UK CRITICAL National Infrastructure (CNI) organisations must take steps to ensure cyber leaders have the right budget, skills and ‘tech stack’ to build out and implement an effective cyber security strategy or they risk an exodus of skilled cyber security professionals. That’s according to new research conducted by UK cyber security services firm Bridewell.

The research, which surveyed UK cyber security decision-makers in the communications, utilities, finance, Government and transport and aviation sectors, reveals that 95% are experiencing factors that would make them likely to leave their role in the next 12 months.

Over four-in-ten (42%, in fact) of respondents feel that a breach is inevitable and don’t want to tarnish their career, while 40% suggest that they’re experiencing stress and burnout which is negatively impacting their personal life.

The prospect of people leaving jobs is particularly problematic for CNI organisations at a time when the threat of attacks remains high. Over two-thirds of UK CNI cyber leaders state that the volume of threats and successful attacks has increased over the past year, while 69% believe it’s now harder to detect and respond to threats.

Fears of staff leaving are also compounded by the ongoing skills shortage in the sector with 68% of respondents saying it has become harder to recruit the right resources to secure and monitor systems over the past year.