Employer Preferences for Cybersecurity Skills among Information Systems Graduates

Recognizing the global need for cybersecurity professionals and shedding light on the employers' preference of skills give educators the opportunity to improve their process to prepare future generations for the workforce. The goal of this paper is to acquire a collection of skills employers value when hiring for a new cybersecurity position. Our research plan is split into three phases. First, we will develop an initial list of cybersecurity skills by using a systematic literature review to assess what past research has found. Next, we will validate the importance of these skills through a ratings-based survey of employers. Finally, we will refine and prioritize the validated skills using two preference capturing studies - rank order survey and conjoint analysis. Discussion and implications for future research and academic departments in cybersecurity are provided.