A shortage of cybersecurity professionals limits a company’s cyber resilience. Here are three ways to combat the cybersecurity skills gap challenge.
In today’s digitally driven world, cybersecurity has never been more critical. From ransomware attacks to data breaches, organizations of all sizes are facing escalating threats that could jeopardize operations, brand reputation, and customer trust. Unfortunately, as cyberattacks continue to rise, the global cybersecurity workforce is struggling to keep pace. The shortage of skilled professionals in this field is widely recognized, creating a dangerous gap between the increasing number of threats and the capacity to counter them. Here are three ways to combat the cybersecurity skills gap challenge.
A Closer Look at Cybersecurity Skills in Demand
A big disconnect between the need and availability of talent can significantly compromise a company’s productivity and, in this case, security. Several trends are converging to create a cybersecurity skills gap.
Sluggish Cybersecurity Workforce Growth
In its annual report, ISC2 found that the cybersecurity workforce has slowed to its lowest growth rate since its first estimates in 2018, despite the rising demand for skilled professionals. The shift comes from multiple factors, including budget cuts, layoffs, and hiring freezes. Additionally, almost one third (32%) of participants reported seeing fewer promotions at their company during this period.
As organizations face economic pressures, cybersecurity budgets are getting scrutinized. However, cutting investment in cybersecurity talent is a risky move, leaving organizations more vulnerable to attack.
Global Staffing Shortage and Burnout
The global cybersecurity skills shortage is nothing new, but the gap is widening. ISC2 found that, while the workforce has grown slightly, the ability to fill the growing number of cyber professionals needed to protect organizations is constrained. ISC2 estimates the unmet need for cyber professionals at about 4.8 million jobs globally.
Compounding the issue is that, according to a CyberArk survey, nearly two thirds of practitioners report feeling overwhelmed by their workloads, leading to burnout and higher turnover rates.
Skills Gap
It’s not simply a lack of personnel that is the obstacle to a company’s cyber resilience. ISC2 respondents called out artificial intelligence (AI) (34%), cloud security (27%), Zero Trust implementation (27%), and application security (24%) as the top areas where skills gaps are being felt the most.
Limited Pipeline of Young Cyber Talent
While the demand for cybersecurity experts continues to grow, the hiring of new talent entering the field has not kept up. 62% of hiring managers in the ISC2 study reported having open roles in their teams but are focusing on hiring mid- to advanced-level roles rather than a broad mix of experience and abilities. Nearly one-third of security teams have no entry-level professionals, and 15% no junior-level professionals (those with 1-3 years of experience), on their teams.
Volatile Cyber Threat Landscape
A smaller cybersecurity talent pool might be less concerning if we were experiencing a lower number and frequency of cyber threats and incidents. Instead, the challenges ahead are considerable, and organizations cannot afford to be complacent.
An Increasingly Dangerous Environment
Three out of four cybersecurity practitioners consider the 2024 threat landscape the most challenging they have faced in the past five years. The sophistication of cyberattacks is evolving, with adversaries leveraging advanced techniques to exploit vulnerabilities. At the same time, organizations are increasingly dependent on digital tools and cloud services, expanding the potential attack surface and making comprehensive cybersecurity more difficult to achieve.
Rise of Ransomware
Ransomware attacks have surged, according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, with the number of attacks nearly doubling from 2022 to 2023. Attacks targeting organizations across industries, from healthcare to finance to government, have become more destructive as bad actors encrypt sensitive data and demand exorbitant ransoms for its return. In many cases, paying the ransom doesn’t guarantee data recovery or the cessation of future attacks, which leaves organizations in a perilous position.
Phishing Remains a Key Threat
Despite technological advancements, phishing remains the most common email-based cyberattack, accounting for 39.6% of all email threats. These deceptive emails trick employees into divulging sensitive information or clicking on malicious links, resulting in data breaches or the installation of malware. Phishing attacks continue to be a low-cost, high-reward tactic for cybercriminals, making them a persistent threat for businesses.
Given the complexity of these threats and the shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals, it’s clear that organizations must rethink their approach to workforce development. Below are three effective strategies to combat the skills gap.
Three Ways to Tackle the Cybersecurity Skills Gap
While the challenges may seem daunting, there are practical steps that business and HR leaders can take to bridge the gap between their cybersecurity needs and the talent they have. Here are three proven methods to address this issue.
Harness AI Tools to Augment Cybersecurity Efforts
Artificial intelligence is already changing how bad actors are attacking individuals and businesses. It also has the potential to transform cybersecurity by automating tasks that traditionally required human intervention. From threat detection to vulnerability management, AI-driven tools can help organizations identify and mitigate risks more efficiently.
AI can analyze massive volumes of data in real-time, identifying anomalies and potential threats faster than a human analyst could. For example, machine learning algorithms can continuously learn from data patterns, improving their ability to detect new and emerging threats. Additionally, AI can reduce the burden on overstretched cybersecurity teams by automating routine tasks, such as monitoring network activity or patch management.
So, adding the right AI tools and providing good training and support to build AI skills can be a win-win for your cybersecurity team and the company. However, AI tools are not a complete replacement for human expertise. Instead, they should be used to augment the existing workforce, allowing cybersecurity professionals to focus on more complex, strategic tasks that require human judgment.
Upskill Current Staff
Given the difficulty of finding new cybersecurity talent, one of the most effective ways to address the skills gap is by investing in upskilling current employees. By providing opportunities for continuous learning and development, organizations can cultivate a more capable and adaptable workforce.
Upskilling initiatives can include formal training programs, workshops, and on-the-job learning opportunities. Many cybersecurity professionals are eager to expand their skillsets, particularly in specialized areas like cloud security, threat intelligence, and incident response. Supporting their professional growth not only helps close the skills gap but also improves retention, as employees are more likely to stay with organizations that invest in their development.
Cross-training employees from other departments, such as IT or software engineering, can also be an effective strategy. These individuals often have adjacent skills that can be developed into cybersecurity expertise with the right training.
Embrace Cybersecurity Certifications for Young Professionals
To address the limited pipeline of young cybersecurity talent, organizations can actively promote and support the pursuit of industry-recognized certifications. Certification programs provide a structured way for individuals to gain the skills and knowledge necessary for a career in cybersecurity.
Certifications such as CompTIA Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) are highly valued in the industry and serve as a strong foundation for entry-level cybersecurity roles. By partnering with educational institutions or offering internship and apprenticeship programs, companies can help young professionals – and older individuals just entering the field – to gain the skills, experience, and credentials they need to succeed. The move also helps to build a more robust talent pipeline.
The cybersecurity skills gap is a complex and ongoing challenge, but it is not insurmountable. By harnessing AI tools, upskilling current staff, and encouraging cybersecurity certifications for early-career professionals, you can strengthen your organization’s cybersecurity posture and build a more resilient workforce. Taking proactive steps today will ensure that your organization is better prepared to face the cyber threats of tomorrow.
If you are working to optimize your cybersecurity talent, download our Competency Management Toolkit for ideas on how to prioritize, define, track, and measure the most relevant skills. Or contact us to see if Avilar’s WebMentor Skills™ can support your team.
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