Severe Global Shortage of Cybersecurity Professionals Plagues 2019
A massive global shortfall of nearly 3 million cybersecurity workers leaves companies dangerously vulnerable as a new wave of cyberattacks approaches. Desperate organizations are turning to artificial intelligence to mitigate the risks, though automation only partially addresses the staffing crisis.
Major cyberattacks experience a temporary lull as 2019 begins, but experts warn that the next wave of attacks promises to make this year the worst yet for digital security. As companies aggressively pursue digitization to improve efficiency, they simultaneously enter the dangerous target zone for cyber threats. This escalating danger highlights a massive, unprecedented problem: there are simply not enough cybersecurity professionals to defend against these incoming attacks.
The scale of this staffing crisis is staggering, with a global gap of nearly 3 million cybersecurity positions according to a recent study by (ISC)2. In the United States alone, employers posted roughly 314,000 cybersecurity jobs over a recent twelve-month period, which would expand the existing workforce by over 40 percent if filled. Despite highly competitive salaries that often exceed $95,000 annually, these critical positions remain open almost indefinitely.
Smaller enterprises suffer the most from this shortage because cybercriminals frequently target their weaker defenses as a conduit to larger business partners. While companies attempt to cope by relying on artificial intelligence and machine learning, these technologies remain too nascent to fully replace human expertise. Ideal candidates hold degrees in computer science or programming, possess strong math and statistics backgrounds, and hold specialized certifications in areas like intrusion detection and secure software development.