Classic episode: How cyber attacks damage mental health

This episode was first published 12 July 2024.

Every business will, at some point, be impacted by cyber attacks. Companies task security teams to prepare the first line of defense against cyber attacks, and most have plans in place for the damage they leave behind – be it data loss, encryption by ransomware operators, or large-scale service disruptions.

But something that often goes unremarked upon in the wake of cyber attacks is the psychological, human effects of cyber attacks. When the dust settles, staff can be left with feelings of fear or shame, particularly those directly related to IT security.

Who’s at risk of this harm? And what can leaders do to minimize the impact?

In this episode, Jane and Rory speak to Parisa Bazl, head of user experience at data protection firm Commvault, to discuss the psychological harms that come with cyber attacks and what organizations can do to better support frontline IT staff.

Read more:

• Why 'psychological safety' is so important for building a robust security culture
• Building an incident response strategy in 2024
• The hidden cost of ransomware is more painful than many realize
• Why ransomware attacks happen to small businesses – and how to stop them
• The end of ransomware payments: How businesses fit into the fight
• UK firms are failing miserably at data breach responses
• Data breach response: How to react when your business gets hit
• Dell hacker claims they had access to systems for nearly three weeks