From the Inside Out: A Mental Health Note to Our Cybersecurity Community

In cybersecurity, we deal in threats, vulnerabilities, breaches—things we can quantify and contain. But there’s a different kind of threat that doesn’t show up on a dashboard. It creeps in quietly and tells you you’re not good enough, not smart enough, not as polished as the person next to you on LinkedIn. It’s imposter syndrome. And it’s rampant in our industry.

We judge our insides by other people’s outsides. We scroll through highlight reels—promotions, keynotes, “just closed a funding round”—and wonder if we even belong in the room. But here’s the truth: the room is full of people who feel the same way. You are not alone.

I know, because I struggle with this too.

Even with years of experience, some days I still wonder if I’m doing enough. If I’m leading well enough. If I really belong in the spaces I’m in. And I’ve learned the hard way—those thoughts don’t just go away. But talking about them helps. So does remembering that behind every confident voice and polished profile, someone else is wrestling with the same doubt.

So, what do we do?

Connection. Conversation. Community. And we stop pretending we’ve all got it figured out. We talk about the hard stuff.

Here are a few ways to start:

• Message someone you haven’t talked to in a while and just ask how they’re doing.
• Schedule a quick coffee catch-up with a peer—no pitch, no pressure.
• Be honest with your team when things are tough. That honesty creates space for others to do the same.
• And if you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, say so. “I’m not okay” is a powerful sentence.

And here’s something that’s helped me: gratitude. It doesn’t magically solve anything, but it helps reframe things. Gratitude for the people in my corner. For the work I get to do. For the ability to learn, grow, and keep showing up. Some days, it’s as simple as being grateful for five minutes of quiet or a strong cup of coffee.

We work in a high-stakes, high-stress industry. But we’re human first. And there’s strength in admitting we don’t have it all together.

This work is important. But you matter more.

Stop comparing your real life to someone else’s highlight reel. Give yourself credit. And if you’re struggling, say something. You’re not alone.

You belong here. We all do. And we’re in this together.