Working in the cyber security industry has always been high-pressure but we have seen that pressure intensify. Advancing threats, expanded attack surfaces, rising workloads and a global skills shortage are all having a negative effect on the mental health of many cyber security professionals.
According to Hack The Box’s 2024 research, a staggering 84% of cyber security professionals report stress, fatigue, or burnout. These findings show that this is no longer just a wellbeing issue, it’s now a strategic risk.
For CISOs and business leaders, burnout often leads to errors, delayed response times and attrition that affects the already critical skills gap. Our research found that in the UK alone, stress-related productivity loss costs cyber organisations an estimated £130m annually. This results in longer onboarding times and increased pressure on those who remain within the organisation.
The personal toll is just as bad. 74% of cyber security professionals globally have taken time off because of work-related mental health issues, averaging 3.4 sick days per year. Yet there is still a disconnect between executive leadership and those defending the front lines. 90%…
