Cybersecurity Leaders Call in Sick to Avoid Patch Tuesday Stress

• •22% of cybersecurity leaders avoid Patch Tuesday by taking sick leave or vacation.
• •Microsoft patched 966 vulnerabilities in September 2026, including 105 critical flaws.
• •41% of leaders reported working overtime, while 29% experienced significant anxiety before Patch Tuesday.

A recent survey by Socura revealed that 22% of cybersecurity leaders, including CSOs and CISOs, have called in sick or taken leave to avoid the stress of Patch Tuesday. This monthly event, where Microsoft and other vendors release security updates, has become increasingly demanding, with Microsoft addressing 966 vulnerabilities in September 2026 alone, including 105 critical flaws. The survey found that 41% of respondents worked overtime and 37% worked late to manage the patching cycle, while 29% reported significant anxiety the night before Patch Tuesday. The pressure is exacerbated by the growing number of patches and the expectation for leaders to prioritize vulnerabilities effectively. Socura's CEO, Andrew Kays, emphasized the unhealthy levels of stress and burnout in the industry, highlighting the need for better support for cybersecurity teams. AI tools are seen as a potential relief, with 40% of leaders indicating that AI helps automate routine tasks.