When it comes to IT and network security, there is a significant shortage of high-level skills. According to the (ISC)2 2022 Cybersecurity Workforce Study there is a global cybersecurity workforce gap of 3.4 million people, and this gap increased by 26.2% in 2022.
The urgency of this shortage is underscored by the World Economic Forum which asked, “Can closing the cybersecurity skills gap change the world?” The WEF answered with a very clear, ‘Yes’. Yes, it can, because cyberattacks are a threat to individuals, businesses, countries and economies, and having the right people on hand to defend against and mitigate those attacks, is critical.
As Henk Olivier, Managing Director at Ozone Technology Distribution points out, technology is changing at such a radical rate that IT security is becoming increasingly specialised and sophisticated.
“Companies need to move beyond just thinking that they can implement a firewall or thrown some network security software at the problem and then relax,” he adds. “They need security with 100% visibility in the network and their infrastructure; they need early warning detection systems and constant reporting, and they need people who can take all these tools and make them work for the business.”
It remains a challenge to find talent, especially in South Africa, as so many people are leaving, following the salaries (and electricity) in other countries. However, this can change if companies encourage talent from within by upskilling people and giving them the space they need to thrive within the organisation. It is also important to pay attention to one of the hottest topics on the cybersecurity market right now – artificial intelligence (AI).
With the support of AI
“With AI software solutions, companies may need fewer people to do the same quantities of work and achieve the same outcomes, but they will still need talented people to manage and refine the AI,” says Olivier. “This makes it key for companies to provide people with opportunities to grow their training and skills and to learn the fundamentals of their craft. There are many courses available to teach the basics, and brands also provide high-intensity product and solution training that deliver granular insights and skills development. It does not matter which route you take, as long as it is easy for your people to find the route and benefit from it.”
There will always be a need for IT security specialists, for people who understand the environment and can see the threats looming on the horizon. As it still is not a subject at school – and it should be – and there is not enough awareness of the risks, it is important that training be embedded into every facet of the business. From those that will drive the AI-security engines, through to the everyday employees who could potentially be the weakest link in the security chain. Every individual needs to understand security and its affects on the organisation.
Training with ROI
“There will always be a return on investment when investing into skills to develop IT security specialists,” concludes Olivier. “The biggest challenge for companies is keeping up with salary and market demand so they can retain the people they invest in. To juggle this risk with the security opportunity, companies should consider training people on very specific tools within a specific market or industry, and not just general security. This can then be bolstered by creating a company culture that is so driven by personal and career growth, that people do not want to leave – they have what they need right where they are today.”
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