Redazione RHC: 23 July 2024 13:19
We often talk about cyber security and the importance of a complete cyber program, but today we will focus on analyzing another key point in the profession of a cyber security professional – “stress”.
Many aspiring cybersecurity professionals dream of establishing themselves in the industry and one day assuming a leadership position as the CISO of a large corporation. But before you look to advance in your career and take on more responsibility, you should be aware of all the less-discussed pitfalls that plague the industry.
Working in the cybersecurity industry carries significant stress and the risk of burnout, which negatively impacts the mental health of most employees, both managerial and non-managerial.
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With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, many professionals faced a surge in workload and responsibilities. Working from home for up to 80 hours a week and experiencing increased stress, many began experiencing severe burnout.
Burnout, depression, and other mental health issues have long been on the rise in the cybersecurity field, experts say, and you could literally count on one hand the number of professionals who are mentally and emotionally safe.
Mental health issues among cybersecurity professionals are increasingly coming up at industry conferences and forums, and numerous studies have confirmed that stress and mental fatigue are on the rise among cybersecurity professionals.
So a survey conducted by Tines in 2022 found that 66% of respondents reported high stress levels and one in five showed signs of alcoholism. Factors that exacerbate the situation include cyber attacks, which have become more frequent in recent years, increased responsibilities and working from home. Industry veterans describe their profession as a “meat grinder” that grinds people mercilessly.
Experts have repeatedly noted that the stresses and strains of cybersecurity can exceed those of traditional jobs, even when the level of responsibility is high. At the same time, the industry still lacks the resources to provide adequate support to employees with mental health issues.
According to Gartner, by 2025, nearly half of cybersecurity professionals, especially those in leadership positions, will change jobs, and a quarter will do so primarily due to high stress and professional burnout.
To break down entrenched prejudices, the computer science community regularly brings this topic into public discussion: educational platforms and resources on the issue of psychological support are presented at specialized conferences.
The problem of professional burnout and excessive stress among cybersecurity professionals is therefore particularly serious and requires timely solutions both at the individual company level and at the industry-wide level.
Of course, some companies try to help employees by introducing support groups, mindfulness courses, and other similar programs, but experts believe that this is not enough.
Unless corporate leaders start prioritizing the health and well-being of their employees by providing insurance, guaranteed vacation time, and regular work schedules, the situation is unlikely to change dramatically.
There are definitely positive changes happening in the work culture of IT specialists, and with the generational change, things are gradually changing for the better.
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The Red Hot Cyber editorial team consists of a group of individuals and anonymous sources who actively work together to provide early information and news about cybersecurity and computing in general.
