Closing The Cybersecurity Skills Gap: Strategies for Employers and Aspiring Professionals

As the cybersecurity threat landscape grows larger and more complex, the cybersecurity workforce often struggles to keep up. In fact, up to 67% of organizations report a moderate-to-critical skills gap in cybersecurity. This skills gap leaves businesses and governments vulnerable and increases the risk of data breaches, financial losses, and operational disruptions.

For individuals seeking cybersecurity roles, the skills gap presents a major opportunity. If they can align their skills and certifications with critical industry needs, they can position themselves as highly valuable candidates, increase their job prospects, and secure higher-paying roles. Let’s unpack the causes and impacts of the cybersecurity skills gap, along with strategies for closing the gap.

Understanding the Cybersecurity Skills Gap

The cybersecurity skills gap refers to the shortage of qualified professionals needed to defend businesses, governments, and individuals against cyber threats. In recent years, the demand for skilled cybersecurity experts has outpaced supply. According to data from the 2024 ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, the size of the global active cybersecurity workforce was 5.5 million, and the workforce needed to support demand was 10.2 million. That’s a gap of 4.8 million professionals.

This shortage leaves organizations vulnerable, and it also puts greater pressure on existing security teams. The same study from ISC2 reported a decrease in cybersecurity job satisfaction, possibly due in part to increased burnout associated with staffing shortages.

Of course, different sectors experience the cybersecurity skills gap differently. Nearly every industry reports a large skills gap, but shortages appear to be largest in the education, construction, and healthcare industries. 

The consequences of the skills gap also vary from industry to industry. Financial institutions charged with protecting massive amounts of sensitive personal and financial data, for example, might struggle to keep that data secure when fraud prevention and data encryption specialists are few and far between. In healthcare, many institutions rely on outdated systems that are more vulnerable to cyber attacks. For government agencies and contractors, our national security and infrastructure is on the line.

To fix the cybersecurity skills gap, we first need to understand what’s causing it.

Causes of the Cybersecurity Skills Gap

1. Rapid Technological Change

It may seem like a cliche, but the pace of technological change really is faster than ever, and it is likely to increase in speed thanks to artificial intelligence — intelligence drives innovation, and we’re no longer just relying on human intelligence. Add in cloud services and IoT, and you have technology that is not only advancing rapidly but also becoming increasingly interconnected and autonomous.

The rapid pace of change makes it hard for cybersecurity curriculum to keep pace. By the time a learner completes an educational program, there could be a whole new set of concepts and skills that their coursework didn’t cover. This mismatch between traditional curriculum and real-world cybersecurity skills exacerbates the skills gap.

2. Diversity Challenges

There is a persistent underrepresentation of certain demographics in STEM fields, especially women and minority groups. Diverse perspectives are essential for tackling the complex, evolving nature of cyber threats, and the cybersecurity field would benefit greatly if cybersecurity education was more accessible and encouraged for individuals from all backgrounds. 

Employers also need to modify hiring criteria to consider individuals who fall short of strict experience requirements but demonstrate a hunger for learning. Rather than reaching for an unrealistic ideal, companies can instead hire qualified professionals who, with training, can become the perfect fit. With better outreach and inclusivity, the pool of qualified candidates for cybersecurity positions would steadily grow.

3. Flawed Hiring Practices

Many qualified cybersecurity professionals are struggling to land jobs due to flawed hiring practices. Budget reductions, misaligned job descriptions, “ghost jobs” (posts for jobs that aren’t actually available), and overly rigid job requirements are all exacerbating the cybersecurity skills gap. These hiring practices leave candidates in limbo, and they leave potentially critical security gaps unfilled. 

Another issue is the lack of consistency in job titles and role expectations across organizations — one company’s Security Analyst may not be the same as another company’s Security Analyst. This inconsistency leads to mismatched expectations, a prolonged hiring process, and frustrations for hiring managers and jobseekers alike.

4. Awareness & Accessibility Issues

Many people still lack awareness of cybersecurity career opportunities, and as a result, may overlook this lucrative and growing field. Some may be intimidated by the technical nature of cybersecurity roles and disqualify themselves without considering that they could actually be a great fit for the field.

There are also economic and geographic barriers to advanced education and cybersecurity certification programs. Cybersecurity courses and certifications often require significant financial investment, making them inaccessible to those from lower-income backgrounds. Individuals living in rural or underserved areas may have limited access to training programs or networking opportunities, which can make career advancement difficult.

5. High Attrition/Job Switching

In the cybersecurity industry, skilled professionals often jump between jobs, seeking better pay, benefits, and opportunities for career growth. Many specialized experts are in such high demand that they are frequently recruited by other companies, leaving former employers with vacancies. Thanks to the talent shortage, it can be hard to fill those vacancies.

Career mobility is great for individuals, but job-hopping does contribute to the skills gap. Unfilled cybersecurity roles mean teams are stretched thin and less equipped to respond to security concerns. If employers focused on retention efforts and opportunities for career advancement, there would be less job switching and more stability within organizations.

The Impact of an Unaddressed Skills Gap

If measures aren’t taken to address the cybersecurity skills gap, we will continue to see negative impacts across industries, including:

• Increased Vulnerabilities: With fewer skilled professionals on their team and more cybersecurity roles remaining vacant, organizations are more exposed to cyber threats.
• Bigger Breaches: When few organizations have a fully staffed security team, they face an increased likelihood of larger, more damaging data breaches.
• Financial Consequences: The aftermath of a breach can lead to significant financial losses, including lost revenue, legal fees, regulatory fines, and reputational damage.
• Inadequate Leadership and Mentorship: A shortage of experienced professionals means there are fewer industry leaders to guide and train entry-level cybersecurity talent.
• Strain on Critical Infrastructure: Industries like government, finance, and healthcare are vulnerable, as talent shortages leave critical infrastructure exposed to attacks.
• Higher Cybersecurity Costs: Cybersecurity recruitment is costly, and high turnover rates exacerbate the issue. To fill gaps, many organizations invest in costly third-party consultants.
• ‍Reduced Consumer Trust: Cyber incidents diminish consumer confidence in the security of digital services, which erodes user engagement and business reputation.

