AI adoption and complex threats drive cybersecurity burnout in Asia Pacific, Japan: Sophos

A report titled "The Future of Cybersecurity in Asia Pacific and Japan" by Sophos, the cybersecurity company, has found that rising threat levels, expanding regulatory requirements and the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) tools are fuelling widespread burnout among security professionals in Asia Pacific and Japan.

According to a press release, the study, produced in partnership with Tech Research Asia, now part of Omdia, revealed that 86 percent of organisations in the region reported issues with stress and fatigue in their security teams this year which was 85 percent in 2024. 

AI-powered defence tools are helping some organisations respond more quickly to incidents, but "shadow AI" – the unauthorised use of generative AI tools by employees – is creating new vulnerabilities. Nearly 46 percent of organisations surveyed said such tools were in use despite formal restrictions, while another 12 percent were unsure if they were being deployed internally, as per the press release.

Burnout is directly linked to business outcomes, with almost one third of surveyed companies confirming that fatigue among employees had contributed to a security breach. On average, organisations reported a productivity loss of 4.6 hours per worker each week due to stress, an increase of 12 percent from last year. While 83 percent of organisations acknowledged facing regulatory obligations, 56 percent said compliance had strengthened resilience and security strategy, states the press release.