Information security • Ethics • Aesthetics

A generalist, but not an amateur.
Between systemeic thinking, art, and radical reflection.

IMG 8729bb 1 – Front page

Generalist

Dennis Irrgang

I am a generalist with an unusual combination of expertise in information security, artistic interests, and philosophical depth.

I have learned that it is not important to be the best at one thing. Instead, I draw strength from combining different disciplines: technology, aesthetics, and ethics flow into my projects as much as reasoning, metacognition, and the joy of creating.

From art to engineering

Topics that shape me

Information security

My professional focus. Governance, risk, and compliance—informed decision-making in uncertain situations is always at the heart of what I do.

Network architecture

My technical foundation. From switch stacks to segmentation strategies in OT environments.

Philosophy & ethics

I am a staunch determinist and advocate an absurd, systemic ethic: rational, critical, not moralistic – but deeply humanistic.

Aesthetics & art

Material, form, and effect. Whether drawing, design, or design ethics – good aesthetics touch on the truth.

Metacognition

How we think influences what we believe to be true. I deal with cognitive biases, epistemic hygiene, and self-reflection.

Soft Skills

Negotiating, arguing, mediating. Communication is action – and often it’s the tone that makes the impact.

The only difference between screwing around and science: writing it down!

Recent Articles

Information security is not an IT issue – it is a corporate responsibility

Information security is not an IT issue – it is a corporate responsibility

Information security is not an IT toolset, but a management task. Those who only understand risks from a technical perspective overlook their strategic core. An ISMS helps to control costs, prevent damage, and make informed decisions—not out of fear, but out of responsibility.

Inheritance, inequality, and the price of birth

Inheritance, inequality, and the price of birth

Inheritance reproduces social inequality – generation after generation. What if we abolished it and transferred the wealth of deceased individuals to a future fund that would guarantee every newborn a fair start in life? A radical but structurally fair approach to dynastic wealth and genuine equality of opportunity – without abandoning capitalism.

The end of authenticity – Why products no longer have a soul

The end of authenticity – Why products no longer have a soul

Products once carried with them a sense of origin, craftsmanship, and cultural depth. Today, they are faceless transactions in a global price war. This article analyzes how brands have lost their meaning, why Temu is merely the final form of a system, and why honest design can hardly survive without fair market conditions.

When understanding isn’t enough: Stoic frustration in an irrational world

When understanding isn’t enough: Stoic frustration in an irrational world

A personal essay about the powerlessness of acting rationally and yet experiencing the world as irrational and unjust. Between stoicism, systemic frustration, and the desire for sincerity, the text reflects on the burden of understanding in a society that often avoids responsibility—and why writing remains an act of inner resistance.

My CISSP Experience

My CISSP Experience

How demanding is the CISSP certification really – and how do you prepare for it efficiently? In this experience report, I share my two-month preparation, evaluate learning materials such as Destination Certification and LearnZapp, and show why ‘thinking like a manager’ is more important than detailed technical knowledge. An article for anyone who wants to prepare for the CISSP in a structured way and realistically assess what really matters.

Knowledge shared is knowledge squared