Is cybersecurity burnout our biggest looming threat?

Cybersecurity burnout our biggest looming threat

Global, Feb 4, 2026

Author: Mike Fry, Infrastructure, Data & Security Solutions Director, Logicalis UKI

The threat landscape is accelerating faster than most organisations can absorb—but the pressures inside our security operations pose an equally serious challenge. Burnout, alert fatigue and rising system complexity, are quietly weakening resilience long before an external attacker ever succeeds.

Today we’re launching Cyber Bytes: Security Insights for Cyber Resilience, a global snapshot to shine a light on the risks shaping security performance beyond the attack surface.

This first edition focuses on cutting through the noise to show where CISOs and CIOs are exposed, why human-centred risks are escalating, and how leaders can strengthen resilience by tackling the operational realities behind the tools.

As I reflect on the past year in cybersecurity, one truth has become impossible to ignore: the threat landscape is evolving faster than most organisations can realistically keep pace with. But the danger we talk about less—and the one I believe deserves urgent attention—is the growing burnout within our own security teams. It’s a silent pressure point, a sleeping giant inside the business, and it’s beginning to stir.

Across the industry, attacks continue to rise in scale, frequency and sophistication. Many organisations have reported steady increases in incidents, at the same time, teams are grappling with unprecedented system complexity. When every day feels like crisis mode, the likelihood of human error multiplies, often with far-reaching consequences. Our latest infographic, in partnership with IDC, shows 73% of ransomware incidents stem from human error and 67% of incidents succeed in infiltrating data. Recent breaches at major UK brands serve as stark reminders that a single overlooked alert can cascade into operational disruption.

What worries me most is how easily burnout hides in plain sight. On the surface, organisations may appear well protected—perhaps there’s a SIEM in place, monitoring tools activated, or a shelf full of security products purchased with the best intentions. But if those tools are producing unmanageable volumes of noise, or if stretched teams lack the capacity to interpret them effectively, the perception of control becomes a false comfort.

Alert fatigue has emerged as a significant burden. Many enterprises now operate dozens of tools, each generating alerts at all hours. Analysts are forced into a continuous cycle of triage, making judgment calls under pressure and across a constantly shifting attack surface. Meanwhile, adversaries are scaling their efforts through automation and AI-assisted techniques. As cyberattacks become more automated, the defenders—our people—are asked to work harder, faster, and with even greater precision.

In this first issue of Cyber Bytes, we explore these themes and more. My hope is that we continue shifting the dialogue—not only toward strengthening our external defences, but also toward safeguarding the people who protect our businesses every day.

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