Automation can alleviate burnout in Australian IT teams

Tanium's latest research indicates significant levels of burnout among Australian IT teams and highlights the potential benefits of automation in reducing such issues.

The report titled 'The Impact of IT Operations Automation on the Morale, Productivity, and Security Posture of IT Teams' surveyed 110 IT professionals in Australia, employed at companies with over 1,000 employees. It was revealed that 69% of IT teams have experienced burnout within the past six months, a situation exacerbated by manual and repetitive tasks as agreed by 90% of respondents.

According to the research, 43% of IT teams are spending up to 20 hours each month correcting human errors, with 17% dedicating at least three days monthly to resolving such mistakes. This time allocation reflects a substantial impact on productivity and an increased exposure to cyber risks.

The study indicates that 75% of IT workers believe that automation could serve as a tool to alleviate burnout. "The research demonstrates that automating IT operations will lead to better productivity and boosted morale by reducing burnout and creating more meaningful work. These factors alone play a major role in ensuring IT teams are best equipped to protect Australian organisations from cyber threats while being more productive and fulfilled," says James Greenwood, Regional Vice President, Solutions Engineering and Customer Success at Tanium. "With automation, IT teams can focus on meaningful projects while strengthening their organisation's security posture."

The report also refers to the analysis from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), stating that 30% of data breaches are due to human error, pointing to a clear necessity for increased automation in IT operations.

Gary Blair, former Chief Information Security Officer at major Australian banks, commented on the growing challenges in cybersecurity. "From the CISO's perspective, cyber is a growing challenge across three dimensions: data, time and workforce. The reality is that most organisations are drowning in data, only some of which may be relevant to the cyber mission. The signal-to-noise ratio continues to evolve – the needle in the haystack is becoming more elusive, putting more pressure on IT teams than ever before. It's no surprise human error is getting in the way of security," said Blair.

The study also uncovered a disconnect between IT teams and executive perceptions regarding the implementation of automation. Budgetary constraints are identified by 49% of IT professionals as a barrier to adopting automation, while only 38% of C-suite leaders concur, often citing cultural issues and a lack of perceived need as more prevalent obstacles.

Amid rising cyber threats, automation is seen as an important step toward improving security and efficiency, as well as enhancing job satisfaction. A significant proportion of IT professionals (72%) express a desire for automation tools that would enable them to focus on higher-value projects.

The report provides insights into the challenges faced by IT teams and the potential role of automation in addressing those challenges. By reducing manual tasks and errors, automation may help enhance operational efficiency and staff wellbeing.