Demo

Stress and burnout in the world of cybersecurity professionals are nothing new. And the Covid pandemic hasn’t helped. What is new is a greater realization and recognition of how damaging chronic stress can be, how they can lead to career and professional burnout, and why it’s in everyone’s interest to managing this creeping threat.

This opening lesson explores why stress and burnout are different in the world of security, and from an expert who has decades of experience in security-related work stress.

Most employees, most humans, experience stress to some degree, and much of it work related. Cybersecurity is different. The mission is different, the workload and environment are different, and the cost of even the smallest failure can be huge. That’s a heavy weight to carry and a weight you can’t just leave at work

This lesson explores the how stress works, in the body and on the body, how stress can be good and bad, and how unmanaged, constant, and chronic stress becomes burnout.

There is good news. Not only can stress be managed and reduced a a level you can live with, even thrive on, any long-term damages can be reversed.

This lesson explores what specifically in the security workplace is causing so much stress – whether it’s unreasonable workloads, long hours, fear of failure, lack of resources, or a dozen other causes. The lessons will also explore the more acceptable ways to manage stress generally, and specific ways to manage stress in a security environment.

Have you tried mindfulness, meditation, yoga, gratitude, or hitting a punchbag, repeatedly, as a way of dealing with your stress? This lesson will dive into all the scientifically proven ways to manage and lower your stress, find happiness and joy, and stay focused and committed.

In this lesson, Neal O’Farrell, the founder of the PsyberResilience project, will also explore what drove him to finally explore solutions to his chronic stress after nearly 40 years in security (hint- he burned himself out), and the practices he found the most and quickest benefits from.

Neal O’Farrell is one of the world’s longest-serving security experts, and has spent nearly forty years in security, privacy, and fraud around the world.

Which is about the same length of time he’s struggled with mental health issues and chronic stress. As his fortieth year in security approach, Neal decided that for the sake of his own health and others, he would adjust his focus a little and try to rediscover the passion he had for security for so many years.