Strategic Cybersecurity Talent Framework

The cybersecurity industry is affected by the global shortage of workers and urgently needs to take actionable approaches to attract and retain skilled staff. The workforce shortage is a global concern that spans nation states and industries. Estimates suggest that by 2030 there could be a global talent shortage of more than 85 million workers, leading to an estimated loss of $8.5 trillion in unrealized annual revenue. To address the cybersecurity workforce gap, the strategic Cybersecurity Talent Framework (CTF) aims to present actionable approaches and best practices to public and private decision-makers worldwide on how to cultivate and sustain a pipeline of skilled professionals.

More specifically, the CTF is structured around four key priority areas intended to provide a holistic approach to talent management in cybersecurity. Among other things, the priority areas explore how: (1) More talent could be attracted into cybersecurity by improving the understanding of what cybersecurity professionals do, removing barriers to entry and improving diversity in the workforce; (2) Cybersecurity education and training could be improved to effectively equip students and professionals with essential skills for a career in the field; (3) Recruitment practices could be rethought by addressing challenges such as unrealistic and demanding requirements in job descriptions and misalignment between hiring managers and human resources (HR) departments; and (4) Retention of cybersecurity professionals could be improved by tackling issues such as the lack of appreciation and recognition for the field as well as the high stress levels.

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