October is officially Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is “See Yourself in Cyber.” That focal point emphasizes “that while cybersecurity may seem like a complex subject, ultimately, it’s really all about people,” according to the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
As we reflect on the human element of data security, it makes sense to check on the status of a people-centric issue that’s persisted for years now: the cybersecurity talent shortage.
The state of the cybersecurity talent shortage in 2022
We’ve previously covered the gap between the number of skilled IT security professionals needed to protect the world’s assets and the amount of cyber pros that actually exist. This global phenomenon continues to cause issues, although the situation has improved recently. The global cybersecurity workforce gap was 2.72 million in 2021, down from 3.12 million in 2020, according to the 2021 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study.
Despite the improvement in numbers in 2021, the shortfall continues to have a significant impact on businesses struggling to combat a barrage of rapidly evolving cyber threats. Eighty percent of organizations worldwide have experienced at least one data breach resulting from a dearth of security awareness or IT security skills, according to the Fortinet 2022 Cybersecurity Skills Gap Global Research Report. On top of that, 60 percent of organizations have trouble recruiting cybersecurity talent, and 52 percent have issues retaining qualified security pros after hiring them.
The majority (67 percent) of organizations included in Fortinet’s study said the shortage of security professionals increases risk levels for their companies. Meanwhile, the average total cost of a data breach rose to $4.35 million this year, hitting an all-time high, according to the 2022 Cost of a Data Breach report from IBM.
The bottom line is that there still aren’t enough skilled security professionals to go around to effectively combat the onslaught of increasingly advanced and expensive cyberattacks targeting businesses of all sizes and across all industries.
Benefits of outsourcing cybersecurity
If you’re struggling to recruit and retain skilled security staff capable of protecting your IT environment and data from constantly changing threats, you can gain access to cybersecurity talent by partnering with a managed security service provider (MSSP). Outsourcing cybersecurity comes with numerous advantages for businesses:
- On-demand access to a team of qualified IT security professionals with a diverse skill set
- Lower spending, since you won’t need to invest in recruiting, onboarding, and retaining an in-house security staff
- Reduced risk level and lower odds of experiencing a costly security incident
If you’re interested in learning more about outsourcing cybersecurity, our trusted technology advisors can connect you with an MSSP in our partner network capable of meeting all your unique requirements. After assessing your situation, we can rapidly identify your ideal managed cybersecurity services provider.
Get started today by calling 877-599-3999 or emailing sales@stratospherenetworks.com.
