Mastodawn

My friend and I have been working on an #infosec site called #secflux that is an aggregate resource for #news , #articles , #blogs , #trainings , #howtos , #webcasts , #podcasts , and more.

We wanted to create a better way to receive updates, trends, and information about #security topics, while giving ourselves a #creative outlet for own related #content. So, we made a site dedicated to just that!

In any case, the flagship blogpost I’ve cobbled together is about #burnout — A topic many of you might have noticed I bring up quite a bit.

🔗 Link to the blog: https://secflux.com/the-prevalence-of-burnout-in-infosec/

I hope this helps anyone and everyone that might have previously or could be currently experiencing burnout. (It definitely felt great to write it, I hope it feels equally cathartic when people read it.)

Please read, like, share, bookmark the site, and all that jazzy jazz! 🎷

📋 Edit: We do have a newly created Mastodon account for the site! @secflux

We’re working on adding some more social media representation and integrations as we speak!

The Prevalence of Burnout in Infosec - SecFlux

What is burnout and why are so many in tech and infosec feeling the heat? And why can't we seem to stay away from the fire? Read more…

SecFlux

Infosecsie Jul 8, 2023

Don’t be fooled, @replicanthacker did pretty much all the work on the site itself… I’m just the animal sidekick and content contributor! 🦝

The 500 Hats of LambdaCalculus Jul 8, 2023

@myraccoonhands Done, done, done, and done! 🤟

Infosecsie Jul 8, 2023

@LambdaCalculus Thank you, thank you, and thank you!

mkb Jul 8, 2023

@myraccoonhands Is there a #secflux Mastodon account we can follow?

Infosecsie Jul 8, 2023

@mkb Yes! We do have one! It’s pretty fresh: @secflux

La Femme Vickita Jul 8, 2023

@myraccoonhands @briankrebs This is an outstanding article! Very well thought-through and brings up more issues than the standard “let people take their vacations” simplistic look at the subject. (Which, I mean, sure, let people take their vacations, but there’s so much more to be looked at, and it does come to a point where a “vacation” is at best insufficient and at worst actively detrimental.) (Not that I would have any idea about that.) (Heh.)

Infosecsie Jul 8, 2023

@vickifarmer @briankrebs Yeah, it’s like vacation makes you somehow feel worse and is only used to get things done that work has been forcing you to put off because you don’t have the energy to do those things otherwise… Aherm, I wouldn’t know anything about that either. Haha. 👀

cuan_knaggs Jul 8, 2023

@myraccoonhands rss subscribed to

Infosecsie Jul 8, 2023

@mensrea Super appreciate that! Thanks a buttload!

David Gerhart Jul 8, 2023

@myraccoonhands

As a Tech Refugee / Emancipated Entrepreneur - #Burnout ranks among the biggest risks enterprises face across every technology discipline. (Every professional vertical, frankly.)

Organizations are top-driven against too few resources.

It is: The hardest problem I worked on from the C-suite to the Board Room.

We reward executives for the wrong successes. Workers are promoted for unhealthy heroics.

Sustainability. An environmental analog that governs collapse. An indicator.

Infosecsie Jul 8, 2023

@dumbo I NEED A NEON SIGN POINTING TO THIS. I recall, I was at a prior organization a few years back… There was an “All Hands” award ceremony type call where the executives pat themselves on the back and gave out little plaques to people who “performed well.” One of which, I distinctly remember cringing at.

They congratulated a woman for her inability to say no. They lauded her for the time they took away from her family. And, made it known as an example of how to be.

Similarly, at a conference, they had a speaker come up and talk about how dedicated they were to the company because they skipped Thanksgiving and Christmas to help solve incidents or close deals.

I’ve seen these hustle culture heroics play out in real time and be pushed onto other workers, basically telling them 100% is “not enough.”

David Gerhart Jul 8, 2023

@myraccoonhands

"hustle culture"

Shareholders are the avenue of approach, probably.

Until the practice of designing for sustainability is an equal governance principle to profitability - nothing changes.

Just like profit, it needs accounting.

Damage to lives and to families is a way to measure the toxicity.

Thank you for writing about this!

I don't know how to help except to say you are correct and try to amplify the truth behind it.

Stephen Murcott Jul 8, 2023

@myraccoonhands Thanks, I enjoyed the article about #burnout in #infosec

Infosecsie Jul 8, 2023

@Scmurcott Thank you for saying so! I hope it helps people with their situations and brings more awareness to the topic.

@myraccoonhands Thanks for this (and the mentions of autism and adhd!)

I've struggled for a few years now even though I enjoy what I do and (try to) keep up with it as a hobby.

