The Talent Crunch

Sunil Varkey, Cto And Strategist, Emerging Region, Symantec, Sheds Light On How The Current Skills Gap Is Taking Its Toll On Security.

- Sunil Varkey

What do you think are the primary factors contributing to the skills shortage in the IT security industry?

The skills shortage is a systemic, complex issue with a lot of contributing factors. I think a lot of people underestimate just how exciting a career in cybersecurity can be. Symantec’s 2019 High Alert research of 3,000 security leaders across Europe, found that 92 percent are fully immersed in their work, even when it’s stressful. However, while the job is thrilling, cybersecurity professionals operate in an extremely dynamic industry. The fast pace of evolution of the security landscape, in addition to the shortage of talent, means current security professionals have even less time to focus on their own skills development. Firms can also underappreciate the value of cybersecurity experts, and the salaries required to attract this talent – it’s not the same as for general enterprise IT professionals.

How has the current cyber skills shortage impacted today’s threat landscape? What kind of strain does it bring enterprises?

Ultimately, if your people are feeling strained, then your enterprise security efforts are being strained.

Our latest study also demonstrated the extent of the pressure cybersecurity staff are feeling. It found that 65 percent of surveyed professionals feel they’re being set up to fail. 64 percent also think about quitting their job and 63 percent are considering quitting the cybersecurity industry altogether.