In Depth

How IT Security Pros Blow Off Steam

An IT security pro's job can be hell. To stay sane, it helps to have an outlet to wring out the job stress at day's end. Here's what some of your peers are doing.

By Bill Brenner, Senior Editor

Afterwards, however, he says he must "avoid the wife" because the dogs charge through the house with their wet and muddy hair.

Family and home
As gratifying as it may be to fire a paintball gun or lead toy soldiers into battle, others simply blow off steam through their family and home maintenance routines.

Keith Gosselin, information technology officer at Biddeford Savings Bank in Maine, used to turn to golf as a stress reliever. That has fallen by the wayside since he became a parent, however. Now he works off the stress by puttering around the house, splitting wood and cleaning the yard.

Dave Bixler, CISO at Siemens IT Solutions and Services Inc., finds his release at his kids' athletic events, where he "cheers his brains out."

"With three kids playing a total of four different sports -- soccer, football, lacrosse, and track-- I generally don't have to wait too long for the next game to come along," he says.

Other stories by Bill Brenner

• Email
• Print
• Comments
• Digg This
• SlashDot

• Stressed to Kill
• 2007 Office Style Guide
• How to Keep Your Security Team Happy