According to new research, nearly half (45%) of cybersecurity leaders are working 11 or more extra hours per week — the equivalent of a six-day work week. Additionally, 20% work 16 or more hours weekly. 

It comes as no surprise, then, that 44% report their role is more frequently emotionally exhausting than rewarding. Burnout has long been a notable challenge for the industry, especially in times of staff shortages when greater demand is placed on individual cyber professionals. Despite the burnout many workers face, the report found many struggle to step away from the role as accountability and operational demands rise. 

“This isn’t a talent retention story. It’s a system failure,” declares Ravid Circus, Chief Product Officer at Seemplicity. “The people aren’t leaving, but the system is breaking around them. Burnout has little to do with resilience problems and usually comes down to an operational failure. Until organizations hardwire ownership, automate prioritization, and reduce the daily judgment load placed on security leaders, they’re not managing exposure; they’re relying on exhausted humans to hold the system together.”

Despite the stress and burnout, 94% state they would still choose cybersecurity as a career.