Executive Summary: Our Conclusions in a Nutshell

1. The results of our survey of cyber security professionals show that challenging high impact work and continuing investment in training or more critical to attracting and keeping elite cyber security professionals then competitive pay and benefits.
2. Having a flexible work schedule also ranked higher than pay. Ninjas also valued being able to advance without having to assume management responsibilities significantly more highly than non-ninjas.
3. There is evidence of what we call a “Kevin Durant effect.” Highly skilled professionals want to work with others whose talent and work they respect and from (or with) whom they can continue to learn.
4. We found a relationship between certain professional certification tests and those who perform certain ninja tasks. Ninjas hold more and different professional certifications.