Demanding responsibilities, limited resources, and mounting personal liability concerns have resulted in widespread burnout among cybersecurity leaders. As cyberattacks and security gaps persist, corporate Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) face growing concerns over personal liability. Burnout rates among CISOs are alarmingly high, with many of them feeling isolated and unsupported. Our experts are here to delve into the reasons behind the escalating burnout among cybersecurity leaders who are facing mounting pressures in their day-to-day work lives—and what can be done about it.
The CISO role is not just about managing cybersecurity risks but also about managing the mental health of their security teams. The constant pressure and stress can take a toll on the mental health of the team members, leading to decreased productivity and increased risk of errors. Therefore, CISOs need to ensure that they are providing their teams with the necessary support and resources to manage their mental health effectively.
A key aspect of this support is promoting a healthy work-life balance. High stress levels can be detrimental to both the individual and the team’s overall performance. Therefore, it’s crucial for CISOs to implement strategies that help manage these levels of stress. This could include flexible working hours, regular breaks, and access to mental health resources.
1. CISOs Are Overworked & Overwhelmed
Three in four CISOs in the US report feeling burned out, with 73 percent experiencing burnout in the 12 months previous to the survey. The relentless pressure and lack of support have contributed to high turnover rates and increased concerns about personal liability.
Deepti Gopal, Director Analyst at Gartner, highlights the immense stress experienced by cybersecurity professionals, emphasizing that it has reached unsustainable levels. CISOs find themselves constantly on the defensive, where outcomes are often over simplistically categorized as “not getting hacked” or “not falling victim to cyberattacks.” The psychological toll of this reality directly impacts decision-making quality and the overall performance of cybersecurity leaders and their teams.
Automation can play a significant role in reducing this burden. By automating routine tasks, CISOs can free up time for more strategic activities, reducing the risk of burnout. Furthermore, automation can help in maintaining consistent security standards, thereby reducing the risk of human error.
What You Can Do About It
Being spread too thin is a big contributor to the burnout CISOs are facing. Internal resources may not be available to assist. CISOs feeling the pressure might consider the benefits of working with an expert partner like UDT which can help not only manage cybersecurity initiatives overall, but can also help CISOs better identify and address priority areas and potential vulnerabilities.
2. Liability Risks Are On the Rise for CISOs
The demand for Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance that includes coverage for cybersecurity risks is growing. D&O Insurance protects CISOs from lawsuits “alleging they failed to take reasonable steps to protect their organization from a cyberattack.” In a recent survey of cybersecurity leaders, only 55 percent of respondents said they had purchased D&O insurance.
If you believe this is an exaggerated response, consider the following instances of recent cyberattacks that have led to lawsuits being filed against cybersecurity leaders:
In 2017, the Equifax data breach exposed the personal information of over 147 million people. The company’s CEO and Chairman were sued by shareholders alleging they failed to take reasonable steps to protect the company’s data.
In 2018, Marriott International’s data breach exposed the personal information of over 339 million guests. The company’s CEO was sued by shareholders alleging that he failed to take reasonable steps to protect the company’s data.
In 2019, Capital One’s data breach exposed the personal information of over 100 million people. The company’s CEO and CISOwere both sued by shareholders alleging that they failed to take reasonable steps to protect the company’s data.
These are just a few examples of the many cyberattacks that have resulted in lawsuits against cybersecurity leaders. As cyberattacks become more common and more costly, cybersecurity leaders realize that they need to protect themselves from personal financial losses that could result from a data breach or other security incident.
What You Can Do About It
In addition to exploring D&O insurance, CISOs should consider working with an expert partner like UDT which has the expertise and tools to proactively manage and respond to cybersecurity threats. Having coverage for when a breach occurs is smart, but partnering with an experienced cybersecurity expert that can help you avoid preventable vulnerabilities is smarter.
3. CISOs Are Struggling With High Expectations & Resource Constraints
CISOs face sky-high expectations from employers that also expect them to do so with increasingly limited budgets and staffing constraints. This makes their roles even more challenging. Cybersecurity leaders must defend their organizations with stretched resources while shouldering the burden of potential reputational damage and customer risk, which can lead to several barriers to success, such as:
Increased risk of data breaches: When CISOs cannot adequately secure their organizations’ systems and data, they are at increased risk of a data breach. It can lead to significant financial losses, damage to reputation, and loss of customer trust.
