A recent survey has shed light on the pressing concerns faced by IT decision-makers, revealing that 55% believe the current economic climate has limited access to mental health and wellbeing resources within their organizations.
Among the notable cybersecurity challenges causing sleepless nights for IT decision-makers, protecting sensitive data tops the list at 48%. This is closely followed by managing risk and compliance (28%), defending identities (26%), dealing with ransomware (25%), and ensuring the security of cloud environments (23%). The survey also highlighted concerns about secure Internet of Things (IoT) and Operational Technology (OT) environments (20%), expanded attack surfaces (19%), and the challenge of security consolidation (18%).
For Chief Information Officers (CIOs), security consolidation is a heightened concern at 30%, surpassing the worries of information security analysts (14%) and Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) (18%). This disparity may be attributed to CIOs playing a direct role in managing the security consolidation process, a critical aspect as organizations grapple with the sprawl of solutions and seek to streamline their security tools for enhanced network control and visibility.
The impact of cybersecurity challenges on mental wellbeing is evident, with 57% acknowledging that the resurgence of ransomware has negatively affected the mental health and wellbeing of individuals in the industry. Brian Martin, Head of Product Development, Innovation, and Strategy at Integrity360, emphasized the evolving tactics employed by ransomware operators, including the use of double extortion, turning data theft into a lucrative means of attack. Martin emphasized the need for businesses to stay prepared and highlighted the importance of dedicated Incident Response (IR) teams to counter the evolving threat landscape effectively.
Alarming findings from the survey indicate that 63% of cybersecurity professionals experienced increased stress and anxiety due to their work, underscoring the mental health toll of the industry. On a positive note, nearly 70% stated that their organizations adequately support their mental health and wellbeing. Despite this, a substantial majority (75%) expressed a desire for increased investment in mental health and wellbeing resources.
Acknowledging the challenges in cybersecurity budgets, economic downturn, and skill shortages, Martin emphasized the need for businesses to find solutions to support their employees. He suggested considering third-party assistance or outsourcing to Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) as potential avenues to alleviate the strain on cybersecurity professionals and ensure the robustness of security systems.