Key Takeaway
Cybersecurity professionals are facing significant burnout due to constant vigilance required in their roles. Tony, a pseudonymous expert, shared his experience of taking sick leave after years of stress in his position at a UK ecommerce firm. He recalled the intense efforts during the 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack, where his team worked tirelessly to secure the network. This pattern of stress has resurfaced with recent Scattered Spider attacks affecting companies like Co-op and M&S. Tony empathizes with those currently enduring similar pressures, highlighting the emotional toll of their dedication to cybersecurity.
The Human Cost of Constant Vigilance
The BBC recently interviewed cybersecurity professionals to examine this emerging trend.
Tony, using a pseudonym, took sick leave due to burnout from his cybersecurity awareness role at a major UK ecommerce firm last year, after years of mounting stress.
“Many of us in cybersecurity pour our hearts into our work. There’s a lot of passion involved,” he shares.
He recalls the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017 when his team worked tirelessly over the weekend to safeguard the company’s network.
“It was a Friday when something appeared on BBC News,” Tony mentioned.
The security team disconnected every device from the network as a precaution, with Tony finally going offline on Sunday afternoon.
“It was all preparatory work,” he explains, noting that the firm was not affected by the attack.
Tony indicated that this scenario is being repeated across organizations responding to the Scattered Spider attacks that impacted Co-op, M&S, and other businesses this year.
“I can’t even fathom what the teams at Co-op and M&S have endured,” he reflects.
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