Why the Cyber Security Talent Gap Exists and How Your Organization Can Solve It
By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
As I speak with organizations globally, it is obvious there is a shortage of cybersecurity talent in most firms. The talent gap in the cybersecurity industry is a real problem that affects companies of all sizes. In this video, we’ll discuss why the talent gap exists and what you can do to solve it.
[00:00] Intro
[00:39] Why does the cybersecurity talent gap exist?
[02:15] What can you do? Invest in training
[04:24] Partner with colleges, universities, schools, etc.
[05:44] Look for people with transferable skills
[06:08] Work on your employer brand and pay well.
[06:55] Outro
What’s So Desirable About Hiring Team Players?
The cybersecurity talent gap exists, and it’s affecting organizations worldwide. In this video, I’m going to talk about why the gap exists, and what you can do to solve it. I’m Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter. I started to be called The Big Game Hunter when I did recruiting. I’d hunt down leaders and staff for organizations and did it for a long time. Now, I provide no BS coaching and career advice to people and organizations globally. And I do it because I help make
things easier for people.
Now the gap exists. But the question is, why does it exists? And in simplest terms, the talent gap exists? Well, it refers to the shortage of skilled people, of course, and the demand is far higher than the available talent pool. So with cyberattacks increasing, and organizations needing skilled cybersecurity professionals to keep their systems and data safe, there just aren’t enough people to fill these roles. So, one reason for the talent gap is really a lack of interest in cybersecurity as a career. Many people are not aware of opportunities in the cybersecurity industry. Some assume it’s only about coding or hacking, while others find that intimidating. In addition, many cybersecurity roles require specialized skills and experiences that are difficult to find. So one reason or another reason for the gap is because the nature of cybersecurity is it’s faster paced than some people want to deal with. The threats are constantly evolving. New technologies are emerging every day. Keeping up with these changes is hard for cyber professionals. You know, they constantly have to update their skills and knowledge. And many organizations are not able to provide ongoing training and development opportunities, which further exacerbates the shortage that exists.
So let’s talk about what you as an organization can do. Number one, and I can’t stress this enough, it’s important to invest in training and development opportunities for people. Cyber is constantly evolving, and new threats are emerging every day. To stay ahead of these threats, an organization needs to have a skilled and knowledgeable cybersecurity team that’s up to date with the latest technologies and trends. And one way to achieve this is by providing ongoing training and development opportunities to your people. So this can include cybersecurity training programs, workshops, conferences, you know, invest in these opportunities. You’re not only helping your employees to stay current, but you’re also fostering a culture of learning and development within your organization. It also prevents turnover in your cyber teams, which is another part of what you want to invest in.
By investing in training and development. Given the demand for cybersecurity people on the rise, it’s important to keep your existing team engaged, motivated and by offering training and development opportunities, you must show a greater opportunity for them to learn and grow and get ahead. Of course, you have to pay them because some other organization is going to dangle a carrot in front of them and say, ‘We can pay you a lot more than you’re making now whether true or not, you know, the promise sometimes is enough to get them in the door. So investing in training and development opportunities for your cybersecurity team is critical for staying ahead of the threat landscape. It’s also a powerful tool for staff retention. And thus, with the increased number of cyber threats. It’s important to have your cybersecurity team keep your system safe.
Partnering with colleges and universities can be a great way to increase or even create a pool of talented and skilled professionals. By collaborating with educational institutions, organizations can work toward creating cybersecurity programs that provide students with practical hands-on training and exposure to real-world experiences and challenges. And again, here I’m talking about less experienced people you can grow into more senior roles and internship offerings, apprenticeships, give them, give the students a great way to get practical experience and enhance their cyber skills. It also gives you an opportunity to check them out at a low cost before hiring people who don’t care.
So recognize one of the things you want to do is identify people who really care about their craft. And they may not know as much as you may want them to know initially, but bringing them in as an intern, and working with your team gives them a chance to learn and grow, get ahead, and allows you to cultivate them like a seedling and grow as a professional.
So just to sum up, collaborating with educational institutions is a win-win for both you in the organization. And in doing that, look for transferable skills. Instead of just focusing purely on cybersecurity-specific roles, consider people who have transferable skills who have an interest in the industry.
Creating a strong employer brand is a way of attracting more experienced cyber talent to you. And lastly, I’m gonna go back to the money thing because it always comes down to the money thing. Pay well. Cybersecurity professionals are in great demand. And by offering more than competitive compensation, you’ll attract and retain top talent. Investing in their education, once on board may keep them in place and by having them doing interesting work, and learning and growing, they will get ahead and you will become an employer of choice for many or for many people in cybersecurity.
Hope you found this helpful. I’m Jeff Altman. My website is tTheBigGameHunter.us Go to the blog and go exploring. There’s just a lot there that will help. In addition, you can schedule a time for a coaching session with me to help you with your hiring, to do it more effectively, to manage and lead better, with help with job search if that’s where you are professionally. You can find out about my video courses, books and guides. Again, there’s a lot there that will help. I also want to mention at the website, there’s just a lot in the blog. And also connect with me on Linkedin at linkedin.com/in/TheBigGameHunter. Have a terrific day and most importantly, be great!
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a coach who worked as a recruiter for what seems like one hundred years. He is hired to provide No BS Career Advice globally. That can involve job search, hiring staff, management, leadership, career transition and advice about resolving workplace issues. Schedule a discovery call at my website, www.TheBigGameHunter.us
He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with over 2500 episodes.
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I’ve yet to be in a company that had an enterprise IT model where the IT security group wasn’t a dysfunctional mess. In my previous gig I even ended up mediating between two employees in different security sub-teams. The amount of churn was so high that every initiative got sandbar’d.
My conclusion
1. IT security is overwhelmed with noobs that have one skill
2. Money is being poured into IT security at an insane rate
3. Anyone even slightly experienced leaves for more money
Tl;dr : IT security is a bubble about to burst.
I don’t think it can be a bubble. I think, like anything, it takes time to become masterful (like stew) and industry and government need to start somewhere and start putting ingredients in the pot. As always, It’s great to hear your voice.