Tech
CISO burnout: A crisis of expectation and isolation | Computer Weekly
Burnout among chief information security officers (CISOs) and cyber professionals is no longer a fringe concern – it is a persistent and growing crisis within the industry. Despite holding senior titles, many CISOs operate in environments where their roles are misunderstood, under-supported, and burdened with unrealistic expectations.
Cyber security has evolved alongside business functions rather than being fully integrated into them. This historical separation has created a cultural and operational disconnect, leaving many cyber professionals isolated. As one expert observed, “most people in cybersecurity are in survival mode, fighting the crocodiles nearest the boat.” The pressure to manage daily operations, respond to incidents, scan the horizon for emerging threats, and contribute to strategic planning – all often with minimal resources – has become unsustainable.
A key issue is the widespread misconception that CISOs are simply senior technical experts. In reality, the role demands strategic oversight, leadership, and governance. Yet many CISOs are promoted from technical backgrounds without the necessary development in communication, leadership, and business acumen. They are expected to maintain deep technical expertise while simultaneously operating as high-level strategists – a duality that few other C-suite roles are asked to maintain.
This mismatch between expectations and reality creates a vicious cycle. Without clear role definitions or organisational maturity around cyber leadership, CISOs struggle to advocate for themselves. Boundaries blur, workloads expand, and the risk of burnout intensifies. Knowing one’s value and setting boundaries is essential, but difficult when the business itself lacks clarity on what it expects from the role.
Remote work has further exacerbated this isolation. The loss of informal, in-person interactions has made it harder for CISOs to build relationships, influence culture, and engage in the dynamic conversations that often drive innovation and problem-solving. The ability to walk past a colleague’s desk and spark a spontaneous discussion has been replaced by scheduled meetings and digital silos.
To address burnout, several key strategies must be considered:
- Early advocacy: CISOs must set expectations and boundaries from the outset. Waiting until the role becomes overwhelming is often too late.
- Leadership development: Organisations must invest in developing CISOs beyond their technical skills, equipping them with the tools to lead, communicate, and influence at the executive level.
- Support networks: No professional, regardless of seniority, should operate in isolation. Peer support and mentorship are vital.
- Role clarity: Businesses must mature in their understanding of the CISO role. The title “Chief Information Security Officer” implies a remit far broader than just cyber. Recognising this distinction is key to setting realistic expectations.
- Enforced boundaries: Downtime is essential. CISOs must be empowered to delegate, switch off, and protect their mental health.
This is not a simple fix. The challenges are both organisational and personal, and they must be addressed in tandem. The industry is hanging on by a thread, and with the rise of AI and increasingly complex threats, the risk of burnout could have catastrophic consequences if left unchecked.
The fact that CISO burnout remains a topic of concern year after year – predating even the Covid-19 pandemic – speaks volumes. The pandemic may have intensified the issue, but it did not create it. Isolation, unclear expectations, and a lack of support have long plagued the profession. If the industry is to thrive, it must prioritise the wellbeing of its cyber leaders as much as it does its technical defences.
Mike Gillespie is CEO and co-founder and Ellie Hurst is commercial director at Advent IM Ltd,
These soft and stretchy unders are made from capilene, an insulating fabric spun from 100 percent recycled polyester. The synthetic threads perform about on par with wool. Capilene is also just about as comfortable, all while being light and quick-drying. Patagonia sells the base layers in two thicknesses: midweight and a heavier thermal weight. They come in men’s and women’s sizes, and the tops are available in a crewneck or collared zip-neck. I tested these in the fall in Minnesota and in San Francisco, so I wore the midweight version with a crewneck top.
Taking advantage of the precision afforded by working with synthetic fabric, Patagonia has made some interesting design choices. The garments are smooth on the outside, and have a subtly embossed diamond grid pattern on the inside. The company says this diamond pattern creates little pockets that trap heat and help wick moisture. That claim is next to impossible to verify, other than to say: The fabric did keep me about as warm as merino wool.
