Cybersecurity professionals in the UK believe they have excellent career prospects, but many are working longer hours than they should, according to a new report from the Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec).
The institute's "2022/2023 State of the Profession" report was based on interviews with 302 security.
Regarding the positive findings, 80% said they have “good” or “excellent” career prospects and over 84% claimed that the industry they work in is “growing” or “booming”.
See also: UK: Half of SMEs hit by cyberattack last year
However, more than a fifth (22%) reported working more than 48 hours a week, which marks the government’s maximum limit . This limit has been set to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of workers .
The report found that 8% work more than 55 hours a week , which the World Health Organization (WHO) considers a “serious health risk .”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, half (50%) of those surveyed said their workload keeps them up at night.
“The cybersecurity industry is booming. It has many opportunities for people from almost any background, and the need for cybersecurity is greater than ever as threats continue to increase,” said CIISec CEO Amanda Finch.
See also: Education: Increased attacks through phishing and exploitation of vulnerabilities
“However, the industry cannot rest on its laurels: it must do more to ensure talent is properly supported and does not burn out. The key to this will be equipping them with the right skills and attracting “fresh blood” to the industry to ensure teams are not put under undue pressure“.
It doesn't help that many professionals are leaving their roles due to poor pay and working environments.
See also: Air Canada: BianLian group behind data breach?
Excessive work hours for cybersecurity professionals can cause fatigue and reduced efficiency, making it difficult to investigate and detect attacks. It is essential to maintain healthy work schedules and pay due attention to rest to maintain the ability of security professionals to effectively deal with ongoing threats.
Source: www.infosecurity-magazine.com
