Employee well-being has become a primary focus for many businesses, with cybersecurity professionals feeling the brunt of unmitigated work-related stress levels. A survey of CISOs at small to midsize businesses revealed that 94% of CISOs reported being stressed at work, with 65% saying that it compromised their ability to protect their organizations. Furthermore, 70% of the CISOs surveyed believed their stress levels were higher than their colleagues in other areas of the business.
This rise in stress levels has had a direct impact on the performance of security teams. Increased workloads have caused high churn rates, hampering recruitment efforts and leaving CISOs with a limited pool of candidates. Nearly three-quarters of the CISOs surveyed said they had employees quit due to stress.
Meanwhile, 38% of CISOs reported they are considering or actively searching for a new job, as reduced budgets, hiring freezes, and lack of resources are leading to untenable workloads. Furthermore, 84% of CISOs said they had postponed or canceled a vacation due to an urgent security task, while 77% claimed that work-related stress is impacting their physical health.
Organizations must take steps to reduce work-related stress levels for CISOs and their staff. This includes providing additional resources such as automation capabilities, better training opportunities, and the ability to outsource tasks. Businesses should also look at consolidating security technologies onto a single platform, as this can help to lower stress levels.
Ultimately, protecting CISO’s well-being is the first step to protecting a business from cyberattacks. Improving work-related stress levels for CISOs has a direct impact on an organization’s cybersecurity efforts, and businesses must take deliberate steps to ensure the mental health of their employees.
Key Points:
• 94% of CISOs reported being stressed at work, with 65% saying that it compromised their ability to protect their organizations.
• Increased workloads have caused high churn rates, hampering recruitment efforts and leaving CISOs with a limited pool of candidates.
• 38% of CISOs reported they are considering or actively searching for a new job.
• 84% of CISOs said they had postponed or canceled a vacation due to an urgent security task.
• Organizations must provide additional resources such as automation capabilities, better training opportunities, and the ability to outsource tasks.