Impact of Cybersecurity Breaches on Employees

Cybersecurity isn’t just about protecting data—it’s also about safeguarding mental health. In the wake of a cyberattack, the psychological toll on individuals and organizations can be profound. Yet, this aspect of cybersecurity is often overlooked. Here’s the reality: Digital threats don’t just compromise your systems—they can also: 👉 Trigger anxiety and stress 👉 Lead to burnout among IT and security teams 👉 Damage trust and morale across the organization But it doesn’t have to be this way. 🛡️ Here’s what you need to do to address the mental health impact of cybersecurity threats: 1️⃣ Acknowledge the Psychological Impact → Understand that cyberattacks can cause significant emotional distress. Recognize the signs of stress and anxiety in your team. 2️⃣ Offer Mental Health Resources → Provide access to counseling and support for employees affected by cyber incidents. Encourage open conversations about the emotional challenges they face. 3️⃣ Build a Resilient Culture → Foster a supportive work environment where employees feel valued and understood. Promote work-life balance and stress management practices. 4️⃣ Prepare for the Human Side of Cybersecurity → Include mental health support in your incident response plan. Ensure that your team knows how to access help when they need it most. 5️⃣ Invest in Continuous Training and Support → Regularly train your team on cybersecurity best practices to reduce the likelihood of attacks, and offer ongoing mental health resources to help them cope with the pressures of their roles. Cybersecurity is not just a technical issue—it’s a human one. By addressing the mental health impact of digital threats, you’re not only protecting your systems but also supporting your most valuable asset: your people. 👉 Ready to explore how you can better support your team’s mental health in the face of cyber challenges? Let’s connect and discuss strategies to build a more resilient organization.

In a recent Rubrik Zero Labs report, we found that 1/3 of executives had little to no confidence in their ability to maintain or keep their business going during a cyber attack. Additionally, we found that 96% of the respondents reported negative emotional or psychological impact because of an attack. These numbers are massive - in the wrong direction. We as a cyber community need to find ways to do better. We need to drive confidence and peace of mind to leaders that they can actually keep the businesses up and running during an attack, and we need to relieve the emotional and psychological impact of attacks to the best of our ability - by reinforcing our existing teams and expanding our talent pipeline. The human side of cyber crime is the biggest untold story of our time. It’s time to focus on the psychological impacts and human toll of cyber breaches.

Today, Okta launched a new survey with Angus Reid Group, that uncovers a major concern for U.S. small to medium-sized businesses when it comes to the far-reaching impacts of cyberattacks.    Every year, billions are lost to these attacks, and many SMBs are navigating an uncertain landscape. They often find themselves vulnerable due to limited resources, reliance on basic security measures, and human error.   Our research shows that the effects go beyond just financial losses; they also take a toll on employees, causing stress for leaders and lower team morale.   Key insights include…. 📉About one-quarter of U.S. SMBs that have faced a cyberattack aren’t aware of its full financial impacts. That means some businesses are still trying to grasp the fallout. ❤️🩹Nearly half of those who have experienced a cyberattack reported a negative impact on their mental well-being, and 50% report a direct impact on employee morale. 🔐 A majority (75%) of U.S. SMBs rely on basic security measures like antivirus and Single Sign-On (SSO), while more advanced solutions that don’t rely on passwords - such as identity management (40%) and biometrics (more than 30%) - remain underutilized, exposing many businesses.   Check out the infographics below to see what else is top of mind for U.S. SMBs ⬇️