Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming many industries, including cybersecurity. However, while AI has brought powerful tools for defense, it has also given hackers new capabilities to launch more advanced and complex cyber-attacks. As a result, cybersecurity professionals around the world are facing increased pressure and longer working hours as they try to stay ahead of these evolving threats.
A recent study by the cybersecurity company Seemplicity highlights how serious the situation has become. In its 2026 State of the Cybersecurity Workforce report, the company collected responses from around 300 cybersecurity professionals. The participants included security managers, directors, Chief Technology Officers (CTOs), Vice Presidents, and Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), all of whom play critical roles in protecting organizations from digital threats.
The findings reveal a concerning trend in the cybersecurity workforce. Many of the professionals surveyed reported working significant overtime every week. On average, they said they were putting in an additional 10 hours beyond their normal working schedule. Some respondents even admitted that they occasionally worked more than six days a week to keep up with the constant flow of security alerts, vulnerabilities, and cyber-attack attempts.
Such demanding schedules are raising concerns about work-life balance and employee well-being. In fact, working more than six days a week can conflict with labor expectations and workplace policies in the United States, according to comments from several elected representatives who have voiced concerns about excessive workloads in the tech sector. Despite these concerns, many cybersecurity professionals feel they have little choice but to put in extra hours because cyber threats operate around the clock.
The pressure is taking a visible toll on workers in the field. According to the report, more than 44 percent of respondents said their jobs felt more exhausting than rewarding. Constantly responding to threats, managing security incidents, and dealing with increasingly sophisticated attack methods can lead to high levels of stress and fatigue. As a result, nearly 60 percent of those surveyed said they would consider changing careers if given the opportunity.
AI itself is contributing to this challenging environment. Hackers are now using AI tools to automate attacks, generate convincing phishing messages, and find vulnerabilities faster than before. This forces cybersecurity teams to work even harder to detect and block such threats. In many cases, professionals must either spend long hours analyzing new attack patterns or request larger budgets from company leadership to invest in more advanced security software and tools.
According to Yoran Sirkis, addressing these challenges will require bringing more talent into the cybersecurity field. Expanding the workforce can help distribute responsibilities more evenly and reduce the heavy burden currently placed on existing professionals. By adding skilled workers and improving collaboration within teams, organizations may be better equipped to handle the growing complexity of modern cyber threats while also protecting the well-being of cybersecurity experts.
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