- Complex recovery tools cause already exhausted IT staff to quickly lose confidence, report says
- Many experts now see AI tools as another layer of stress.
- Fear of personal blame generates deep anxiety in cybersecurity teams
The pressure on IT and cybersecurity professionals is intensifying as the scale and sophistication of cyber threats increase, new research claims.
An Object First survey shows how this pressure has become a mental health crisis in the industry: 84% feel uncomfortable and stressed at work due to cybersecurity risks, while almost 60% are considering leaving their jobs altogether.
Many respondents also fear being personally blamed if attackers compromise systems, adding to the emotional toll.
Increased threats and emotional exhaustion
The survey describes an environment in which IT workers feel trapped between increasing threats and unrealistic expectations.
Nearly half of respondents said they are under pressure from leadership to “fix everything” after a cyber incident.
A smaller but still notable 18% admitted to feeling “hopeless and overwhelmed” during or after such events.
The sense of responsibility to safeguard entire networks, often under-resourced, has left many struggling to cope.
“The increasing pressure on IT and cybersecurity professionals is not just a human resources issue; it is a business resilience challenge,” said David Bennett, CEO of Object First.
“As cyber threats continue to increase in frequency and sophistication, the risk of compromising productivity and losing top talent to burnout could leave organizations more vulnerable than ever.”
The complexity of recovery tools and ransomware protection systems has become a key driver of burnout.
Nearly three-quarters (74%) of respondents said their recovery technologies or malware removal tools were too complicated to manage without deep security expertise.
Heavy workloads and understaffed teams only increase this challenge, resulting in longer work hours and less confidence in responding to attacks.
Many professionals believe faster, more efficient backup solutions could ease the strain, while nearly two-thirds (65%) said independently tested technologies would increase their confidence.
As organizations increasingly rely on artificial intelligence tools to automate detection and response, the burden of interpreting and managing those systems often falls on human staff.
This increases mental fatigue rather than reducing it. Therefore, there is an urgent need for both mental health support and simpler technology.
Half of the professionals surveyed said their companies do not consistently prioritize well-being, and many also identified flexible schedules, employee assistance programs and mental health services as crucial helps.
To address these issues, Object First, in collaboration with Cybermindz, is launching educational materials and stress management resources aimed at restoring focus and improving rest.
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