AS THE THREAT LANDSCAPE EXPANDS AND THE PACE OF ATTACKS GETS FASTER , THE PACE OF DEFENCE SPEEDS UP IN TANDEM , WHICH MEANS THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW TO LEARN .
F E A T U R E
AS THE THREAT LANDSCAPE EXPANDS AND THE PACE OF ATTACKS GETS FASTER , THE PACE OF DEFENCE SPEEDS UP IN TANDEM , WHICH MEANS THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW TO LEARN .
been forced to take on responsibilities they were not ready for in the past year , and 70 % said that the resulting increase in their
18 months to 4.5 years – especially when compared to the average for other execs .
“ In terms of working hours ‘ more is not always more ’. ‘ Hours worked per week ’ is not a measure of effectiveness ( and actually has a negative impact once it reaches around 65 hours per week ). And , arguably , no other C-suite exec thinks that being miserable and stressed should be a constant expectation of the job . Who would routinely have the CFO on-call at 3am , for example , and what CFO would routinely accept the call ?”
Niko Mastropaolo , CISO at CCI Global , Africa ’ s leading BPO and customer service outsourcing provider , reiterated the pressure on modern CISOs .
Kirsty Paine , Field CTO , Splunk workload had led them to consider looking for a new role .
“ With two thirds reporting that talent shortages directly led to the failure of one or more projects / initiatives , it ’ s concerning – yet unsurprising – that 73 % say that workers have resigned due to burnout . This churn has a snowball effect , with those workers left taking on extra duties and stress , leading to more resignations ,” Paine said .
“ And at a basic level , stressed workers are unhealthier and often more prone to mistakes . Whichever way you look at it , ‘ CISO stress ’ is very real , and it ’ s bad for our industry . While CISO tenure estimates vary , they ’ re pretty short – from roughly
“ Cybersecurity specialists , practitioners and particularly the modern CISO , along with the support resources and complex systems driving InfoSec functions , are undergoing significant changes in an intensely competitive landscape , while maintaining high levels of performance within organisations , as they confront ever-growing cyber-risks like never seen before ,” he said .
“ These changes aim to assist CISOs and practitioners in better coping with the constantly evolving nature of cyberthreats . Security teams must remain informed , updated and , most critically , vigilant . Moreover , the consequences of a cyberattack can be severe , encompassing financial loss , brand damage and even harm to the personal wellbeing of others . Long hours and on-demand responsibilities often lead to burnout , escalating stress levels . Additionally , a global skills gap and rapid technological changes foster feelings of inadequacy and pressure to perform , among other challenges .”
So , what can under pressure CISOs do to get a better grasp on that coveted work-life balance ?
The establishment of peer networks and connecting with fellow professionals facing similar challenges is one approach that cybersecurity professionals should consider , according to Mastropaolo .
He said : “ This provides validation , advice and a sense of community . Investing in continuous learning across all technical
34 www . intelligenthealth . tech