Alleviating the Pressure: Supporting CISOs to Reduce Stress and Avoid Burn-out

It’s no secret in the cyber security industry that Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) are often under significant strain. They alone shoulder the immense weight of the security of their entire organisation while most employees are oblivious to the fact that a single cyber-attack could be potentially disastrous.

At the best of times, the role can be a thankless task. When all is quiet, the CISO has to justify spend to the board of directors and can be put under pressure to defend their earlier investment decisions. It’s not cheap to protect an IT estate from adversaries, and costs have risen due to increases in licensing fees and the higher salary expectations of experienced cyber security professionals. Over the past decade, organisations have spent more and more money on products and tools, while the frequency of cyber-attacks has risen regardless.

But when a cybercriminal does compromise a network, the CISO takes the blame. And it can sometimes cost them their job. This pressure can take a huge toll on work-life balance, strains emotions, and heightens stress and anxiety. It’s no wonder that CISOs are often on tenterhooks and are kept awake at night. According to some industry reports, the average time a CISO spends in his or her role is around two years.

How Quorum Cyber supports CISOs

As a threat-led cyber security company with over 400 team members, we provide a comprehensive range of managed and professional services to help CISOs in any sector with any challenge: