Minimizing Cyber Security Skill Gap

According to IBM, “The global average cost of a data breach reached $4.45 million in 2023 – an all-time high for the report and a 15% increase over the last 3 years”. This resonates with the increasing cyber threat to businesses and their infrastructure. Wait, did you notice something? This hike was even before AI came into the picture. You must have come across or at least heard of deep fakes, AI-powered advanced phishing attacks, and the most common fraudulent phone calls. No doubt, AI technology is a blessing! But, it goes both ways - A blessing for bad actors as well!

Recently a news thread was published by PRNewswire that said “Artificial Intelligence-based Cybersecurity Market size is set to grow by USD 28.29 bn from 2023-2027, rapid increase in the use of mobile and other connected devices to boost the market growth”.

With the rapid advancements in technology such as AI and the increase in dynamic shift with the sophistication of cyber threats, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals has skyrocketed. However, the supply of qualified individuals to fill these roles is not able to keep pace. This gap poses a serious challenge for organizations, as they struggle to defend against ever-evolving cyber threats.

What can organizations do to mitigate the skill gaps for better cybersecurity posture?

In the ever-evolving fight against cyber threats, skilled cybersecurity professionals are like defenders guarding your digital kingdom. And, what if defenders themselves lack the necessary knowledge or experience? Most organizations are struggling to find the right talent for the security of their business’s IT infrastructure. In this article, we have explained five different ways that organizations can use in combination to overcome skill gaps for better cybersecurity posture. Let us understand them in depth.

Hiring is also an essential part of building robust security teams. In one of the recent ScaletoZero episodes, expert Jesse Miller shares a very unique perspective of emphasizing more for aptitude and attitude rather than focusing on technical expertise alone. The difference is that the right attitude and aptitude is nurtured while technical skills can be learned. Jesse also believes that strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills are crucial.

Measure

At Cloudanix they always say, Know your weaknesses! You can start with a bottom-down approach i.e. by defining the most critical cybersecurity skills required for your organization. Skills might include and should not be limited to threat detection, incident response, specific cloud security expertise, etc.

Security assessments such as skill tests, performance reviews, or surveys can help you in gauging your current employee skill levels. You can identify and optimize the areas where you find a significant skill gap between desired and existing skills.

Following these practices develops a security-conscious workforce that provides multiple benefits, some of which show immediate effects as follows;

Reduced risk of human errors: Employees become the first line of defense, identifying and reporting potential threats.

Faster incident response: A security-aware workforce can detect and respond to incidents more rapidly.

Improves brand reputation: Demonstrating a commitment to security can enhance customer trust.

Cost savings: By preventing breaches, organizations can avoid financial losses.

Empathize

Understand your people’s needs! Exactly what you just read. Talk to your team, and understand their challenges, learning preferences, and any hesitations they might have regarding additional training or other work-related challenges. Recently in the ScaletoZero podcast, Shivani Arni explains empathy in a very thoughtful yet detailed way! A must-watch for all.

Seek to understand and acknowledge what motivates your team to learn. Do they crave career advancement, want to contribute more to the team, or simply desire a deeper understanding of cybersecurity?

Educate

Educating will equip your workforce! Earlier in the measure phase, you defined the most critical to least critical skill sets required for your organizational security infrastructure. Now, develop or source the training programs that address the identified skill gaps. You can consider offering different learning styles including online courses, workshops, hands-on training labs, etc.

Security leaders can break down complex topics into bite-sized easy-to-consume modules to keep employees engaged and motivated. Encourage team members to participate in relevant security certifications to validate acquired skills and enhance career prospects.

Empower

Foster a culture of learning! Create a culture, where experienced cyber security professionals pair with less experienced security professionals to facilitate knowledge sharing and on-the-job learning.

To further improve the collaboration, encourage employees to share their newly acquired cybersecurity knowledge with their colleagues by conducting presentations, arranging one-on-one, or during brown bag lunches. Make learning a gaming experience in order to make it more interactive and engaging.

Experiment

Improve continuously! Regularly solicit feedback from the employees on the effectiveness of the training program. This practice helps you refine your training programs and ensure they remain relevant and address evolving cybersecurity threats.

The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving. We recommend constantly optimizing your training programs with the latest threats, vulnerabilities, and required best practices. There are different simulation platforms available that create an incident-like scenario where security professionals can practice security without making changes in their production environments.

How can organizations take steps to implement a security culture?

By far, you must have understood that a strong security culture is not just limited to policies and procedures. It is more attitude and mindset. It's about embedding security into the DNA of an organization. This involves creating an environment where every employee feels responsible for security, and where security is prioritized alongside other business objectives.

Some key elements to promote security culture include

Consistent communication: Regularly reinforce the importance of security through newsletters, campaigns, and workshops.

Leadership buy-in: Senior management must visibly champion security initiatives.

Employee empowerment: Encourage staff to report suspicious activities without fear of retaliation.

Security awareness training: Provide ongoing training to keep employees updated on the latest security threats and trends.

Reward and recognition: Celebrate security achievements to foster a positive security culture.

While these are very high-level practices to promote security culture, organizations can consider using some strategic efforts;

Define clear cybersecurity values: Establish guiding principles that are in line with the organization’s mission and goals.

Lead by example: Senior management should demonstrate a strong commitment to security by actively participating in training and promoting security initiatives.

Establishing communication protocols: Determine ways to communicate effectively at the time of crisis.

How to attract and retain required cybersecurity talent?

We understood how to promote a strong security culture within the organization. Having a strong security culture helps security leaders and top management to attract and retain quality cybersecurity talent. Organizations must create an environment that values and supports cybersecurity professionals. By interacting with dozens of security leaders and attending hundreds of management meetings, we have observed different ways (apart from rewards and recognition) that organizations follow to prioritize employee engagement. A few underrated areas are as follows;

Mentorship and coaching: Invest in mentoring programs to nurture talent and provide career guidance.

Strong company culture: Foster a positive and inclusive work environment that aligns with employees' values.

Flexible work arrangements: This can be a debatable point for many, but consider remote work options and flexible schedules to improve employee’s work-life balance.

Career growth opportunities: Provide opportunities for advancement and skill development.

Competitive compensation and benefits: Offer attractive salary packages and benefits to attract top talent.

By focusing on building a strong security culture and creating an attractive workplace, organizations can attract and retain top cybersecurity talent, enhancing their overall security posture.

How can government play a role in promoting cybersecurity education?

The government plays a pivotal role in fostering a cybersecurity-aware society. By creating a conducive environment for cybersecurity education and training, governments can empower individuals and organizations to defend against cyber threats. Some of the effective actions that governments can take to promote cybersecurity include;

Develop and enforce national cybersecurity curriculum: Governments can develop a standardized cybersecurity curriculum for schools to ensure consistent and go-to knowledge across the country.

Funding Cybersecurity Education: Allocating resources for research, scholarships, and grants can encourage more students to pursue cybersecurity careers.

Public awareness campaigns: Conducting widespread campaigns to educate the public about cyber threats, best practices, and the importance of online safety.

Supporting Cybersecurity Research: Investing in research and development to advance cybersecurity knowledge and technology.

Cybersecurity Workforce Development: Collaborating with industry to identify skill gaps and develop training programs to address them.

To achieve maximum impact, governments and industries must collaborate closely. A few ways that can work well if planned and executed properly are as follows;

Joint Research Initiatives: Partnering on research projects to address emerging cybersecurity challenges.

Cybersecurity Certifications: Establishing recognized cybersecurity certifications to validate skills and expertise.

Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborating on cybersecurity awareness campaigns and initiatives.

Industry-Led Training Programs: Encouraging industries to develop and offer cybersecurity training programs.

Policy Development: Involving industry experts in the development of cybersecurity policies and regulations.

Talent Exchange Programs: Facilitating knowledge sharing between government and industry cybersecurity professionals.

By working together, governments and industries can create a robust cybersecurity ecosystem that protects critical infrastructure, businesses, and individuals from cyber threats.

Conclusion

So there you have it! The above-mentioned 5 steps – Measure, Empathise, Educate, Empower, and Experiment – consider them as your weapons to forge a cybersecurity force within your organization. Remember, your employees are your allies in this fight. By understanding their needs, providing them with the right tools and knowledge, and fostering a culture of continuous learning, you can turn the tide against cyber threats and build a fortress of security that is much more secure for a digital attacker to breach. Now go forth, champions, and lead your teams to cybersecurity victory!