There’s a reported shortage of cybersecurity specialists to protect organisations from breaches

The number of breaches are on the rise and they’re set to continue to rise due to an apparent shortage of experts trained in cybersecurity.

The Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) teamed-up with IT firm Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) to produce a report on cybersecurity. Released one year after their first one, the report depicts a problem that is getting worse.

And we should all be very, very concerned about it…

Here are some of the key statistics from participating firms:

343 data security professionals were surveyed on their experience with cybersecurity. The results indicated as follows:

Report author and ESG analyst, Jon Oltsik, addressed the worrying numbers: “The cybersecurity skills shortage represents an existential threat to our national security.” He explained that: “We are not making progress, cybersecurity professionals can’t scale, and the implications of the skills shortage are becoming more pervasive and ominous.”

Organisations appear to still not respect data security and the threat a breach poses. Without that respect, a firm may not prioritise cybersecurity and protecting personal data.

“It is clear that the solution must be about more than filling jobs. It is about creating an environment from the top down of cybersecurity,” adds Oltsik.