Making cybersecurity careers open to everyone will solve the skills gap
You’re probably aware of the significant cybersecurity skills gap in the UK, owing to an infamous series of government adverts. But for all the attention garnered by the campaign – intended to encourage youngsters to explore careers in cybersecurity – the issue still remains.
In fact, 653,000 businesses (48%) are predicted to have a basic skills gap. Defined as: the people in charge of cybersecurity in those businesses who lack the confidence to carry out the basic tasks laid out in the government-endorsed Cyber Essentials, who are not getting support from external cybersecurity providers.
This presents a challenge for our increasingly digital economy. Especially in the current business landscape, with the pandemic’s accelerating of digital transformation serving as a catalyst for more frequent and more sophisticated cyberattacks.
In response, it’s time for organisations to attract and develop the diverse talent that’s needed to stay secure. To help you do so, I’ll shine a light on how initiatives like Cisco’s Networking Academy can flip the cybersecurity narrative and shore up our workplaces – and world – for generations to come.
The challenge: diversity, recruitment and skills shortages
Beyond the basic skills gap, with common incapacities including setting up firewalls, storing personal data and removing malware, the research also reports that 30% of businesses have more advanced skills gaps, in areas such as penetration testing, forensic analysis and security architecture.
And although there’s some infrastructure currently in place to support the upskilling of existing staff and new recruits, there isn’t nearly enough. In turn, 35% of employers report vacancies as hard to fill and a further quarter state that such skills gaps have prevented them from achieving business goals.
One of the major reasons for this is diversity, or rather a lack of. Cybersecurity falls behind other digital sectors on gender diversity, where just 15% of the workforce are female, compared to 28% in the wider digital sector.
Furthermore, only 16% of the cybersecurity workforce come from ethnic minority backgrounds versus 17% in the wider digital sector. And just 9% identify as neurodivergent – defined as variation in the human brain regarding sociability, learning, attention, mood and other mental functions.
On the surface of things, the solution seems clear: open up your workforce and solve the skills gap. But relatively few firms are adapting their recruitment processes or carrying out any specific activities to encourage applications from diverse groups.
This is where the problem lies. Some interviewees feel diversity is overemphasised or no worse than other digital sectors, with many more not seeing its potential to help tackle skills gaps and shortages in cyber roles. I think this is short-sighted.
By opening up our workplaces to anyone, anywhere, we can take huge strides to solving the skills gap. I’m not saying it won’t be without it’s challenges and doing so will require investment and valour, but there’s a world of talent out there, they just need to realise it – which will require more than an empty advertising campaign.
The solution: people – empowered by technology
In response to the issues outlined in the report, the government calls for schools, universities and training providers to give young people and training recipients a holistic skillset, covering the relevant technical skills and soft skills that employers demand.
At Cisco, we’ve been working to this end since 1997 – and in the last quarter of a century we’ve impacted the lives of 12.7 million students by creating a pipeline of technical talent ready to innovate and shape the future.
But now isn’t the time for resting on laurels and patting ourselves on the back. Cybersecurity professionals are more in demand than ever before, so it’s our collective duty to empower people to broaden their horizons, regardless of their backgrounds, in a career fighting cybercrime.
It’s no longer enough to just talk about opening up our workplace. To help people understand and realise their potential in cybersecurity, we must get off the fence and take positive action towards promoting diversity and inclusion.
This could be as simple as showing someone from an underrepresented background this article, or directing employers towards the Networking Academy. Small actions like this can go a long way to changing a life and helping to make our world a better place.
And don’t just take my word for it. From Gustavo Salazar in Ecuador, to reformed prisoner Luigi Celeste in Italy, Cisco has already helped thousands of people transform their own lives and the lives of others in all corners of the globe. So, what’s to say we can’t do the same in the UK?
If you’re at least willing to open up your workplace, Cisco can support you to nurture talent with our expert selection of online and instructor-led courses. This can help close the skills gap and fill the 3.5 million global cybersecurity jobs that are still set to stand vacant this year.
The world needs Cyber Superheroes. Will you answer the call?
Jill Broom
Jill Broom
Jill leads the techUK Cyber Resilience programme, having originally joined techUK in October 2020 as a Programme Manager for the Cyber and Central Government programmes. She is responsible for managing techUK's work across the cyber security ecosystem, bringing industry together with key stakeholders across the public and private sectors. Jill also provides the industry secretariat for the Cyber Growth Partnership, the industry and government conduit for supporting the growth of the sector. A key focus of her work is to strengthen the public–private partnership across cyber to support further development of UK cyber security and resilience policy.
Before joining techUK, Jill worked as a Senior Caseworker for an MP, advocating for local communities, businesses and individuals, so she is particularly committed to techUK’s vision of harnessing the power of technology to improve people’s lives. Jill is also an experienced editorial professional and has delivered copyediting and writing services for public-body and SME clients as well as publishers.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Website:
- www.techuk.org/
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-broom-19aa824
Annie Collings
Annie Collings
Annie is the Programme Manager for Cyber Resilience at techUK. She first joined as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023.
In her role, Annie supports the Cyber Security SME Forum, engaging regularly with key government and industry stakeholders to advance the growth and development of SMEs in the cyber sector. Annie also coordinates events, engages with policy makers and represents techUK at a number of cyber security events.
Before joining techUK, Annie was an Account Manager at a specialist healthcare agency, where she provided public affairs support to a wide range of medical technology clients. She also gained experience as an intern in both an MP’s constituency office and with the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed. Annie holds a degree in International Relations from Nottingham Trent University.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Twitter:
- anniecollings24
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-collings-270150158/
Tracy Modha
Tracy Modha
Tracy supports the marketing of several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Central Government, Cyber Resilience, Defence, Education, Health and Social Care, Justice and Emergency Services, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.
Tracy joined techUK in March 2022, having worked in the education sector for 19 years, covering administration, research project support, IT support and event/training support. My most outstanding achievement has been running three very successful international conferences and over 300 training courses booked all over the globe!
Tracy has a great interest in tech. Gaming and computing have been a big part of her life, and now electric cars are an exciting look at the future. She has warmed to Alexa, even though it can sometimes be sassy!
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 02073312000
- Website:
- www.techuk.org
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracymodha83