The Silent Scourge: A Call to Action Against Burnout in Cybersecurity
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<p>Cybersecurity headlines often focus on threat actors and attack vectors, but the quietest and most dangerous threat in cybersecurity may be within our own teams. The difficulty of detecting cyber threats is accelerating, and the volume, creativity, and effectiveness of attacks show no signs of slowing. These dynamics significantly strain cybersecurity and IT professionals, causing burnout in an unceasingly high-pressure, often thankless environment where closure isn’t guaranteed.</p><p>The numbers paint a stark picture: <a href="https://www.proofpoint.com/us/resources/white-papers/voice-of-the-ciso-report">63%</a> of security practitioners report experiencing burnout, and <a href="https://www.tines.com/reports/voice-of-the-soc-2023/">62%</a> of cybersecurity leaders have experienced it at least once, with 44% experiencing it multiple times. The feeling of “never winning this constant cyber battle” can haunt vulnerability management teams, leading to profound frustration and exhaustion.</p><p>The psychological impact of this work can’t be understated; dedicated vulnerability management teams are constantly patching and mitigating, only to face new vulnerabilities each and every day. With targets shifting weekly and the feeling of being caught up remaining out of reach, even the most resilient professionals feel like they’re treading water. An eye-opening <a href="https://multiteam.solutions/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Report-on-Stress-Burnout-in-Cybersecurity_MTS-QA-Ltd.pdf">50%</a> of cybersecurity professionals expect to experience burnout soon, driven by high workloads, threat alert fatigue, organizational pressures, and the constant evolution of new threats.</p><p>As leaders, we must acknowledge and appreciate the heroic efforts of our cyber defenders, who are always “in the breach.” We expect them to be alert and ready to respond at all times. But pressure like this without respite cannot hold, and the stress will crack anyone who works under the load. Environments such as this cannot be allowed to exist. The consequences of inaction are too severe. Organizations can’t defend their digital infrastructure with a human workforce that’s running on empty.</p><p>A highly concerning <a href="https://www.heidrick.com/en/insights/cybersecurity/2024-global-chief-information-security-officer-organization-and-compensation-survey">85%</a> of cybersecurity professionals anticipate needing to leave their jobs due to burnout, with 24% saying they’ll leave the industry entirely. But burnout doesn’t just affect retention; it directly impacts security outcomes. The research also shows that 83% of IT security professionals say burnout causes data breaches, and 77% report that stress levels at work directly affect their ability to keep customer data safe. If we fail to heed the signs of burnout, organizations risk losing good people and compromising their security.</p><h3 data-start="0" data-end="62"><strong data-start="0" data-end="62">Strategies to Build a Culture That Protects the Protectors</strong></h3><p><strong> </strong>Security leaders can’t fix the global talent shortage, but they can control the culture within their teams. Practical strategies must be implemented to mitigate burnout and strengthen morale. One simple, effective way is to highlight specific accomplishments, such as successfully patching critical vulnerabilities or completing compliance milestones. Recognition shifts the focus from what constantly needs attention to what has been accomplished.</p><p>Equally important is transparent, up-to-date policy governance, which reduces stress and confusion. The governance should include:</p><ul> <li>Proactively managing policy gaps.</li> <li>Addressing aging policies before they become risks.</li> <li>Establishing and enforcing robust exception management processes.</li> </ul><p>An overlooked part of exception management is the process of ensuring that business leaders, in lieu of just IT or cybersecurity teams, take part in the decision-making process. It is the job of IT and cybersecurity professionals to define the policies and articulate the risks driving them, but when exceptions need to occur, the policy reviews should also fall to the business decision-makers. The expectation that IT-related teams must carry the burden of authorizing policy violations places them under unnecessary pressure. There needs to be clear boundaries between IT/cybersecurity personnel and business leaders. For example, IT and cybersecurity articulate risk, and business leaders interpret that risk and make decisions to approve policy exceptions. Suppose the cybersecurity department has a policy to update devices or software, but a business reason prevents the updates. In that case, cybersecurity personnel can clearly articulate the risk, and the business leaders should approve the policy exception. Risk identification and policy exception decisions should not rest solely with IT and cybersecurity.</p><p>Policies must be practical, actionable, and clearly communicated. A mature exception management process, in particular, can significantly reduce a team’s daily burden and stress. And while process is essential, so is empathy. Visible, consistent check-ins from leadership often do more to rebuild trust and motivation than any new tool or policy ever could.</p><h3><strong>An Industrywide Imperative</strong></h3><p><strong> </strong>Beyond internal strategies, there needs to be a broader industry shift; business owners, as customers, must demand that software providers deliver products with fewer inherent vulnerabilities. Security teams are overwhelmed as they constantly battle a stream of purchased, yet-to-be-patched flaws. These battles can entail immense financial costs and place severe psychological burdens on cyber professionals.</p><p>A software bill of materials (SBOM) is a good step toward creating a less stressful environment for cybersecurity teams. Giving security professionals what equates to a nutritional label for code, an SBOM provides a full list of components, libraries, frameworks, and modules contained within a software application, enabling visibility into dependencies, quick assessment of exposure to known vulnerabilities, and a baseline for continuous risk monitoring and compliance.</p><p>Ultimately, cybersecurity maturity and IT resiliency need to be redefined to include the health and well-being of the cyber workforce. A resilient organization cannot exist without a healthy workforce. Burnout is a significant issue that demands attention. Business owners owe it to these dedicated professionals.</p><h3><b>Conclusion</b></h3><p>Burnout is not just an individual’s problem; if one team member is showing signs of exhaustion, it’s likely a symptom of an organizational issue. The ceaseless nature of cyber threats, compounded by organizational pressures on security professionals, easily leads to exhaustion, disillusionment, and disengagement. Recognizing the signs, implementing supportive strategies, and advocating for systemic changes are acts of compassion and wise investments in long-term security and resiliency.</p><p> </p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/the-silent-scourge-a-call-to-action-against-burnout-in-cybersecurity/" data-a2a-title="The Silent Scourge: A Call to Action Against Burnout in Cybersecurity"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fthe-silent-scourge-a-call-to-action-against-burnout-in-cybersecurity%2F&linkname=The%20Silent%20Scourge%3A%20A%20Call%20to%20Action%20Against%20Burnout%20in%20Cybersecurity" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fthe-silent-scourge-a-call-to-action-against-burnout-in-cybersecurity%2F&linkname=The%20Silent%20Scourge%3A%20A%20Call%20to%20Action%20Against%20Burnout%20in%20Cybersecurity" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fthe-silent-scourge-a-call-to-action-against-burnout-in-cybersecurity%2F&linkname=The%20Silent%20Scourge%3A%20A%20Call%20to%20Action%20Against%20Burnout%20in%20Cybersecurity" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fthe-silent-scourge-a-call-to-action-against-burnout-in-cybersecurity%2F&linkname=The%20Silent%20Scourge%3A%20A%20Call%20to%20Action%20Against%20Burnout%20in%20Cybersecurity" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fthe-silent-scourge-a-call-to-action-against-burnout-in-cybersecurity%2F&linkname=The%20Silent%20Scourge%3A%20A%20Call%20to%20Action%20Against%20Burnout%20in%20Cybersecurity" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div>