Ethical Hacking News
Cybersecurity talent faces stagnant pay and increasing workloads as AI-driven threats become increasingly complex and challenging to combat. Despite the growing importance of the sector, many professionals are feeling undervalued and unsupported by their employers.
71% of global cybersecurity staff experienced wage stagnation in 2025. 77% of those working in the UK saw no salary increase. Cybersecurity professionals are facing significant challenges in terms of compensation and recognition. The industry's effectiveness has led to complacency at senior levels, causing burnout and attrition rates to skyrocket. AI-driven threats are increasing in speed, volume, and complexity, placing pressure on already stretched resources. Companies must take steps to address stagnant pay and increasing workloads to mitigate burnout and attrition.
The cybersecurity industry has long been touted as a vital component of modern security, but a recent study by recruiter Harvey Nash reveals that many professionals within the sector are struggling with stagnant pay and increasing workloads. According to the data, 71% of global cybersecurity staff experienced wage stagnation in 2025, while a staggering 77% of those working in the UK saw no salary increase. This trend is particularly striking when compared to other IT disciplines, where DevOps professionals were the only group to see wage increases above 56%.
The findings are a stark reminder that, despite the growing importance of cybersecurity, many professionals within the sector are facing significant challenges in terms of compensation and recognition. The study suggests that this is largely due to the fact that successful teams in the industry have become complacent at the board level, failing to recognize the value and hard work of their staff.
"This is a classic case of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'," said Ankur Anand, CIO at Harvey Nash. "Cybersecurity has become a victim of its own effectiveness. When teams do their job well, the absence of incidents leads to complacency at senior levels. As a result, we're seeing burnout and attrition rates skyrocket."
The consequences of this trend are far-reaching, with many cybersecurity professionals feeling undervalued and unsupported by their employers. According to Anand, the situation is made worse by the fact that AI-driven threats are increasing in speed, volume, and complexity, placing even more pressure on already stretched resources.
"The combination of constant pressure, legacy technology, and highly distributed working models is a powerful driver of burnout and attrition," he warned. "We need to recognize that cybersecurity talent is not just essential for our businesses, but for the security of our communities and society as a whole."
As the cybersecurity industry continues to evolve and adapt to new threats, it is clear that companies must take steps to address the growing issue of stagnating pay and increasing workloads. By recognizing the value and hard work of their staff, and providing fair compensation and support, employers can help to mitigate the burnout and attrition rates that are currently affecting the sector.
Ultimately, the future of cybersecurity depends on the ability of its professionals to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing landscape. As AI-driven threats continue to evolve and grow in complexity, it is essential that companies prioritize the well-being and recognition of their staff. Anything less could have serious consequences for the industry as a whole.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Cybersecurity-Talent-Faces-Stagnant-Pay-as-Industry-Adapts-to-AI-Driven-Threats-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2026/04/27/from_a_massive_skills_gap/
Published: Mon Apr 27 09:40:52 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
