To tackle the skills shortage, the cybersecurity industry must focus on attracting, training, and retaining talent. This entails widening the hiring pool to be more inclusive and diverse
The frequency and complexity of cybersecurity threats are increasing rapidly, posing significant challenges for businesses worldwide. George Daglas, an expert from Obrela, a prominent cyber security firm, delves into the root causes and consequences of the cybersecurity skills shortage, while also exploring potential solutions, particularly the role of managed services in mitigating these challenges.
Causes of the Skills Shortage:
The shortage of cybersecurity professionals has been an ongoing issue for some time now. Despite the high demand for cybersecurity roles and competitive salaries, organisations struggle to fill crucial positions with individuals possessing the necessary technical skills. A recent report by Rackspace Technology revealed that 39 per cent of IT leaders consider shortages as one of their top three security challenges.
Several factors contribute to this gap. Historically, many organisations underestimated their vulnerability to cyber attacks, leading to lower budgets for cybersecurity teams and solutions. This mindset also resulted in insufficient investment in education, training, and certification programs, which continues to impact the industry today. Furthermore, the increasing complexity of cybersecurity systems, driven by rapid digitalisation and cloud adoption, demands more specialised skills. Legacy systems that are difficult to migrate from further exacerbate the demand for skilled professionals.
Impact on Security:
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the skills shortage by causing a freeze in hiring within many organisation. This hiring freeze made it even more challenging to adopt new technologies aimed at operating more efficiently and effectively. Moreover, the pandemic widened the gap between sectors, with those able to offer higher wages having an advantage in addressing security and skills shortfalls, while smaller businesses struggled due to limited talent pools and budgets.
Addressing the Skills Shortage:
To tackle the skills shortage, the cybersecurity industry must focus on attracting, training, and retaining talent. This entails widening the hiring pool to be more inclusive and diverse. Organisations can showcase their efforts to support newcomers entering the industry through various programs such as training, internships, and apprenticeships.
Government initiatives and educational institutions also play a crucial role in addressing the skills gap by expanding educational opportunities, degree programs, and certifications in cybersecurity. Additionally, integrating automation technologies into operations can reduce the demand for skills by simplifying certain processes. However, this approach may only increase the productivity of the existing workforce without fully addressing the underlying skills gap.
Role of Managed Services:
Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) offer a viable solution to the skills shortage by outsourcing security functions to third-party experts. Many small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) utilise MSSPs to cope with cyber attacks while benefiting from continuous threat detection and response capabilities. Outsourcing security services can also accelerate the implementation of security measures and support the shift to remote work and digitisation, which have expanded organisations’ attack surfaces.
Moreover, MSSPs provide specialised expertise in detecting and preventing various attacks, including zero-day attacks. As threats become more sophisticated, organisation require a diverse set of skills to effectively manage their security. MSSPs offer a team of security experts with the necessary skills and capabilities to protect against evolving threats across different environments, such as IoT devices in operational technology (OT) environments and security in finance or banking sectors.
Choosing a Managed Service Provider:
When selecting an MSSP, organisation should consider various factors, including the provider’s integrated platform, risk assessment capabilities, advanced endpoint detection and response capabilities, support for remote workers and cloud security, vulnerability assessment and patch management, incident response capabilities, and research and development capabilities to detect emerging risks.
The cybersecurity skills shortage remains a significant challenge for organisations worldwide, impacting their ability to defend against evolving threats. Managed services, particularly MSSPs, offer a viable solution by providing specialised expertise and advanced security capabilities. As businesses navigate the complex cybersecurity landscape, leveraging managed services can enhance their security posture and resilience against emerging threats. By partnering with MSSPs, organisations can access a dedicated team of security experts, ensuring comprehensive protection against cyber threats while focusing on their core business operations.