In today’s fast-paced cyber landscape, effective leadership in hiring, organizing, motivating, and retaining cybersecurity staff is more critical than ever. Cyber workforce risks like unfilled jobs, skill gaps, and burnout are on the rise, increasing both organizational and cyber risks. To explore these challenges, CyberSN hosted a webinar featuring a panel of experts, including Deidre Diamond, Founder and CEO of CyberSN and Founder of Secure Diversity, Peter Coroneos, Founder of Cybermindz.org, Dom Glavach, Chief Security and Technology Officer at CyberSN, and Chad Loder, VP of Security Solutions at CyberSN. The discussion focused on the human side of cybersecurity, covering topics such as professional efficacy, burnout, trauma, and strategies for building a healthier and more resilient cyber workforce.
Deidre Diamond, highlighted the importance of protecting the professionals who safeguard organizations. She emphasized, “If we’re going to retain and develop resilient cyber practices, then we need to understand that the management of that is mental, physical, and work health.”
Peter Coroneos shared the serious issues of burnout within the cybersecurity industry and the significant challenges with satisfaction and retention. “A recent study we did revealed that cybersecurity professionals are burning out faster than frontline healthcare workers,” he noted, emphasizing the urgency of addressing this issue.
A major contributor to cybersecurity workforce risk is the loss of professional efficacy, which refers to an individual's belief in their professional competencies and their ability to perform effectively in their work role. This loss is closely linked to burnout and resignation. Deidre observed that many cybersecurity professionals lack clear metrics to measure their success, leading to feelings of ineffectiveness. Dom Glavach stressed, “Defining success is critical because it’s that first rung in the career ladder. It’s what makes you say, ‘I did something today.’” He also highlighted the importance of clearly defining everyone's roles and responsibilities and establishing measurable agreements for both employees and management. This clarity helps ensure that professionals understand what is expected of them and how they can achieve their goals, fostering a more motivated and effective workforce.
Trauma from cybersecurity incidents, such as breaches, is another significant issue. Peter explained that unresolved emotional energy from such events can lead to long-term psychological issues, affecting both individuals and team morale. He noted that 74% of cybersecurity leaders report that team members are resigning due to the unmanageable stress associated with cyber incidents. “Trauma does not auto-resolve in many cases,” he warned, highlighting the need for proactive intervention. To address this, Cybermindz and CyberSN offer joint solutions from leadership and crisis support to cyber workforce risk management. These initiatives give security leaders a 360 degree view of their cybersecurity teams and extend the effectiveness of cyber management to ensure teams can maintain performance under pressure.
Addressing these challenges requires both organizational action and individual care. Deidre advocated for comprehensive cyber workforce risk management solutions that include mental health support, proper workload management, and a focus on overall well-being. Chad pointed out that some organizations are successfully managing these challenges, suggesting that studying these success stories can help others improve. “There is hope because we can study what those organizations do and say, ‘Let’s emulate that and make programs out of them,’” Loder highlighted.
Prioritizing the mental health and well-being of the cybersecurity workforce is essential for creating healthier, more resilient teams. By focusing on the human side of cybersecurity, leaders can strengthen their organizations and better equip their teams to meet today’s complex challenges. Now is the time to implement strategies that support both the professional efficacy and overall well-being of your cyber professionals, ensuring they are prepared and motivated to protect your organization.
To support your cybersecurity workforce and prevent burnout, get in touch.
The CyberSN and Cybermindz partnership enables organizations to attract, retain, and support skilled cybersecurity talent while maintaining a strong focus on mental health and resilience, leading to more effective cybersecurity teams. Learn more about this partnership.