Like most Patagonia apparel, these fit a little looser than the same size would from other brands. Even though I tend to like my base layers snug against my skin for maximum warmth, here I appreciated the extra room in the shoulders, in the groin, and under my arms. I wore them for two days straight on a canoe camping trip—even sleeping in them—and after a wash a week later, another two days commuting to and from my office. They didn’t chafe or bag out, and the elastic points never pinched. After each multiday wear, they did stink a little—more than wool would in the same scenario, but miles better than other synthetics I’ve tried. If you’re avoiding wool because of allergies or because you’re eschewing animal byproducts, this fair-trade certified two-piece is a solid alternative. —Michael Calore
| Weight (Medium) | Fabric | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patagonia Capilene Midweight Crew | 6.2 oz | Recycled polyester | $89 |
| Patagonia Capilene Midweight bottoms | 4.3 oz | Recycled polyester | $89 |
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a nonprofit launched by Mark Zuckerberg and his wife aimed at curing all disease, on Thursday announced it was restructuring to focus on using artificial intelligence to achieve that goal.
The move narrows the focus of the philanthropic organization founded in 2015 with a vow to devote most of the couple’s significant wealth to charitable causes, including social justice and voter rights.
Zuckerberg is among the high-profile tech figures who has backed away from diversity, equality and fact-checking initiatives after US President Donald Trump took office in January.
The organization this year ended its diversity efforts, curbed support of nonprofits that provide housing and stopped funding a primary school that gave education and health care to underserved children, according to media reports.
The philanthropic mission created by the Meta co-founder and his spouse, Priscilla Chan, said that its current priority involves scientific teams centralized in a facility called Biohub.
“This is a pivotal moment in science, and the future of AI-powered scientific discovery is starting to come into view,” Biohub said in a blog post.
“We believe that it will be possible in the next few years to create powerful AI systems that can reason about and represent biology to accelerate science.”
Biohub envisions AI helping advance ways to detect, prevent and cure diseases, according to the post.
The mission includes trying to model the human immune system, potentially opening a door to “engineering human health.”
“We believe we’re on the cusp of a scientific revolution in biology—as frontier artificial intelligence and virtual biology give scientists new tools to understand life at a fundamental level,” Biohub said in the post.
The first investment announced by the Zuckerbergs when the initiative debuted nearly a decade ago was for the creation of a Biohub in Silicon Valley where researchers, scientists and others could work to build tools to better study and understand diseases.
Shortly after it was established, the initiative bought a Canadian startup which uses AI to quickly read and comprehend scientific papers and then provide insights to researchers.
“Our multidisciplinary teams of scientists and engineers have built incredible technologies to observe, measure and program biology,” Biohub said of its progress.
Meta is among the big tech firms that have been pouring billions of dollars into data centers and more in a race to lead the field of AI.
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Back in the day, Verizon proved their expansive reach with the spokesperson who asked “Can you hear me now?” With the spokesman pulling a Benedict Arnold and moving to T-Mobile, Verizon is now called the “Network America Relies On,” proven by their 4G LTE network covering 99% of the U.S. population, and 5G network expanding daily (though hovering around 13% now). The telecommunications conglomerate is the second-largest wireless carrier in the US and the largest network in America; now including everything from wireless home internet to headphones, smartwatches and cell phone accessories. We know how important it is to stay in communication, so we’ve found some of the best ways to save money, even without a Verizon promo code.
Latest Verizon Coupons: Up to $1,100 on Phones and Plans
You can get up to $1,100 off the newest smartphone models when you trade your phone in and get a new line on the Verizon Unlimited Ultimate plan. The Verizon promo credit will be applied over 36 months and the trade in phone must be from Apple, Google, or Samsung. With this deal, you can get a free Galaxy S25, Watch, and Tablet when you sign up for a new line on MyPlan; a free Google Pixel 10, Watch, and Tablet with a new MyPlan, with no trade-in needed; a free iPhone 17 Pro with a new line of Unlimited Ultimate; or a free Galaxy S25+ with a new line of Unlimited Ultimate, no trade-in required. Plus, you can get an iPhone 17 Pro Max for less than $5 per month with the Unlimited Ultimate line. And both new and existing customers can get free Google Pixel 10 Pro with a trade-in in any condition. You can also save up to $1,100 off the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, or get a free Motorola Rzr, with no trade-in required when you get a new Unlimited Ultimate line.