For me, it's like my brain just shuts off and even if I get myself to take that first step towards completing a task, any roadblocks are instant killers. The moment I step away from my desk I could have plenty of ideas or easily convince myself that I can do something once I sit back down.

..then I sit back down and the brain shuts off again. Repeat until end of the work day. But then, after work, all I can think about is everything I should have gotten done during the day.

I was just recently laid off and started off treating it as an unplanned vacation in hopes of finally being able to "reset," but that just turned into stress once everyone started asking me when I would start actively looking for jobs and why I hadn't yet.

Infosecsie Jul 8, 2023

@FirehaK It’s like you pulled this script from my mind. I always feel overwhelmed when I try to accomplish something, scramble to get things done, then stew about all of the other things I couldn’t get to.

Ugh, I feel this so hard. And it feels like there’s no escaping it sometimes. It’s like you have to first accomplish [insert whatever here] before you’re allowed to enjoy yourself or feel good about what you’ve done.

@myraccoonhands Exactly! But then when I finally do accomplish something, I'm just exhausted instead of having any feelings of accomplishment because I see all the other things that piled up while trying to do whatever task I had.

I had a great boss that worked really well with me, but by that point I was already so burnt out that it already took me weeks to do things that, once my brain let me, I'd finish in just a day or two.

I'd be extremely lucky if I found another job where I could openly admit all of this to my boss. But damn was it a nice change while I had it.

Infosecsie Jul 8, 2023

@FirehaK This is pretty much identical to how I feel. Like, to a T. Anytime I have tried to express it to some of my more recent managers, they either tell me “you get paid to be stressed and overwhelmed” or tell me they’ll help me with one hand, while adding to my plate with the other.

Infosecsie Jul 8, 2023

@FirehaK Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had two really fantastic managers in the past handful of years. However, they seem so few and far between. It seems more common for them to just expect results or act like they care, but give you more work in the same breath.

@myraccoonhands This is why it took me so long to actually talk with any managers. I honestly never expected to work for anyone so accommodating. It really gave me something to think about as I hunt for a new job.

Infosecsie Jul 8, 2023

@FirehaK Big same. Anytime I look for a job, I keep one eye open in terms of keywords and certain things that might stand out to me that is synonymous with burnout. Like, if they put too much stock in someone needing to work in a “very fast-paced environment” with a ton of language that suggests there’s little to no direction or too many duties for one person to juggle, I tend to pass on it.

@myraccoonhands Yes! I've literally started telling recruiters and hiring managers that I speak with that I'm not interested in their role that seems to be describing 3/4/5+ different positions! I've gotten some confused responses to this and doubt it caused any change, but I've become a lot more honest about what I am looking for. It's hard to find anything that doesn't seem to do this though. Everyone seems to operate on the assumption that you cast a wide net and you'll get some to most of what you described in a listing.

I don't call out the buzzwords, but I do ask more questions about the environment when I see them, now.

Infosecsie Jul 8, 2023

@FirehaK Yeah, it’s less of me calling them out and more of me not applying to those types of places altogether. I’ve become somewhat avoidant of them at large. Which makes it hard because it seems to be the norm. It’s like, UGH. I just want a place I can do well at to where I don’t feel like I’m always running on fumes and juggle chainsaws while standing on one foot and balancing on a Bosu ball.

@myraccoonhands It feels hard to avoid them entirely, though. I have no idea what to think when I scroll past posts like one I saw earlier today on LinkedIn saying things like "I applied to 200+ jobs in 10.5 weeks and interviewed over 30 times and...." Like how are people finding even close to that amount of relevant, non-garbage job listings? I've found maybe one since being let go last month, but even that was still iffy because Google and they've changed their stance on remote work. So when one of the recruiters talking to me (for a different position) kept pushing (which was already a red flag for me) I ended up caving and scheduling an interview. Couldn't get straight answers for just about anything.

For what it's worth, I hope you're not currently somewhere where you do feel that way!

Infosecsie Jul 9, 2023

@FirehaK I wish I could say I fully don’t feel that way, even now, but that would be a lie.

Job searches are incredibly frustrating all of that adds an extra layer of difficulty on top of everything.

It has to be that people are networking and getting hired? Something else…

Because, yes, I agree. I’m seeing all kinds of incredibly talented people not receive calls.

The job market seems to be in a very weird place that I don’t at all like.

d00gman Jul 9, 2023

@myraccoonhands @secflux amazing and on-point article!

Infosecsie Jul 9, 2023

@d00gman @secflux Thank you! Glad you like it! 💕