Cyber security workers and other employees are experiencing high levels of burnout, which exposes organizations to greater risks of cyber attacks and data leakage.
Research by Cybersecurity company 1Password Show the challenge Remote work Two years later COVID-19 pandemic It makes employees feel exhausted and is unlikely to pay attention to safety guidelines.
According to the survey, exhausted employees are more indifferent to workplace cybersecurity measures and are three times more likely to ignore recommended best practices.
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Risk behaviors include downloading software and applications without IT’s express permission, thereby increasing Shadow IT On a network that is difficult for IT departments to manage properly.These employees may also Download a fake or malicious version of the app, Which might provide malicious software And other threats from hackers.
The newspaper also warned that exhausted employees are more likely to use Easy-to-guess password To protect their company accounts. Using weak passwords makes it easier for cybercriminals to compromise accounts and use that access to snoop on the network, steal information, and lay the foundation for a wider range of malicious activities.
“The biggest threat is internal indifference. When people use security protocols incorrectly, they can make our company vulnerable,” said a cybersecurity professional who asked not to be named in the report.
In many organizations, cybersecurity personnel are responsible for activities that may make the network vulnerable to cyberattacks—but according to the report, cybersecurity professionals are more prone to exhaustion than other employees. Research shows that 84% Security professionals feel exhausted, Compared with 80% of other workers.
When cyber security employees are exhausted, they are likely to describe themselves as “completely inspected” and “doing the least amount of things at work”-one in ten cyber security professionals describe it as their mentality, while 20 other employees.
This attitude can easily lead to security threats being missed or defects not being fixed in time, which may expose the entire company to the risk of cyber incidents.
Jeff Shiner, CEO of 1Password, said: “The burnout caused by the pandemic-and the resulting indifference and distraction in the workplace-has become the next major safety risk.” “It’s particularly concerning. Surprisingly, the exhausted safety leaders responsible for protecting the company do worse at complying with safety guidelines-putting the company at risk.”
The rise of remote and/or mixed work has permanently changed many workplaces, and it is essential to develop correct cyber security strategies to manage risk.
In addition, managers need to discuss with employees the possible challenges of working from home in addition to the benefits of working from home — therefore, a better understanding of the causes of burnout and the measures that can be taken to deal with burnout and related safety risks .
“Now, companies must engage those at the core of safe operations through tools, training, and continuous support to create a culture of safety and care that helps all of us stay safe at work,” Shiner said.
