Cybersecurity is a crucial tool for all businesses, but there is a huge shortage of trained professionals to manage data security. Many businesses are at risk of online attacks because they struggle to hire qualified cybersecurity experts to help protect their business.
Although this is a huge issue, there are ways to deal with the cybersecurity shortage and ensure that your sensitive data is protected.
Why Is There A Shortage Of Cybersecurity Experts?
Cybersecurity is a highly lucrative career path and companies are willing to pay handsomely for candidates with in-depth knowledge of IT security.
This means that IT professionals have the power to choose their employers so they can work on cybersecurity programs that will help them advance their careers. Cybersecurity experts are more likely to pursue higher salaries too, meaning that smaller businesses often struggle to hire the best people.
Many cybersecurity professionals are overworked because they take on extra work to make up for the skills gap. This often leads to people leaving the career, creating an even bigger shortage of candidates.
How To Deal With The Shortage
The shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals can cause staffing problems for businesses, but there are ways to deal with the situation and ensure that your business is protected.
Outsourcing Cybersecurity
To deal with the shortage, businesses should look into outsourcing their security to IT services who are able to supply cybersecurity experts. IT companies can help improve efficiency and cybersecurity by evaluating IT systems for vulnerabilities, identifying risks associated with IT operations and monitoring internet traffic.
Outsourcing is a more cost-effective solution that gives businesses access to the qualified cybersecurity professionals that they need without having to hire them in-house.
Reconsider Hiring Criteria
Many cybersecurity jobs require a four-year degree as a bare minimum before applying. However, a degree in cybersecurity is not a guarantee of knowledge or skill. There are also many soft skills that are more valuable when hiring for cybersecurity jobs.
If you change the hiring criteria and consider applications from candidates that do not have a degree and focus on soft skills and experience in related areas, you give yourself more options.
The world of online security is constantly changing, so in many cases, the information learned during a four-year degree is outdated in just a few years anyway. As a result, on-the-job training and experience are far more valuable.
Invest In Training
When hiring cybersecurity professionals, it is best to consider candidates with the right skills and attitude and then invest in training. This is an effective way to give you more control over the cybersecurity skills gap and develop employees to fill the roles that you need them to.
High turnover rates can be an issue with cybersecurity professionals because they are in such high demand and will often move around jobs as they are offered higher salaries and better career advancement opportunities. However, if you invest in training and personal development for your team, you can increase loyalty and reduce your turnover rate.
Businesses that are struggling with their cybersecurity team may benefit from outsourcing to third-party IT services. This is especially true for small businesses that need to carefully control their finances. If you do want to hire in-house, it is crucial that you put time and money into training employees and developing their cybersecurity skills.
