Global cyber security skills shortage ahead
The global cyber security industry is facing a skills shortage that threatens the growth of cloud computing and storage.
According to ESG research, three-quarters of companies are using some form of cloud service and the numbers will increase in the future. There is an issue, though, as 46% of cloud computing organisations are facing a staff shortage and there simply aren’t enough trained specialists to keep up with demand. Another recent report revealed that 86% of business and IT professionals believe we are facing a massive shortage of skilled staff and that only 34% believe they are truly ready for a cyber attack.
28% of companies also have a problem recruiting network security specialists and security analysts are also in short supply, with 27% of companies looking for staff suggesting it is no simple task.
Of course, the shortage creates a supply and demand issue and the most skilled workers can command higher wages. Contract workers and freelancers especially can charge exceptional rates that are forcing some companies to look for alternative solutions.
More and more companies are turning to turnkey operations like Amazon’s CloudTrail and other web-based platforms with in-built support, in part due to the lower costs and in part due to the accessibility.
Cloud storage companies are taking on a large amount of responsibility for security and prevention of attacks, but every app is potentially a gateway to the company’s cloud services and each firm has to take responsibility for its own cyber security to an extent. That means hiring, or training, the right people.
That is becoming an increasingly complex task in itself, with cyber security proving such a specialist skill that 54% of respondents to the survey said that even knowing who is the right person when they are sat in front of them is a complex issue.
Internal training is becoming an increasingly popular way of tackling this problem, with companies sending their own staff for more training at outside agencies and institutions. We may be set for a return to the old-school recruitment fairs, though, with employers visiting universities to secure the top tier talent before they have even graduated.
