Work can be stressful, creating anxiety and leading to burnout among employees. It can also lead to an increase in cybersecurity threats as stressed-out employees are less vigilant and more susceptible to phishing and other cybersecurity scams. Studies show that 60% of all attacks and two-thirds of all cyber breaches are caused by or enabled by employee negligence.
Humans are still the weakest link when it comes to cybersecurity. In our current environment, businesses are trying to do more with fewer people. In some cases, two jobs are now being done by one person, creating a much greater workload and increasing additional stress. The pressure to complete so many tasks can lead to mistakes. Nine out of 10 incidents are related to human error.
Managing workplace stress
We may not be able to eliminate stress at the office, but companies can put systems in place to help ease the pressure.
- Encourage breaks and balance
Allow ample time for your team members to take breaks throughout the day. Give them time to be creative and just stop and think. Providing time for staffers to unplug and recharge will make them sharper and more focused throughout the day.
- Take action
If you see team members are not prioritizing breaks and downtime, step in. Make taking short breaks throughout the day a priority.
- Foster open communication
Regular check-ins create a supportive environment by letting employees share concerns before they become bigger issues. Try doing a once weekly or bi-weekly hour-long chat, either in-person or virtual. In this forum, employees can talk about anything and everything. Open communication keeps employees from holding things in and reaching a point of high stress and burnout.
- Consider hybrid or flexible work schedules
Studies have proven flexible work schedules that offer work-from-home options (when possible) help reduce stress and boost productivity. Giving time back to employees is crucial in today’s world of busy employees and working parents. A few work-from-home days a week can make a big impact.
- Make the most of down time
Go on a morning or evening walk; spend time reading with your child; journal or meditate first thing in the morning; or go to bed 30 minutes early for some extra shut eye.
Cybersecurity action steps
While a more supportive workplace can help to dial down the pressure, humans aren’t perfect and sometimes they make mistakes. Adding extra layers of security can help keep your organization safe from cyber-attacks.
- Conduct on-going cybersecurity awareness training. This can’t be a one-and-done process. You must be as vigilant as the cybercriminals are. Try having early morning coffee-and-donut sessions or lunch-and -learns. Make training fun, not something employees dread.
- Enforce multifactor authentication on email and critical systems. This is especially important when so many of us work from home.
- Add extra layers of spam protection beyond what Microsoft or Google already provide. Attackers are getting much more sophisticated and phishing attempts are getting harder to spot. Keeping these emails out of the inbox in the first place can make a big difference.
- Keep systems updated with the latest security patches.
- Get a security risk assessment done by a qualified IT specialist. Understanding potential threats and system weaknesses can help a business prioritize the measures needed to protect data and minimize the risk of a data breach.
Everyone wins when the workplace is less stressful. Supporting your team and reducing stress at the office can help avoid expensive cybersecurity slip-ups. Employees are happier, more productive and make fewer errors, and employers reap the benefits of a healthy workforce.
Jeff Chandler is CEO of Z-JAK Technologies, an IT consulting, support and cybersecurity firm. Jasmine Proaño is CEO of Hidden Talent, a placement and talent acquisition company.
