All Still on the Digital Front: The Hidden Psychological Effects: on First Responders in Cybersecurity

Driven by the increasing frequency of cyberattacks and the existing talent gap between industry needs and skilled professionals, this research study focused on the crucial human element in the domain of cybersecurity incident response. This Thesis aimed to offer a meaningful exploration of the lived experiences encountered by cybersecurity incident responders and an assessment of the subsequent impacts on their well-being. Additionally, this study sought to draw comparisons between the experiences of cybersecurity incident responders and their counterparts in traditional emergency response roles. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 individuals with firsthand experience working at least one major incident, whether in an internal or external capacity as incident responders. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), these interviews revealed rich insights, resulting in five themes highlighting the multifaceted demands, hidden intricacies of improvisation and emotional labor, resultant heightened stress, and elevated risk of burnout experienced by cybersecurity first responders.