Closing the cybersecurity skills gap: Together we can

In our last blog post, we discussed in-demand cybersecurity skills that IT workers should be prioritizing in 2021. This post will lift the magnifying glass and take a deep dive into two questions: why is there a gap in cybersecurity skills? How do we close that gap?

According to Help Net Security, a recent (ISC)² survey explains, “data suggests that employment in the field now needs to grow by approximately 41% in the U.S. and 89% worldwide to fill the talent gap, which remains a top concern of professionals.” Such gaps in employment opportunities and skills are harmful to both job and expert seekers. It is difficult for companies to find IT professionals who have all the skills needed to meet the continually evolving industry demands. For IT professionals, both rookies and vets, this skill gap creates fewer job opportunities and eliminates experience building. But, before we get too carried away with the repercussions, let’s take a look inside the cybersecurity skills gap.

The Ongoing Cybersecurity Skills Gap

The cybersecurity industry is experiencing an extreme talent shortage across the country, which has been explicitly spotlighted by the ongoing pandemic. Some of the many reasons this gap exists include lack of diversity, trouble attracting candidates into the field, and a continuous change in skillset demands. A recent Silicon Republic article explains, “cybersecurity traditionally has appealed only to a very specific set of candidates because it requires experience and knowledge in other areas, such as system admin, networking or application development, and people with a security mindset. Doing security well is not just following the process and going through the motions; it requires people to be able to think critically and creatively.”

 

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