In today’s digital age, cybersecurity has become paramount for organizations of all sizes. The demand for cybersecurity professionals has surged dramatically due to the growing number and complexity of cyberattacks. But supply has not met demand, as cybersecurity is not a widely popular education choice and is commonly one of the most dropped majors in college. In 2023 there were roughly 4 million cybersecurity professionals needed worldwide. The profession needs to almost double to be at full capacity.
By definition the skills gap is the mismatch between the skills that educational institutions impart and the practical skills needed in the industry. Many job listings want applicants to have multiple years of experience, discouraging recent graduates from applying for these positions. This leads to the most qualified candidates not gaining the necessary experience, continuing to stretch the gap wider. According to ISC2 the cybersecurity skills gap has grown 13% since 2022. This shortage is exacerbated by the rapid pace of technological advancement, which requires ongoing education and training to stay ahead of emerging threats.
Consequences of the Skills Gap
Businesses struggle to protect themselves against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. An ISC2 report demonstrated that 67% of respondents work for an organization that has a shortage of cybersecurity staff needed to prevent and troubleshoot security issues. Beyond that, employees feel the pressure of working short staffed. 30% of cybersecurity professionals report that they experience overwork due to staff or skill shortages.
Public-private partnerships could play a pivotal role in addressing the skills gap. Through scholarships, grants, and incentives government and industry leaders can encourage individuals to pursue careers in cybersecurity. While this would be a boon to the supply of cybersecurity professionals, the proactive approach is not to wait for the government to react. Individual organizations can adopt the following strategies to correct staff or skills shortages:
Early Education
Companies like SentinelOne fortify the workforce by providing experience opportunities for students while they’re in school. Divya Ghatak, their Chief People Officer, recommends connecting with students through internships and educational sponsorship programs.
Continuous Training
Organizations can also invest in upskilling and reskilling their existing workforce. By providing ongoing training and professional development opportunities, companies can develop their in-house talent and reduce their reliance on external hiring. Additionally, fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptability is crucial in a field that evolves as rapidly as cybersecurity.
Reduced Requirements
There are plenty of workers interested in cybersecurity without the formal background training. Job postings with less rigid requirements will attract determined candidates with a desire to learn. Often these professionals are eager to work in their new role and contribute great enthusiasm to the cybersecurity effort. Hosting training programs to help promising professionals reskill is a great way to connect with those who are passionate about working in cybersecurity.
Staff augmentation
While hiring managers continue to vie for the limited available talent, companies that focus on their own internal efforts to bolster their security team’s capabilities make the best of the situation. Traditional endpoint protection systems often produce more alerts than can be dealt with, creating a backlog teams struggle to process. It is common for these alerts to require in-depth analysis beyond the capabilities of the average cybersecurity professional, increasing the delay between detection and remediation. With the introduction of AI and machine learning there are solutions that can help provide context that allows security analysts to rise above the noise and prioritize the most critical alerts/concerns.
The CodeHunter Solution
CodeHunter employs machine learning to process flagged files further, producing actionable intelligence that pinpoints suspicious behaviors. Using our platform a Level 1 analyst has access to insights in hours reverse malware engineers would need weeks to fully discover. This information enables security teams to address alerts much more quickly and better understand the severity of each warning. Information about specific areas of concern in the file's code is also included to provide a starting point for any further technical analysis needed. Learn how CodeHunter can upskill your security team and elevate your existing technology stack today.
