Interview with the CISO of the Year
We are celebrating a special achievement: Werner Kaiser, the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Porsche Holding Salzburg, has been named “CISO of the Year”! This prestigious award from CIS recognizes groundbreaking projects and exceptional achievements in information security and demonstrates how innovatively our security team tackles challenges. Out of numerous entries from across the DACH region, our “Security Roadmap” ultimately won over the jury. In an exclusive interview, Werner Kaiser offers fascinating insights into why information security is shaping the future of our company now more than ever.
Congratulations! What does winning the “CISO of the Year” award mean to you, and what does it mean for our company?
I am accepting this award on behalf of the entire security team at Porsche Holding. It is a valuable recognition of the hard work we’ve put in over the past few years, and it is something we are proud of. The award shows that we have made the right strategic decisions regarding information security and have developed positively compared to the rest of the industry. It sends a strong signal, both internally and externally, that we are on the right track.
What are the biggest challenges you currently face as a CISO?
The biggest challenge lies in balancing security with business development. On the one hand, we must remain constantly vigilant and adapt to the dynamic threat landscape. At the same time, we never lose sight of Porsche Holding’s strategic goals. Our security measures are designed to support the business as effectively as possible, not hinder it. Complex regulatory requirements for cybersecurity, such as NIS2 and DORA, add to this challenge and demand additional effort.
Werner Kaiser stellt den Beitrag der Porsche Holding beim CIS Compliance Summit vor
What’s next on the security roadmap?
Our roadmap is extensive. In recent years, we have completed over thirty projects and a similar number are currently in progress. We expect regulatory pressure to continue increasing in the coming years.
At the same time, we are already developing our long-term security strategy through 2030. To accomplish this, we analyze technological trends, look ahead to the future, and prepare for new challenges.
What advice would you give to young IT professionals looking to enter the field of information security?
For me, information security is the most exciting field I’ve worked in so far! I highly recommend it, because of its technical complexity, the constant evolution, and the close collaboration with many business units, both nationally and internationally. Information security truly is a unique environment.
This field offers young people the chance to gain a holistic understanding of a company, develop personally, and actively contribute to shaping the future. Anyone passionate about the subject will find numerous opportunities to contribute here.
