What Is The Human Performance in Cybersecurity Survey?
Human Performance in Cybersecurity (HPC) is a survey that gathers insights into the well-being, burnout, and flow experiences of cybersecurity practitioners.
The main driver of the survey is to contribute towards research in human performance in cybersecurity.
The survey assesses the prevalence and severity of burnout, as well as well being and flow state among cybersecurity professionals. With the survey, we aim to gain better insight into the main causes and contributing factors to burnout, and evaluate the overall well-being of cybersecurity practitioners.
The survey is focussed on how well the concept of flow is known among cybersecurity professionals and how flow can be used by cybersecurity experts and teams to maintain well-being and prevent burnout while reaching extremely high levels of accomplishment.
Who can participate?
The survey targets individuals working in various roles within the cybersecurity industry, such as security analysts, network security engineers, information security managers, including senior management roles, such as Chief Information Security Officers (CISO, CSO), as well as cybersecurity consultants and researchers.
What is the content of the survey?
The survey consists of around 45 questions, structured in four sections:
- Demographic Information
These questions help us understand how burnout, well-being, and flow experiences may vary across different groups within the cybersecurity community. By analyzing responses based on factors such as age, gender, geographic location and job role, we can identify potential patterns and tailor support strategies accordingly. All these questions are optional. (6 questions) - The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI)
This is a standardized, widely used tool for assessing burnout in various professional settings, including healthcare, social work, and other human service sectors. It was developed by researchers at the National Research Centre for the Working Environment in Copenhagen, Denmark. It consists of three normalised subscales that measures different aspects of burnout, such as personal burnout, work-related burnout and client-related burnout. (13-19 questions) - The Secure Flourish Index (SFI)
The Secure Flourish Index is a validated scale developed by The Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, to measure the physical, mental, and social health of participants. (12 questions) - Short Flow Scale (SFS)
This is a validated scale used to measure Flow state in a work setting along its nine defining characteristics. (9 questions)
Why participate?
By participating in this survey, you contribute to a growing understanding of the unique challenges faced by cybersecurity professionals. Your insights will help raise awareness about burnout, well-being, and optimal performance in the field. The findings from this study will inform the development of targeted support strategies, improved work environments, and a more resilient cybersecurity workforce. Your participation is crucial in shaping a healthier, more sustainable future for the cybersecurity community. Thank you for considering taking part in this important research.
What about user and data privacy?
We take user privacy seriously, especially when it comes to questions on stress, burnout and wellbeing. We are committed to keeping your survey responses confidential and secure. We guarantee that your data will not be shared with any external parties. However, to provide you with your results we ask for your email address. Any research published using this survey will be reported as anonymized and/or aggregated data. Finally, we’re self-hosting Formbricks as a GDPR compliant data processor. You can find out more in our Data Protection Policy.
How can I do this for my team?
Please email us or schedule a free consultation to carry out this survey for your team or organization.
Who created the Human Performance in Cybersecurity Survey?
The questionnaire has been developed by:
- Dr. Kashyap Thimmaraju, founder of the Flow Guard Institute, Certified High Flow Coach by the Flow Research Collective (FRC) and postdoctoral researcher at TU Berlin.
- Dr. Sybe Izaak Rispens, Global Chief Information Security Officer at Tentamus Group.
Contact: kashyap.thimmaraju@flowguard-institute.com