Effective cybersecurity requires a combination of the right platform and tools, security research and threat intelligence, and the skills and expertise. Finding and retaining people with the necessary skills and expertise is increasingly difficult. The industry has effectively zero unemployment with a projected shortfall of nearly 4.8 million unfilled cybersecurity roles in 2024.
The Cybersecurity Talent Gap
There are a variety of factors contributing to the shortfall of qualified cybersecurity professionals. Technology in general is a constantly expanding and evolving field. Each new device, platform, application, and service provides unique benefits and helps to streamline productivity or improve our lives in some way — but at a cost. The reality is that each of these things also exposes organizations and individuals to increased risk as well, as cybercriminals identify and exploit flaws in new technologies.
Digital transformation has also increased the attack surface and expanded demand for specific cybersecurity skills. As organizations have migrated from traditional local data centers to hybrid cloud environments the rules of the game change. Mobile devices, and internet-of-things (IoT) devices, and DevOps culture, and container technologies all contribute to a more complex ecosystem that cybersecurity professionals are tasked with securing and protecting.
Organizations are under siege from a rising volume of security incidents, but the rapid pace of change makes it challenging to train skilled practitioners fast enough. The cybersecurity professionals with the right skills and experience can be expensive and face a very real threat of burnout — making it difficult to retain them as well.
Engaging an MDR Provider
You can accept the challenge and try to find the necessary cybersecurity talent. Keep in mind, though, that is only one facet of effective cybersecurity. You also need to invest in security platforms, hardware, and software, and you need to stay on top of security research and threat intelligence so you’re aware of emerging threats and trends.
Even if you manage to put all of those pieces in place, your view of the threat landscape will be very myopic. You will only have visibility of the threats that hit your network, putting you at a disadvantage and compressing the timeframe available to take action to avoid compromise.
One way to address the cybersecurity talent and skills gap and get cost-effective cybersecurity at the same time is to partner with a managed detection and security (MDR) provider. With an effective MDR solution like Fortra’s Alert Logic, your team will be immediately enhanced by collaborating with the only MDR provider that delivers comprehensive coverage for public clouds, SaaS, on-premises, and hybrid environments with a 24/7 approach to customer service.
Learn more about how Fortra’s Alert Logic can solve your cybersecurity talent gap in this guide.
