According to ISC2, a non-profit security organization, there are 2.93 million cybersecurity positions open and unfulfilled. Out of nearly three million positions, over 300 000 are based in the US only.
The demand for cybersecurity experts is continuously growing. As we’re in 2021, the number of open positions is not getting fulfilled any faster. The lack of cybersecurity skills in the workplace is becoming evident as businesses are struggling to find the right employees for their security teams.
Why Businesses Need a Security Team
Soon enough, every business is going to need a security team, regardless of what niche or industry they are in. There are several reasons why security teams have become mandatory in this day and age. For instance, a security team can significantly take the weight off of other employees’ shoulders.
If you put the weight of managing security on the shoulders of employees whose position has nothing to do with the security itself, it is likely going to negatively affect their performance in general. Besides, a dedicated security team will do a much better job of securing your network compared to employees who are handling security tasks in a rush.
A security team is needed to keep the company’s security policies up to date. These policies are important for keeping the employees on the same page when it comes to maintaining online safety in general. Most importantly, cybersecurity teams can directly tackle security threats and help educate the rest of the employees with in-house security presentations.
Besides, an established security team will keep track of the necessary safety measures that should be implemented daily. These include using a VPN to maintain online privacy, keeping systems and networks up to date, as well as managing passwords correctly. Small businesses can benefit from the NIST cybersecurity guidelines, which they can use to keep track of their security efforts.
What Can Companies Do to Fight This Issue
With the lack of cybersecurity skills in the workplace, security experts have the freedom to choose one job offer over the other, based on the quality of the conditions they are being offered. One thing that companies can do to attract the best talent is to offer flexible work hours and additional in-house training programs and services. Free training programs can also attract new talent, including employees who are interested in joining the security team even though they don’t have much previous experience.
Overall, it is important to raise awareness of cybersecurity in general to attract more people to this growing field. On one hand, cybersecurity awareness can reduce the number of security threats on both personal and corporate devices whereas, on the other hand, it can bring more people to fulfill thousands of open job positions. Raising awareness can be beneficial for both the businesses that need extra security forces and the security experts who are looking for long-term and secure job positions.
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