much more visceral activities and responses- this must be considered when attempting to transfer lessons from these occupations to infosec. Talk was delivered at Security BSides Las Vegas, 2011

1. Burnout in Information Security NOT a "how-to" guide

8. GENDER Men = 90% Women = 7% Undisclosed= 3% AGE < 25 = 8% 25-35 = 47% 35-45 = 36% 45-55 = 8% 55+ = 1% TIME IN SECURITY INDUSTRY < 1 year = 4% 1-3 years = 13% 3-6 years = 19% 6-10 years = 23% 10-15 years = 29% 15+ years = 11% SURVEY: 400 RESPONDENTS WHAT IS YOUR ROLE Executive = 5% Senior Management = 8% Middle Management = 16% Non-Management = 59% Self-Employed = 6.8% Student = 6.1% LEVEL OF STRESS Extremely Stressed = 10% Very Stressed = 24% Moderately Stressed = 40% Mildly Stressed = 25% Not Stressed = 6% BIGGEST STRESSORS Job Satisfaction = 55% Family = 33% Finances = 43% Pwnage = 23% Social Relationships = 16%