Explanation
Across the globe, cybersecurity threats continue to accelerate with the rise of malware and deepfake attacks. more than one-third 73% of organizations worldwide suffered a major cyber incident caused by a malicious actor in the past year. ransomware attack 2023. These cyberattacks come with severe economic losses, and the total global losses are staggering. 8 trillion dollars annually. As the attack surface area continues to expand and cybercrime emerges as the world's largest crime, 3rd largest economic powerAs we lag behind the US and China, now is the time to act.
Cybersecurity experts are key to addressing this issue. However, the global cybersecurity skills shortage is at an all-time high. 4 million. In the UAE alone, a recent survey found that 66% of IT managers believe their organization is trustworthy. “We lack the right people and processes.” So why is there a growing disparity between the demand for cyber staff and availability within the talent pool? And how can this problem be addressed?
What is the cause of the cyber skills shortage?
There are multiple reasons why the cybersecurity skills shortage continues. First, as breaches increase year over year, there continues to be a high demand for high-quality cybersecurity professionals, including those with expertise in cloud security, threat intelligence analysis, and incident response, and the supply of qualified talent is not keeping up. .For example, the Middle East and Africa have total cybersecurity talent of approximately 402,000 people But 102,000 more professionals are needed to meet demand. This talent shortage means cybersecurity teams are overworked and short on time, struggling to identify and stop threats in a timely manner, leaving businesses vulnerable.
Schools and higher education institutions also lack high-quality cybersecurity programs. Although there are good examples, many programs have limited course offerings and outdated curricula. The result is a shallow pool of talent capable of identifying, assessing, and mitigating cyber threats such as phishing attacks. Similarly, many current cybersecurity programs do not keep pace with the latest cyber threats, creating a gap between the skills taught and the skills needed in real-time scenarios.
limited organizational funds Security training is also a factor. According to a recent report, 31% of respondents said: lack of budget as an important issue. When budget allocations are insufficient, organizations have to deal with outdated technology and tools and struggle to prioritize employee training. This leaves critical systems and data exposed to potential breaches.
Three main ways businesses can address shortages
Upskilling and reskilling staff through continuous education and learning is one of the most important steps for companies looking to reduce the impact of cybersecurity skills shortages. To do this effectively, companies must first comprehensively assess the existing skills within their organization and then determine the required cybersecurity skills based on the company's industry, size, and risk profile. Equally important is creating an environment that encourages a culture of continuous learning, ensuring staff stay up-to-date on the latest cybercriminal tactics, techniques, and procedures.
They also need to move to a skills-based hiring approach and expand their talent pool beyond just those with cybersecurity-related education, such as degrees in computer engineering. Soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem solving are also highly needed in this field. As the skills gap continues and many cybersecurity skills are transferable, recruiting workers from outside the industry can tap into a broader talent pool and meet employment needs faster. There is a possibility. It also provides an opportunity to adopt more creative solutions to cyber threats.
Another way to address talent shortages is to raise awareness among executives and decision makers about the importance of cybersecurity skills, talent shortages, and the economic and security implications. Ensuring that corporate boards of directors and government regulators continually update their knowledge of developments in the cybersecurity landscape, understand their role in risk management, and make informed decisions. You will need to receive training for this.
In conclusion, as organizations across industries and geographies continue to rely on digital technology, they need a strong cybersecurity workforce to protect their networks and data from emerging cyber threats. Going forward, the focus should be on upskilling staff, moving to a skills-based recruitment approach, and fostering greater collaboration between industry and government. To be more effective, companies must prioritize areas where skills are in high demand, such as cloud security, and create environments that support the development of those skills.
