IT professionals face rising stress from AI-driven cyber threats

A survey titled ‘Under Pressure: Mental Health Challenges in IT & Security Roles’, conducted by Dynata for Object First, reveals rising stress levels among IT and security professionals in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Overall stress levels have increased by 7% to reach 91%, with 70% of respondents citing AI-based cyber threats as a primary cause of workplace pressure.

Despite AI tools improving productivity for 90% of professionals, only 24% believe their organizations are adequately structured to handle increasing cyber threats. Key stressors include the risk of cyberattacks and excessive workloads due to understaffed teams. Furthermore, 74% of respondents find recovery tools too complex to use without specialized security expertise, and only 37% feel confident in their ability to fully recover corporate data following a ransomware attack.

The impact on workforce stability is significant: 78% report that accumulated stress has damaged their job performance, and 60% are actively seeking new employment.