Plus, now both new and existing customers have tons of different options to save. You can get up to $1,100 off on the latest phones when you buy a new plan—along with overnight shipping included for new customers signing up for a phone plan. Plans are locked in at $0 per month for the first three years. You can also receive a free phone when you trade-in your old phone—no matter the condition.
There are also sweet deals, like $1,100 off the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7. You’ll get a free Samsung Galaxy S25+ when you set up a new line with an Unlimited Ultimate plan, and you’ll have a $0 monthly payment plan for 36 months.
Verizon Promo Codes and Free Phone Deals
There are even more ways to save with rotating Verizon deals. Right now, you can get cutting edge smartphones including the Galaxy Z Flip7, Fold7, iPhone 16 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S25+ with AI for free—with no trade-in required and free 2-day shipping. More details can be found at the link, but you’ll need to get a new line on an Unlimited Plan and overall you’ll be saving $999.99 after credits of $27.77 per month for 36 months.
Verizon just seems to be handing out phones at this point—you can get a Samsung Galaxy Watch8 for free when you buy an Android and new plan when you purchase a 5G smartphone with select Unlimited Plans. You can also get a free iPhone 16 Pro, or an Apple Watch SE or iPad 10th generation for free when you purchase a 5G iPhone with select Unlimited Plans. Even without a trade-in, customers can get four iPhone 15 Plus phones when they buy a new myPlan line. Existing customers will save $830 when they buy an iPhone 15 Plus device and upgrade to (or already have) an Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate plan.
Our Favorite Verizon Phones From $5 per Month at Verizon
Apple’s iPhone 16 is available right now, and looking better than ever—it’s ready for Apple’s new AI rollout, a battery that’s easier to replace, and has a host of games. We put together a handy guide to which iPhone 16 or Galaxy you should buy, in case the various iPhone 16 models to choose from are a bit overwhelming, along with some great cases and accessories to keep your most-used device safe and stylish. If you’ve been eyeing an iPhone 16 Pro, Verizon is offering a great deal where you can get the phone for as little as $5 per month—or it’s free when you add a new line. Stay tuned here for updates, because most Verizon promo codes are for new customers.
We at WIRED review and write about the newest line of Samsung products as well, and have created a guide to help you decide which Samsung Galaxy S24 model you should buy and some of our favorite Samsung Galaxy S24 accessories to upgrade your device. Like competitors, Samsung has worked to continuously integrate AI to make the phone even smarter, helping test for Google’s Gemini.
Another popular non-iPhone model line is the Google Pixel, which are our favorite Android phones. We have a bunch of recommendations for great cases and accessories to keep your phone tip-top, and write often about the company’s ever-evolving AI features.
Verizon Home Internet Deals
Verizon also offers excellent home internet, so if you’re like me and are perpetually unhappy with your wifi speeds while WFH, now might be the perfect time to switch. Plans start at just $35 a month with a price guarantee, and $0 due when you switch. You can also save on entertainment, like $12 per month off the Disney Bundle and $7 a month off Netflix and Max.
Score up to $300 Off With Verizon Bundle Offers
Verizon has tons of ways to bundle your plans with various entertainment and streaming services to spend less. Both new and existing customers can save up to $300 a year with discounts on internet and mobile bundle deals. If you’re new to Verizon, make sure you buy the mobile plan first, then add home internet and your discount will be applied to your bill. Depending on your needs, they have add-on bundles with YouTube TV, NFL Sunday Ticket for the sports lovers, Netflix and Max with ads, and Unlimited Plus with the Disney Bundle, which includes Disney, Hulu, and ESPN+.
Students, Teachers, Military, and Nurses Can Save Up to $45 on Verizon
They also have discounts on mobile plans and home internet for students, military, teachers, and nurses. This means right now, students can get up to $12 off per month of MyPlan line and $20 off Fios Home Internet; members of the military can get discounted lines of $25 per month with 4 lines on Unlimited Welcome and $30 for Fios Home Internet, which includes an extra $15 per month when you bundle mobile with home internet; and nurses get $25 or more off per month, per line and Fios Home Internet starting at $45.
Check out our roundup of deals above, with no Verizon promo code needed to save big on your (arguably) most important tech purchases.
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