Reduced innovation: When CISOs focus on keeping up with the latest threats, they may need more time and resources to invest in new security initiatives, making it impossible for organizations to stay ahead of the curve in terms of cybersecurity.
The role of the CSO (Chief Security Officer) can be instrumental in this regard. The CSO can work closely with the CISO to ensure that the organization’s security strategy aligns with its overall business objectives. This can help in prioritizing security initiatives and allocating resources more effectively.
What You Can Do About It
It is crucial for organizations to understand the challenges that CISOs face and to provide them with the support they need to be successful, including setting realistic expectations, providing adequate resources, and creating a culture of security at an organizational level. UDT offers a range of solutions that can support CISOs in their mission to establish a vigilant cybersecurity presence while optimizing budgets and resources.
4. CISOs Are Facing Job Dissatisfaction & Career Transitions
According to Gartner, a lack of talent or human error will be responsible for more than half of significant cyber incidents by 2025. Additionally, the technology insights giant predicts that nearly half of the cybersecurity leaders will seek new job opportunities by that time, with 25% transitioning to completely different roles due to various work-related stressors.
When mounting stresses and burnout push cybersecurity leaders to leave their positions, they seek new roles in cybersecurity companies, advisory jobs, or opportunities in venture-capital firms that prioritize cybersecurity beyond compliance. Organizations should be concerned about the added risk of going without leadership in cybersecurity on the organization overall.
What You Can Do About It
Organizations can do a number of things to improve job satisfaction for their CISOs. Organizations should establish open and transparent communication between CISOs and the rest of the C-suite team, along with stakeholders from across the organization. This can create dialogue and foster a culture around security that supports the important work CISOs are doing. Providing additional support in the form of expert partners like UDT can also assist in reducing the burden for CISOs and positively impacting the organization’s ability to be proactive about cybersecurity threats.
5. CISOs Must Navigate Corporate Bureaucracy & Resistance
Corporate bureaucracy and a lack of understanding of cyber risks pose additional challenges for CISOs. Their decisions often face skepticism from executives with limited subject matter knowledge, leading to added delays and frustrations.
Here are some specific examples of how bad corporate bureaucracy can prevent CISOs from doing their jobs:
A CISO may be required to get approval from multiple levels of management before implementing a security measure. This approval process might take weeks or even months, giving attackers time to exploit vulnerabilities.
A CISO may be required to use specific security products or services, even if they are not the best fit for the organization’s unique needs. This leads to security gaps and increased risk.
A CISO may be prevented from sharing information about security threats with employees, hindering the employee education process. When employees are not aware of best practices and cybersecurity risks, organizations will find it harder to protect themselves from within.
Metrics can play a crucial role in overcoming these challenges. By using metrics to measure and demonstrate the effectiveness of their security measures, CISOs can build a stronger case for their decisions and gain the trust and support of the executives.
What You Can Do About It
Corporate bureaucracy can severely impact an organization’s security posture. Organizations that want to improve security should reduce bureaucratic red tape and empower their CISOs to do their jobs effectively, and that includes expediting security related approval processes, being open to new solutions and partners, being transparent about threats and implementing employee education initiatives.
Revitalize CISOs Through External Partners
Addressing CISO burnout is crucial for maintaining the security health of an organization. Demanding responsibilities, limited resources, and personal liability concerns are unavoidable challenges, but that does not mean CISOs have to operate without help. Enterprises now turn to third-party cybersecurity providers like UDT to offer enhanced support, capabilities, and expertise that may not be available internally.
This strategic shift enables CISOs relief from burnout so they can operate at their best by leveraging specialized expertise and tools designed to help them focus on proactive (rather than reactive) defensive measures.
Collaborating with external partners on cybersecurity functions also provides improved threat intelligence and advanced technologies. By prioritizing the well-being of CISOs and forging solid partnerships, organizations can strengthen their cybersecurity efforts, fortify against evolving threats, and ensure a resilient digital landscape for the future.
If you’re interested in exploring how UDTSecure can benefit your organization, we invite you to book a consultation with one of our experts. Together, we can strengthen your defenses and protect your valuable assets in today’s evolving cybersecurity landscape.
