BY Richard Summerfield
The current cyber security workforce must grow by 145 percent if the industry is to close the skills gap and better defend organisations worldwide, according to the 2019 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study.
The report, which was designed to estimate the total current number of cyber security professionals in the US and 10 other major global economies, suggests that while most cyber security and IT professionals in the market are largely satisfied with their career and remain optimistic about their future in the industry, there is a substantial gap between the number of cyber security professionals working in the field and the number needed to keep organisations safe.
Understandably, the gap is not the same across all markets. In the US, for example, the current cyber security workforce estimate is 804,700 and the shortage of skilled professionals is 498,480, requiring an increase of 62 percent to better defend US organisations. The study is based on online survey data from 3237 individuals responsible for security or cyber security throughout North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
“We’ve been evolving our research approach for 15 years to get to this point today, where we can confidently estimate the current workforce and better understand what it will take as an industry to add enough professionals to protect our critical assets,” said Wesley Simpson, chief operating officer at (ISC)². “Perhaps more importantly, the study provides actionable insights and strategies for building and growing strong cybersecurity teams. Knowing where we stand and the delta that needs to be filled is a powerful step along the pathway to overcoming our industry’s staffing challenges.”
According to the report, 65 percent of organisations suffer from a shortage of cyber security staff and a lack of skilled or experienced cyber security personnel is the top job concern among respondents.
If organisations are to close the skills gap, they must not only look to train and develop existing employees, but also attempt to recruit individuals from outside the industry.
