# 158.601 Compensation strategy.
To ensure the DHS-CS fulfills its purpose, as stated in § 158.202, the Secretary or designee aims to establish and administer a compensation system, described in § 158.602, that:
(a) Ensures the compensation for DHS-CS employees is sufficiently competitive to recruit and retain individuals possessing CTMS qualifications;
(b) Values, encourages, and recognizes, in alignment with the DHS-CS core values described in § 158.305:
(1) Exceptional CTMS qualifications and mission impact,
(2) Excellence and innovation in the performance of DHS-CS cybersecurity work, and
(3) Continual learning to adapt to evolving cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats; and
(c) Acknowledges the unpredictable nature of cybersecurity work and the expectation that DHS-CS employees occasionally work unusual hours and extended hours, as needed, to execute the DHS cybersecurity mission, especially in response to exigent circumstances and emergencies, including cybersecurity incidents; and
(d) Reflects an understanding of the cybersecurity talent market, including:
(1) Leading compensation practices and trends,
(2) Current cybersecurity work expectations and arrangements, and
(3) An understanding of the concepts of total compensation and total rewards.