Following on from Labour’s alleged “cyber-attack” on Monday 11th November it has emerged that over three-quarters of cybersecurity professionals think their businesses should do more to support their office-based wellbeing.
This was discovered by joint research by Mimecast, an IT security company and British Land, a property development and investment company who found that 78 per cent of cybersecurity professionals believe more should be done by organisations to assist their wellbeing.
As well as under half (46 per cent) believe cybersecurity skills shortages are negatively affecting their business.
Tanya Kennedy, vice president HR Europe at Mimecast said:
There is a stereotype in the cybersecurity profession when it comes to working environments and businesses need make conscious efforts to put that to an end. Attracting and retaining talented people in this sector requires a greater focus on office-based wellbeing and more opportunities for them to grow. Our new office, along with our wellbeing-lead HR philosophy is about inspiring more people from all backgrounds to consider a career in cyber security and the tech industry as a whole as well as ensuring those working in the sector feel supported to continue driving the company’s growth. We have also ensured collaboration within the business is at the heart of how we work and is reflected in our very open design space.
Labour party officials reported the attack to the National Cyber Security Centre, the Government’s agency that supports and advises organisations on cybersecurity.
In response to the attack, Jeremy Corbyn leader of the Labour party said:
So far as we’re aware none of our information was downloaded and the attack was actually repulsed because we have an effective in-house developed system by people within our party.
But if this is a sign of things to come in this election, I feel very nervous about it all because a cyber attack against a political party in an election is suspicious, something one is very worried about.Research also found that tech giants presence in London was one of the top reasons why cybersecurity professionals choose to pursue a career in the capital, however, 30 per cent are planning to relocate to another country in Europe in the next five years.
Mimecast and British Land surveyed 300 cybersecurity professionals to obtain these results.
Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.
