Red Hot Cyber
Cybersecurity is about sharing.
Recognize the risk, combat it, share your experiences,
and encourage others to do better than you.
Menu
Redazione RHC : 23 July 2024 13:19
We often talk about cyber security and the importance of a complete cyber program today. Today, however, we will focus on analyzing another important point in the profession of the cyber security expert : stress.
Many aspiring cybersecurity professionals dream of establishing themselves firmly in the industry and one day even taking on a leadership position by becoming a CISO in some large company. However, before you strive for career growth and increased responsibility, you should be aware of all the pitfalls that plague the industry, which are often not talked about.
Working in the cybersecurity industry comes with significant stress and risk of burnout , which negatively impacts the mental health of most employees in both managerial and non-managerial positions.
Supporta RHC acquistando il Corso CTI:
Supporta RHC attraverso:
With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, many professionals faced a sharp increase in workload and responsibilities . Working from home for up to 80 hours a week and under increasing stress, many of them began to experience severe burnout .
In the field of cybersecurity, according to experts, there has long been a real trend towards burnout , depression and other mental health problems. Literally, you can count on one hand the specialists who feel at ease mentally and emotionally.
The mental health issues of cybersecurity professionals are increasingly being raised at industry conferences and forums. Numerous studies only confirm the increase in stress and emotional exhaustion among cybersecurity professionals.
Thus, a 2022 survey conducted by Tines found that 66% of respondents reported high levels of stress, and one in five showed signs of alcohol addiction . Factors that exacerbate the situation include cyberattacks that have become more frequent in recent years, increased responsibilities, and working from home. Industry veterans characterize their profession as a “ meat grinder ,” mercilessly grinding people.
Experts repeatedly point out that the stress and strain of cybersecurity can exceed that of traditional jobs, even with higher levels of responsibility. At the same time, the industry still lacks the resources to provide qualified support for employees with mental health issues.
According to Gartner, by 2025 , nearly half of cybersecurity professionals, especially in leadership positions, will change jobs, and a quarter will even change professions, mainly due to high stress and professional burnout.
To break the established stigma, the computer science community regularly brings this topic to the public discussion. Educational platforms and resources on psychological support issues appear at specialized conferences.
Therefore, the problem of professional burnout and excessive stress among cybersecurity specialists is particularly acute and requires a timely solution both at the level of individual companies and the industry as a whole.
Of course, some companies try to help their employees by introducing support groups, mindfulness courses and other similar programs. However, experts believe that this is not enough.
Until business leaders start prioritizing the health and well-being of their employees by providing insurance, guaranteed vacations, and regular work schedules, the situation will not change radically.
There are definitely positive changes taking place in the work culture of IT specialists, and with the change of generations, the situation is gradually changing for the better.
Redazione