“Businesses vulnerable due to shortage of cyber talent” reports Intel Security in new industry study
There’s a serious talent shortage impacting the cyber security industry. That’s according to a new report just published by Intel Security in partnership with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). 82% of respondents to the global survey admit to a shortage of cyber security skills across their company, with 71% of respondents citing this shortage as being responsible for direct and measurable damage to organisations whose lack of cyber-focused talent makes them more desirable hacking targets.
The Hacking the Skills Shortage Report highlights that the demand for cyber security professionals is outpacing the supply of qualified workers, with highly technical skills the most in need across all those countries surveyed. Despite a quarter of respondents confirming their organisations had lost proprietary data as a result of this skills gap, there are no signs of that situation abating in the near-term. Respondents estimate an average of 15% of cyber security positions in their company will go unfilled by 2020.
Published by the Business Continuity Institute (BCI), the recent Cyber Resilience Report revealed that two-thirds of organisations have experienced a cyber security incident during the previous year, with 15% of them experiencing at least ten such episodes. This shows the cyber threat is very real and that organisations must take it seriously. That process starts by making sure resources are available to combat the threat.