Cybersecurity professionals are facing unprecedented levels of stress. With threats growing in sophistication, compliance burdens increasing, and teams struggling with limited resources, the strain on cybersecurity leaders is at an all-time high. For small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs), this burnout crisis poses a severe risk—not only to the well-being of their security teams but to the overall resilience of the organisation.
Our recent webinar, part of the Cyber Defence Series, explored the escalating stress levels facing cybersecurity teams today. It also offered actionable strategies for SMBs to mitigate this crisis. Here’s a recap of the key insights and practical solutions that can help businesses support their security teams better.
1. Stress Levels and Business Impact: A Growing Crisis
A recent study revealed that nearly a quarter of CISOs and IT decision-makers are considering leaving their roles, with 93% citing stress as the primary reason. This escalating burnout crisis has a direct impact on business continuity, as losing a cybersecurity professional can cost an organisation upwards of £20,000 on average. Amid an ongoing cybersecurity talent shortage, these departures could seriously weaken an organisation’s defences.
A staggering 29% of security leaders report feeling that their careers have been compromised due to breaches, and 38% are receiving emergency calls in the middle of the night. Beyond these statistics lies the reality that more than half of all cybersecurity professionals feel that their current tools are inadequate for addressing today’s threats, further compounding the stress they face daily.
2. Platform-Based Solutions: The Key to Streamlining Security
Overloaded by a sea of cybersecurity tools and dashboards, many security teams find it hard to prioritise effectively. One of the primary solutions discussed in our webinar was a platform approach. By consolidating multiple cybersecurity tools into a single, integrated platform, SMBs can cut down on tech clutter and reduce the mental load on security teams.
A platform approach also provides an adaptable, scalable solution for evolving threats without the need to continually invest in disparate, disconnected tools. This enables teams to focus on high-priority threats rather than managing the endless complexity of numerous dashboards and interfaces.
3. Rethinking Compliance to Lighten the Load
Compliance is another significant source of stress for cybersecurity teams, especially in industries where data privacy is paramount. In our webinar, we highlighted that an average of 7.5 hours per week is spent on compliance tasks—a heavy burden for many SMBs.
By integrating compliance processes into a comprehensive security platform, SMBs can reduce the need for manual, repetitive tasks. Automated compliance tracking and reporting can streamline processes, saving time and reducing the mental strain on security staff. This way, teams can maintain compliance without feeling overwhelmed.
4. Leveraging AI to Reduce Stress and Boost Efficiency
Automation and AI technologies are increasingly proving invaluable in easing the burdens on cybersecurity teams. Our webinar discussed several practical applications, including AI-driven analysis of email threats, which can reduce the number of false positives that security teams need to investigate. This, in turn, allows them to focus on genuine threats rather than chasing false alarms.
Machine learning can also be harnessed to create context-aware security policies that adapt to user behaviour, reducing the friction that often arises when cybersecurity tools disrupt workflows. By automating responses to known threats, AI can free up valuable time, enabling security professionals to focus on more strategic, impactful tasks.
5. Prioritising the Human Impact of Cybersecurity
The human side of cybersecurity is often overlooked, but it’s crucial for SMBs to consider how security tools impact users. Frustrated employees (a huge 69% in the last 12months) are more likely to bypass security controls, weakening the organisation’s overall defences. During our webinar, we emphasised the need for designing user-friendly security solutions that minimise friction and encourage compliance.
In practice, this means educating users about security policies and why they matter. When employees understand the “why” behind security measures, they’re more likely to follow them, which strengthens the organisation’s overall security posture and reduces stress on security teams.
6. Collaborating with Security Partners for Better Support
Building a strong partnership with security vendors was another strategy highlighted in our webinar. By collaborating closely with vendors, SMBs can benefit from solutions that are better tailored to their specific needs and receive more comprehensive support. This collaborative approach fosters a deeper understanding of the business’s unique challenges, helping to alleviate stress for cybersecurity teams by providing tools that align with their priorities.
Watch the Webinar On-Demand:
Strategies to Protect Your Team and Business
The growing cybersecurity burnout crisis demands immediate attention from SMBs. Without action, the risk to both security professionals and organisations will only intensify. Our webinar offered insights and practical solutions that can help alleviate stress and build a more resilient defence against cyber threats.
Catch the full webinar on-demand to dive deeper into these strategies. Don’t miss this opportunity to equip your team with the tools and insights they need to tackle today’s challenges head-on.
