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The number of instances of cybercrime has risen exponentially in recent years. In the first half of 2021 alone, the UK lost £1.3 billion to fraud and cybercrime, with both small and large businesses finding themselves the target of data breaches, ransomware and more.
In the last 12 months, four in ten (39%) businesses reported having experienced cybersecurity breaches or attacks. More and more organisations are understanding just how catastrophic cybercrime can be, both in terms of the financial cost and the reputational damage.
However, those aren’t the only costs involved. The emotional impact of a cyberattack is rarely given much attention, but the truth is the violation of a data breach or ransomware incident can have a significant impact on mental health – for staff, supply chain and customers.
So this Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re looking at cybersecurity and mental health: what kind of effect cybercrime can have on wellbeing and where organisations may need to look to change up their approach.
The mental impact of attacks stretches from the victim of the crime to those tasked with stopping it.
Being the victim of cybercrime can result in a wide range of emotions and negative psychological experiences, including guilt, shame, helplessness, emotional trauma and, in some cases, even post-traumatic stress or sleep problems.
In a 2010 study by Norton, cybercrime victims described the experience as a violation, “as if someone had actually come inside my home to gather this information”, and reported feeling powerless as a result. More recently, a 2021 study published in SAGE Open found that “hacking victims may experience many of the same psychological impacts as those experienced in traditional crime”, including anxiety and depression.
Meanwhile, there is also evidence to suggest that the psychological impact of cybercrime is also felt by those whose job it is to prevent incidents from occurring. A recent webinar by Netskope titled Talking About It: Understanding Mental Health and Wellness in Cybersecurity explored the pressure on cybersecurity professionals – particularly CISOs – to protect business assets from every-changing and growing threats.
Neuroscientist Marcia Goddard, one of the hosts of the webinar, says of cybersecurity: “It’s all new. It’s all unpredictable. There are many threats out there, so your job is to protect the rest of the organisation from threats from the outside.
“When I look at that as a neuroscientist, I’m thinking their brains aren’t happy.”
What’s more, Netskope comments on how the expectations placed on cybersecurity professionals can add to the stress posed by cybercrime. The rest of the business, explains Netskope, “may not have realistic expectations around the degree to which the security team can guarantee corporate data and applications are safe.”
In order to successfully tackle the many factors related to cybercrime – from financial to mental – open and honest communication must be upheld. Cybercrime operates in the realm of uncertainty and mystery, which is why complete clarity is essential. Discussions between employers, employees, co-workers, cybersecurity experts and more can help to highlight and alleviate any stressors flying under the radar.
What’s more, defence is the best offence when it comes to cybercrime. Putting the right defensive measures in place now can help to prevent the heartaches and headaches caused by a cyberattack.
Finding the right support for your business security can provide you with the peace of mind you need to operate at full capacity. Discover more about our tailored cybersecurity services by getting in touch with the experts at SRM today. Click here to contact a member of our team.
