EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Statistics show that CISOs who work an average of 10 hours beyond their contracted time commitment each week churn out an extra $30,319 worth of labor on behalf of their enterprises, annually.

However, the additional hours take a tremendous toll on CISOs’ health, and their personal lives.

In a survey, it’s not surprising that nearly half of CISOs reported that work stress negatively impacted their mental well-being. Thirty one percent said that the stress degraded their physical health. On top of that, 40% of CISOs report that this stress cascades into their personal relationships, such as missing family occasions and their childrens’ milestones.

Says one vice president of cyber security, “…there’s the expectation that we’re always on,” always available, and always thinking about the organization’s cyber security. After all, more than 30% of CISOs worry that their jobs will be on the line in the wake of a breach.

Research indicates that boards recognize this stress, but haven’t taken action. CISO well-being isn’t being taken seriously. Says one expert, “If boards want their organization to be effectively protected, they need to reduce the stress being placed on the CISO,” otherwise, they risk stress-related mishaps and burnout. Click To Tweet

Exactly how to reduce stress could mean splitting a CISO role into two separate positions, demanding fewer hours in exchange for a slight reduction in pay, offering free mental health counseling, or any of a handful of other creative options. For more on this subject, visit Dark Reading.