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INFOGRAPHIC: Filling a Skills Gap in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is one of the largest growing fields in all of tech—both with its workers and the demand for its services.

But right now, there’s a skills gap existing in the field, where there aren’t enough qualified workers to meet the demands of the industry.

There are a couple of reasons for this:

  • There’s a lack of specific, formal, attainable cybersecurity training for people who want to get into the field.
  • When there is training, it’s pretty pricey beyond a formal college degree—which can be expensive in and of itself.
  • Some companies aren’t as diverse, inclusive, and equitable in their hiring practices, inadvertently putting up blinders on their talent pool.

Check out our infographic below for more information on the cybersecurity skills gap, including the prevalence of cybersecurity attacks and some tips with how to fill the skills gap.

Title: Cybersecurity Training & Jobs: Filling a Much-Needed Gap Cybersecurity attacks happen every day. 47% of American adults have had their personal information accessed by bad actors. 61% percent of organizations experienced a jump of 25% or more in cyber threats or alerts since the start of 2020. Types of cybersecurity attacks: Phishing emails/texts/calls Installing malware Password hacking Exploiting vulnerabilities in software Bad actors are often ahead of the people and companies they choose to target. All kinds of companies need to review their cybersecurity efforts across the board. But that can be easier said than done. There’s a large gap between cybersecurity job openings and talent to fill them. Nearly three-quarters of a million jobs needed to be filled to close cybersecurity skills shortage. Potential reasons for the talent gap: Lack of specific, formal, affordable cybersecurity training for job seekers. Many requirements must be met beyond education. Some companies don’t follow the best practices in DEI recruiting. Cost of entry in the field One cybersecurity certification can range in price from $500 to $7,450. Tuition for a cybersecurity-adjacent major can range from $30,000 to $100,000. So how do we fix the cybersecurity training gap? Tips for filling the talent gap: Upskilling programs Rethink your hiring criteria Commit to finding talent across all diverse identities Make sure your organizational culture is top notch Outsource cybersecurity to a dedicated firm Source: CISA, Cisco, Gartner

Upskilling can be incredibly useful in your tool belt as a leader at your organization—when filling a cybersecurity skills gap or otherwise. Some instances of upskilling for cybersecurity include:

  • Providing employees tuition reimbursement to take part in certification and workshop courses to learn entry-level cybersecurity skills.
  • Giving an entry-level cybersecurity employees new responsibilities and offering hands-on training and guidance on how to carry out their new obligations.
  • Starting a mentorship program within your cybersecurity organization, providing younger and newer employees with steps and mentorship to climb the cybersecurity ladder.

For more information about cybersecurity and the skills gap in the profession, check out our full post here!


Watch: How to Provide Professional Development Opportunities for Your Employees