The ransomware crisis hasn’t just cost companies time and money, but also the mental health of their employees. New research shows that in the wake of a ransomware or other cyberattack, IT and security staff tasked with responding to a cyberattack can experience intense adverse psychological impacts for years afterward.
Research conducted by organizational psychologist Inge van der Beijl, director of behavior & resilience at Northwave, revealed that 1 out of every 7 employees experiences trauma symptoms months after a cyberattack, including trouble sleeping and back pain. Some 75% reported having “negative ruminative thoughts,” and 1 in 5 impacted by a breach has considered a job change, according to the Northwave findings.
“Top management and HRM [human resources management] need to take measures against this, in fact right from the very beginning of the crisis,” van der Beijl said in a statement. “They are the ones bearing responsibility for the well-being of their staff. The study reveals that effects can linger throughout the organization.”
