[July 27, 2016] |
|
Global Study Reveals Businesses and Countries Vulnerable Due to Shortage of Cybersecurity Talent
Intel (News - Alert) Security, in partnership with the Center for Strategic and
International Studies (CSIS), has just released Hacking
the Skills Shortage, a global report outlining the talent shortage
crisis impacting the cybersecurity industry across both companies and
nations. A majority of respondents (82 percent) admit to a shortage of
cybersecurity skills, with 71 percent of respondents citing this
shortage as responsible for direct and measureable damage to
organizations whose lack of talent makes them more desirable hacking
targets.
"A shortage of people with cybersecurity skills results in direct damage
to companies, including the loss of proprietary data and IP," said James
A. Lewis, senior vice president and director of the Strategic
Technologies Program at CSIS. "This is a global problem; a majority of
respondents in all countries surveyed could link their workforce
shortage to damage to their organization."
In 2015, 209,000 cybersecurity jobs went unfilled1 in the
United States alone. Despite 1 in 4 respondents confirming their
organizations have lost proprietary data as a result of their
cybersecurity skills gap, there are no signs of this workforce shortage
abating in the near-term. Respondents surveyed estimate an average of 15
percent of cybersecurity positions in their company will go unfilled by
2020. With the increase in cloud, mobile computing and the Internet of
Things, as well as advanced targeted cyberattacks and cyberterrorism
across the globe, the need for a stronger cybersecurity workforce is
critical.
"The security industry has talked at length about how to address the
storm of hacks and breaches, but government and the private sector
haven't brought enough urgency to solving the cybersecurity talent
shortage," said Chris Young, senior vice president and general manager
of Intel Security (News - Alert) Group. "To address this workforce crisis, we need to
foster new education models, accelerate the availability of training
opportunities, and we need to deliver deeper automation so that talent
is put to its best use on the frontline. Finally, we absolutely must
diversify our ranks."
The demand for cybersecurity professionals is outpacing the supply of
qualified workers, with highly technical skills the most in need across
all countries surveyed. In fact, skills such as intrusion detection,
secure software development and attack mitigatin were found to be far
more valued than softer skills including collaboration, leadership and
effective communication.
This report studies four dimensions that comprise the cybersecurity
talent shortage, which include:
1. Cybersecurity Spending: The size and growth of cybersecurity
budgets reveals how countries and companies prioritize cybersecurity.
Unsurprisingly, countries and industry sectors that spend more on
cybersecurity are better placed to deal with the workforce shortage,
which according to 71 percent of respondents, has resulted in direct and
measureable damage to their organization's security networks.
2. Education and Training: Only 23 percent of respondents say
education programs are preparing students to enter the industry. This
report reveals non-traditional methods of practical learning, such as
hands-on training, gaming and technology exercises and hackathons, may
be a more effective way to acquire and grow cybersecurity skills. More
than half of respondents believe that the cybersecurity skills shortage
is worse than talent deficits in other IT professions, placing an
emphasis on continuous education and training opportunities.
3. Employer Dynamics: While salary is unsurprisingly the top
motivating factor in recruitment, other incentives are important in
recruiting and retaining top talent, such as training, growth
opportunities and reputation of the employer's IT department. Almost
half of respondents cite lack of training or qualification sponsorship
as common reasons for talent departure.
4. Government Policies: More than three-quarters (76 percent) of
respondents say their governments are not investing enough in building
cybersecurity talent. This shortage has become a prominent political
issue as heads of state in the U.S., U.K., Israel and Australia have
called for increased support for the cybersecurity workforce in the last
year.
Recommendations for Moving Forward:
-
Redefine minimum credentials for entry-level cybersecurity jobs:
accept non-traditional sources of education
-
Diversify the cybersecurity field
-
Provide more opportunities for external training
-
Identify technology that can provide intelligent security automation
-
Collect attack data and develop better metrics to quickly identify
threats
For more information on these findings, along with Intel Security's
proposed recommendations, read the full report: Hacking
the Skills Shortage: A study of the international shortage in
cybersecurity skills.
Methodology
Intel commissioned independent technology market research specialist
Vanson Bourne to undertake the research upon which this report is based.
IT decision-makers who are involved in cybersecurity within their
organization were interviewed in May 2016 across the U.S. (200), U.K.
(100), France (100), Germany (100), Australia (75), Japan (75), Mexico
(75) and Israel (50). The respondents were from organizations with at
least 500 employees, and came from within both public and private
sectors. Interviews were conducted online using a rigorous multilevel
screening process to ensure that only suitable candidates had the
opportunity to participate.
About Intel Security
Intel Security, with its McAfee (News - Alert) product line, is dedicated to making the
digital world safer and more secure for everyone. Intel Security is a
division of Intel Corporation. Learn more at www.intelsecurity.com.
1Ariha Setalvad, "Demand to fill cybersecurity jobs booming,"
Peninsula Press, March 31, 2015 http://peninsulapress.com/2015/03/31/cybersecurity-jobs-growth/
Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the
United States and other countries.
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160727005460/en/
[ Back To Mobile World Congress's Homepage ]
|