Strategies for Closing the Cybersecurity Skills Gap

1. Education & Training Initiatives

Closing the cybersecurity skills gap requires expanded access to relevant education and training opportunities. Ideally, cybersecurity programs at colleges and universities should incorporate more practical, hands-on experience for learners, helping them become better prepared for the real-world workforce.

Affordable online cybersecurity education platforms further expand access to cybersecurity courses and certification paths. Cybrary’s Career Paths are designed to teach individuals the knowledge and skills they need to launch their cybersecurity career or transition into a new role. For professionals looking to validate their skills with industry-recognized certifications, Cybrary offers Certification Prep Paths for dozens of in-demand cybersecurity certifications.

Ultimately, cybersecurity education needs to become more accessible and more aligned with the real-world needs of the industry and workforce.

2. Upskilling & Reskilling Current Workforce

Another way to address the cybersecurity skills gap is to focus on upskilling and reskilling the current IT and cybersecurity workforce. IT professionals have foundational, transferable skills that make them excellent candidates for cybersecurity training. Continuous professional development (CPD) programs help employees get up-to-speed with the latest threats, technologies, and best practices.

Corporate-sponsored training programs and certifications, such as CISSP and Security+, offer employees the opportunity to grow their cybersecurity expertise while remaining in their current roles. In addition to ensuring the workforce evolves alongside the rapidly changing cybersecurity field, employer-sponsored upskilling can increase employee satisfaction and improve retention.

3. Improve Cybersecurity Hiring

Streamlining hiring and improving recruiting practices will help skilled cybersecurity professionals find and earn roles faster, strengthening security teams and closing the skills gap. Employers should prioritize clarity in job descriptions, ensuring they know what they’re looking for and make it clear for jobseekers. 

Companies should also avoid practices such as listing senior-level experience requirements for entry-level roles and posting “ghost jobs” to boost interest. Tools like the NICE Framework can help establish a common language around cybersecurity roles, making it easier for employers to define job expectations and help jobseekers understand the competencies needed for specific positions.

4. Promoting Diversity & Inclusion

An effort needs to be made to promote diversity and inclusion in the cybersecurity industry, both to expand the talent pool and broaden the range of perspectives in tackling cybersecurity challenges. Scholarships and mentorship programs can help bridge the access gap and help individuals from lower-income backgrounds access critical cybersecurity training.

Also, by loosening their stringent educational and experience requirements, employers can discover more candidates with transferable skills from less conventional backgrounds, such as law enforcement or the military. By broadening their search for the right candidates, companies ensure that a wider range of individuals are contributing their unique perspective to the cybersecurity workforce.

5. Mentorship & Talent Retention

Seasoned cybersecurity experts gain a significant amount of on-the-job knowledge throughout their careers, including insights and experiences you simply can’t get from a cybersecurity course or certification. The industry would benefit from an increased focus on mentorship, where seasoned professionals are paired with entry-level practitioners to accelerate skills transfer and build stronger teams.

Organizations should also invest in talent retention, offering competitive compensation, clear pathways for career advancement, and a supportive work culture. A strong work culture can reduce job-hopping and prevent the burnout that happens when teams are understaffed.

Future Outlook: Emerging Roles & Technologies

Cybersecurity is extremely dynamic — it seems like we’ve seen entirely new industries and specialties emerge practically overnight. The future of the industry involves AI-driven security, continued growth of cloud and DevSecOps, and hyperspecialization in certification. 

AI-Driven Security

Despite recent buzz about AI and machine learning, their use in cybersecurity is not a new thing. AI and automation technology have been used for years to analyze network traffic, detect anomalies, and automate incident response. What’s changing is the increasing sophistication of AI-driven threats and defenses. These changes demand new skill sets, especially at the intersection of data science and security. Cybersecurity professionals with this hybrid skill set will be in particularly high demand due to their ability to develop advanced AI and ML systems to combat emerging threats.

Cloud & DevSecOps

The increasing use of cloud technologies will drive another shift in cybersecurity practices, as organizations work to integrate security at every stage of software development. Another hybrid skill set is in high demand in this area — DevSecOps. Cybersecurity professionals skilled in DevSecOps uniquely understand how to embed security controls throughout the development lifecycle, ensuring security is both proactive and seamlessly integrated.

Hyperspecialization in Certification

Maybe you’ve already noticed a trend in these predictions — as cybersecurity becomes more complex, we expect to see a rise in hybrid skill sets, hyperspecialization, and new credentials addressing niche areas. These certifications might cater to topics like AI-driven threat analysis, cloud security architecture, and advanced penetration testing.

Taking Steps to Bridge the Cybersecurity Skills Gap

The cybersecurity skills gap has real-world consequences, with talent shortages and hiring issues leaving some organizations more vulnerable to cyber incidents. Employers should take proactive steps to upskill their IT and cybersecurity team members, prioritize retention initiatives, and re-examine their hiring practices to lessen the impact of the skills gap.

Aspiring cybersecurity professionals should explore training programs, cybersecurity communities, and industry events for further learning. Consider specializing in an area like cloud security or DevSecOps to align with industry demands. Explore Cybrary’s extensive catalog of Career Paths, Skill Paths, and Certificate Prep Paths, and start learning today.