How To Overcome The Cybersecurity Talent Shortage

In our increasingly digitised world, cybersecurity has become a top priority for businesses and individuals alike. The evolution of technology has opened up new opportunities, but it has also created a complex landscape of cyber threats. To protect against these threats, organisations need skilled cybersecurity professionals. However, there's a significant challenge: a shortage of cybersecurity talent.

Chief information security officers are growing more concerned about the noticeable lack of cybersecurity talent as the worldwide talent gap continues. Cybersecurity executives are turning their attention to human-centric people management strategies in order to attract and keep talent in the face of the current talent scarcity.

CISOs and information technology leaders can use a cybersecurity talent management methodology developed by Gartner to assess and prioritise their organisation's needs for digital talent and capabilities. Thus, CISOs can design strategies and initiatives that give the cybersecurity workforce the knowledge and abilities needed to successfully implement digital business strategy.

 In this blog post, we'll explore the challenges posed by today's cybersecurity talent shortage and discuss strategies to overcome them.

The Growing Cybersecurity Talent Shortage

The cybersecurity talent shortage is a global issue that has been growing steadily in recent years. According to a study by (ISC)², there were approximately 3.12 million unfilled cybersecurity positions worldwide in 2020. This shortage has serious implications for businesses and governments, as it leaves organisations vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches.

Challenges of the Cybersecurity Talent Shortage

• Increasingly Sophisticated Threat Landscape: Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated and diverse, requiring cybersecurity professionals to have a wide range of skills and knowledge.

• High Demand for Cybersecurity Skills: As the importance of cybersecurity grows, so does the demand for skilled professionals. This demand has led to a competitive job market, making it challenging for organisations to find and retain qualified candidates.

• Lack of Diversity: The cybersecurity field also faces a lack of diversity, with women and minority groups underrepresented. This not only exacerbates the talent shortage but also limits the range of perspectives needed to tackle complex security challenges effectively.

• Constantly Evolving Technology: Technology is constantly evolving, which means cybersecurity professionals must stay up-to-date with the latest tools, techniques, and threats. This lifelong learning requirement can be daunting for both aspiring and experienced professionals.

The cybersecurity talent management framework encompasses four critical phases:

Acquiring the Right Talent

 When looking to recruit the most suitable candidates, Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) must craft cyber talent profiles that align with the organisation's specific functional needs. These profiles serve as valuable tools for capturing and communicating the intended value and goal of every position in the company. But it's crucial to find balance. Job descriptions that are excessively detailed and contain a lot of requirements for experience and skills could unintentionally limit the pool of candidates and discourage qualified applicants from applying.

Embracing diversity is also essential. Cybersecurity leaders should acknowledge that candidates from various backgrounds, not just those with IT expertise, can contribute to the security landscape. This covers people who have started their own independent cybersecurity learning adventures, switched from other fields to cybersecurity, or pursued formal cybersecurity education. The talent pool in cyberspace is vast and varied, therefore security executives should adjust their hiring strategies accordingly.

Continuous Skill Renewal

The rapid growth in the field of cybersecurity calls for a workforce that can keep up with new developments in both trends and technologies. To guarantee that their teams stay in step with the constantly changing demands of the digital business environment, CISOs must be proactive. To improve leadership effectiveness, this entails making an investment in their own vital skill development as well as encouraging skill growth within their teams. It is recommended that cybersecurity leaders set aside time and resources to perform thorough assessments of skills and competency gaps within the cybersecurity function.

The emphasis should be on developing skills like adaptability, commercial knowledge, and digital knowledge that are necessary for successful security teams. To further address one of the main reasons for cyber talent attrition—a lack of professional development and career progression opportunities—organisations must prioritise organised talent development initiatives that support ongoing learning and career advancement.

Sustaining Long-Term Employee Engagement

Encouraging participation and providing a positive work environment are key to keeping cybersecurity talent. Leaders in cybersecurity should begin by developing a thorough awareness of the elements that impact employee experience and stimulate engagement. Equipped with this knowledge, they can create a thorough total rewards plan that is meant to inspire, acknowledge, and keep workers throughout time.

Creating a compelling Employee Value Proposition (EVP) is crucial given the difficulties in attracting and keeping talent in the present climate, which is marked by drawn-out hiring procedures, a declining workforce, employee burnout, and competitive pay. An EVP captures the qualities that current employees and the labor market view as the value that comes with being affiliated with the company. Cybersecurity executives will be able to efficiently attract and retain personnel with the support of an attractive EVP. Creating a climate that attracts potential hires and making sure current staff members feel appreciated and recognised are equally essential components of the retention strategy.

Maintaining Relationships Beyond Departure

Employee turnover is inevitable, but the organisation's talent strategy should extend to those who depart. Cybersecurity leaders should recognise that an employee's departure need not sever all ties. Robust processes should be established to maintain team morale and continuity even after an employee has left the organisation. This approach serves several purposes, including the potential for continued engagement with departed employees and the possibility of re-engagement with the organisation. When conducting exit interviews with departing employees, exercise care and diligence.

Improvements in employee engagement and retention strategies should be based on the insightful input that these interviews can provide. In addition, acknowledging the accomplishments of former workers—especially those who had a big social impact on the company—through awards and recognition schemes can foster ties and show continued support for former coworkers.

In summary

A diversified strategy is needed to address the skills shortfall in cybersecurity today. Leaders in cybersecurity need to be skilled at finding the right people, encouraging skill renewal, keeping long-term employees engaged, and keeping in touch with former colleagues. Organisations can develop a resilient and adaptable cybersecurity workforce that can tackle the ever-changing demands of the digital era by skillfully managing these four stages.

Proactive solutions are required to address the urgent problem of the cybersecurity talent shortage. Organisations can start to close the talent gap by investing in training and education, encouraging a cybersecurity culture, supporting diversity, utilising technology, working with others, and thinking about outsourcing possibilities. By doing this, businesses will improve everyone's access to a safer digital environment while also strengthening their own security posture. In the constantly changing world of cyber dangers, having qualified cybersecurity experts on staff is essential. To protect data, privacy, and the future of our connected society, overcoming the talent shortfall is a strategic necessity as much as a question of filling roles.

Looking to improve your cyber security structure within your business but not sure where to start? Get in contact with one of our specialised consultants and get your security team hired today!  We can ensure an A-list of candidates and a cooperative and extensive relationship with both clients and candidates.