Emotional Toll From Cyberattacks Can Linger Among Staff for Years
Research shows 1 in 7 employees involved in a cyberattack exhibits clinical trauma symptoms months after the incident.
![Woman at desk tired from work Woman at desk tired from work](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt6d90778a997de1cd/blt84795e7664466991/64f1569656940971bf84951d/employee_wellness_Alejandro_Miranda_Alamy.jpg?width=1280&auto=webp&quality=95&format=jpg&disable=upscale)
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."
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