Cybersecurity is a demanding job that comes with a lot of stress. Threats are constantly evolving, problems are often vague and there are no clear solutions, which is a headache for many companies. Security professionals are overworked with heavy responsibilities in an unpredictable and constantly changing environment. Most security teams are understaffed and under-resourced, which can add to stress. Having to meet deadlines, stay informed of the latest security risks, as well as manage complex security systems and incident reports can easily lead to burnout.
“Cybersecurity practitioners can easily become mentally and physically overworked managing high volumes of security incidents and keeping up with ever-changing threats,” said behavioral scientist and psychology lead Dr John Brice. cyber workforce at Immersive Labs. “If you don’t take care of your health at work or personally, you risk suffering extreme stress,” he said.
Dr. Brice said there are ways to alleviate the stress and burnout that can wreak havoc on security teams and businesses. Recognizing issues and getting the right career development can mitigate the negative impact of job demands and improve employee well-being and performance.
How stress and burnout affect your business
Dr. Bryce said stress and burnout among cybersecurity professionals can reduce productivity, which can lead to project delays and missed deadlines. They are also prone to errors and mistakes in their work, which can increase the risk of security breaches and other issues.
“Stress and burnout can lead to high turnover rates, which are costly for companies,” says Dr. “If more than one member of a team is experiencing stress and burnout, it can have a negative impact on team morale and job satisfaction.” the work environment may not change positively. A security breach caused by employee burnout or stress can damage a company’s reputation and lose customer trust, he added.
Career development and recognition of achievements
Dr. Brice advises recognizing the accomplishments of cybersecurity professionals, as well as career development, to reduce stress. Helping cybersecurity professionals get the skills, specialized resources, and support they need to effectively manage their workloads can help prevent stress and burnout. “Employees must have access to career development that helps them respond to cyber threats, and a culture of recognizing achievement is needed to boost employee morale,” he said.
Aaron Kimele, CISO of Jamf, notes that cyber experts often deal with one issue and then move on to the next hazard, event, and incident, which hurts their sanity. “Recognizing and rewarding these efforts and accomplishments motivates and helps employees understand that they are valued and recognized for their accomplishments. Career development allows employees to connect with peers who face the same challenges in similar circumstances .a team sport, and security professionals need to periodically recognize that everyone is playing together.”
Career development and recognition of achievement can also build employees’ human resources (also known as psychological capital), including hope, optimism, resilience and self-confidence, which can help them cope. stress and burnout.
4 Ways to Relieve Stress and Burnout with Professional and Personal Resources
Dr. Blythe shared four ways security teams can help reduce or prevent stress and burnout:
1. Offer other perks to cushion your work demands: “Individuals are better able to manage the demands of work when they have access to job resources such as autonomy, social support and career development opportunities,” he said. It can help prevent burnout by reducing the negative impact of job demands on a person’s well-being.
2. Provides a sense of control: Using these work resources can help individuals increase their sense of control over their work, thereby reducing stress and anxiety. “It leads to job satisfaction and motivation, which can prevent burnout,” he said.
3. Improve adaptive capacities: “Personal resources, such as psychological capital, can help individuals develop the coping skills needed to manage stress and prevent burnout,” says Dr. Blythe. For example, high levels of optimism and resilience can help individuals. This is useful for recovering from setbacks and staying motivated in the face of challenges.
4. Promote work-life balance: Personal resources such as social support and time management skills help individuals maintain a healthy work-life balance. “It can prevent burnout by freeing up the individual’s time and energy to invest in other areas of their life, such as hobbies and relationships,” Dr. Blythe said.
you have to do it right
Career development and recognition can have a very positive impact on reducing stress and burnout for security personnel, but how you do it is also critical. “CISOs should work with their HR teams to design an evidence-based career development program tailored to their organization, with clear goals and metrics to measure progress,” says Dr. Blythe.
In Kimele’s experience, conferences are one of the best ways to improve the mental health of security professionals. CISOs indicated that, where possible, employees should be encouraged and supported to attend these events. “Conference content may be timely and excellent, but the fact that I can meet and mingle with other security professionals is more important,” he said.
“Security is a team sport, and it’s invaluable to know that you’re not doing it alone, there’s a great community going through the same trials and tribulations, seeing the same problems, and working to innovate solutions,” said All security professionals should know that they are engaged in the larger mission of reducing threats to corporate security.
“There’s nothing quite like going to a safety conference and feeling the camaraderie,” adds Kimele.
Career development and certifications are also helpful.
Leo Cunningham, CISO of data security platform Flo, said career development courses or certifications can help security officers learn new skills and knowledge, build confidence and lower levels. of stress.
“Career development helps teams stay up-to-date on the latest hacking groups, technologies, vulnerabilities, and best practices to increase work efficiency, reduce the risk of unintended errors, and expand team capabilities. team,” says Kimele. must demonstrate that they value and support the professional growth and career development of their team by investing in the career development and development of their employees. It is a way to significantly increase employee morale and motivation. crew.
When employees benefit from career development around organizational communications, they can manage their own stress and problem-solve with colleagues and teams, says Nadine Michaelides, psychology expert at the European Union Cybersecurity Agency. (ENISA) and CEO of Anima People. IT out.
“What often happens in cybersecurity is that the approach to any problem is too technical. It does not take the human factor sufficiently into account. Security teams struggle to understand how to handle these complex problems.” one of the most important aspects of a career It is with confidence and vision that you can find a solution. But when you feel like you’re hitting a wall, you quickly feel intimidated and overwhelmed.
Building a Culture of Wellness
Dr Blythe added that security managers should aim to create a culture of well-being by providing continuous feedback and support to their employees. “Security leaders should foster a culture of support by leading by example and promoting a culture of well-being within their team, which reduces stress and burnout for team members. security managers focus on psychological well-being, work and life,” he said. We can build a culture of well-being by fostering a balance between people, encouraging open communication, encouraging healthy habits and leading by example.
In addition, the safety manager must care for and recognize the accomplishments of team members. A simple thank you can go a long way, Kemele said. “When an employee’s efforts and contributions are recognized, the team feels satisfied with their work,” says Kemele. ” ciokr@idg.co.kr
