Why the US Cybersecurity Expert Shortage? (4 min read)
Written by John Giordani, student at University of Fairfax
The current high demand for cybersecurity professionals is creating a shortage of talent. This shortage is affecting businesses and organizations at all levels, from small start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. In this blog post, you’ll learn about the factors that are driving the cybersecurity expert shortage. You’ll also learn about specific actions you can take to help alleviate the shortage.
Why Is There a Cybersecurity Expert Shortage?
The shortage of cybersecurity experts isn’t surprising. Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing industries over the past decade. The threat landscape is constantly evolving, and new cybersecurity threats emerge every day. It’s important for organizations to stay one step ahead of the cyber criminals, or risk falling victim to an attack. There are several factors that are driving the cybersecurity expert shortage. – The increased demand for cybersecurity talent is creating a shortage of skilled professionals. – The skills gap is particularly noticeable when hiring candidates with experience in a specific vertical such as risk management. – The education gap is a major contributor to the shortage of cybersecurity professionals. – Cybersecurity training programs are at maximum capacity and are unable to meet the growing demand.
Defining terms: What is a cybersecurity expert, and what does it mean to be critical to cybersecurity?
A cybersecurity expert is an individual with advanced knowledge in the field of cybersecurity. A critical cybersecurity specialist is someone who can use their knowledge and experience to manage cybersecurity risks throughout the organization.
The skills gap: Why is it so hard to find skilled cybersecurity professionals?
There are several reasons that make it difficult for organizations to find skilled cybersecurity professionals. First, the demand for cybersecurity talent is outstripping the supply. Organizations are trying to hire cybersecurity professionals, but the supply of candidates is not keeping up with the demand. As a result, the wages for skilled cybersecurity professionals are increasing. Secondly, the skills required to perform specific cybersecurity functions vary considerably. This means that organizations must recruit individuals with skills across a variety of areas. However, most organizations do not have the resources to do this. Thirdly, the cybersecurity training needs of an organization are different for different organizations. This means that organizations must have an integrated approach to training. However, many organizations lack the resources to create this approach.
The education gap: Why is it so hard to teach cybersecurity at the university level?
Cybersecurity experts are in high demand. As a result, the supply of qualified candidates is not keeping up with the demand. The gap between demand and supply of qualified candidates is most noticeable in the area of cybersecurity education. As more organizations implement cybersecurity programs, there will be a growing demand for qualified security professionals and less available to teach at the university level. Some universities are not able to meet the growing demand for cybersecurity education.
Conclusion
The current high demand for cybersecurity professionals is creating a shortage of talent. This shortage is affecting businesses and organizations at all levels, from small start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. As you can see, there are many factors that are contributing to the cybersecurity expert shortage.
The good news is that you can take steps to help alleviate the shortage. The first thing you need to do is identify the skills you are looking for in prospective employees and make sure they are hiring for entry-level positions that require these skills. Doing so will allow you to hire people with the right qualifications, which will allow your company to better serve your customers by improving quality control. These entry-level positions are great for new college grads who may not have any work experience but are looking to start a career in cybersecurity. You can also investigate certifications to help you find the employees you need. In some cases, you may be able to hire people with certifications over people with degrees.
One of the best ways to combat a shortage of cybersecurity professionals is to encourage young people to pursue careers in the field. The best way to do this is by exposing them to the field at an early age, which will hopefully spark their interest. Another way to combat the shortage of cybersecurity professionals is to increase the number of people earning degrees in the field. Many universities now offer degree programs in cybersecurity, and these programs can be completed at any age.