Between September 2017 and August 2018, US employers advertised 314,000 positions for cybersecurity professionals.
According to the National Cybersecurity Education Initiative, if all these jobs were filled, they would increase the country’s current cyber workforce by 714,000, or more than 40%. In addition, the New York Times Cybersecurity Ventures report predicts a staggering 3.5 million vacancies by 2021, an increase from one million such vacancies in 2014.
The current cybersecurity workforce size leaves a significant gap between the number of cyber experts working in this field and the number necessary to keep organizations safe. Overall, many organizations do not have enough cybersecurity personnel and the most advanced capabilities. The professionals who need to be trained have familiarized themselves through community college or boot camps with selected tools and technologies. Still, more than that, they are people with curiosity and knowledge about the current threat landscape and a strong passion for learning and research. Studies in the cybersecurity workforce development industry show that IT and cybersecurity professionals are satisfied and optimistic about their careers.
As jobs in cybersecurity workforce development remain vacant for months, companies are trying to close the labor gap by offering less than adequate training for those jobs hoping that technological solutions will make up for the rest as demand for cybersecurity grows and evolves. However, as talent production continues at the current pace, companies will fall further behind. To boost cybersecurity workforce development, many organizations have launched programs aimed at empowering women in cyber-related fields. Selected states have begun taking steps to help organizations and individuals alleviate skills shortages by establishing information-sharing centers with local businesses, governments, and universities that focus on workforce development. As cyberattacks progress, our cybersecurity workforce needs to as well.
SilkWeb is delighted to offer our own cybersecurity education and training solutions. We work with each organization to customize and implement the cybersecurity certification or degree program that best serves your students. Our team offers ongoing support for program design, technology, implementation, and best practices. We are dedicated to addressing the cybersecurity workforce gap with customized training solutions designed for lasting impact. By offering program design, technology support, and best practices, we empower organizations and individuals to lead in cybersecurity. With a focus on cybersecurity SEO and training, SilkWeb ensures a skilled workforce ready to tackle evolving challenges.
