How to Recruit Top Cybersecurity Professionals

Published by Ryan Nead on August 23, 2022

Today’s world is one that is largely digital and, with this, the threat of cybercrime is constantly on the rise.

The number of companies affected increased by 30 percent in 2017 to reach almost $500 billion, while the groups behind it have grown bigger and more organized with time.

This has led to businesses struggling to find enough talent with the needed skills, with the end result being high cybersecurity job vacancies.

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Sensitive Data is Getting into the Wrong Hands

Sensitive data is being stolen from businesses and organizations around the world, costing them billions of dollars every year. In a recent reminder that such thefts can happen to any organization, Equifax, one of the three big credit reporting agencies in the United States, has reported that it was hacked in July and some 140 million Americans’ sensitive data potentially exposed. The irony about this breach is that Equifax was the custodian of this sensitive information and should have been one of the most secure organizations when it came to protecting its customers’ data—but it wasn’t.

How Large is the Corporate Cybersecurity Problem?

The scope of the problem is vast. It’s been estimated that by 2021 there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally.

Source

This number is only expected to increase as the threat landscape continues to evolve and become more complex.

The global cybersecurity talent shortage is a major problem that is only going to get worse in the years ahead. This is due to a number of factors, including the increasing number of cyberattacks, the growing reliance on technology, and the lack of qualified professionals.

This shortage has led to intense competition for top talent, with companies willing to pay high salaries and offer other perks and benefits to attract the best and brightest. The key for businesses is to find ways to stand out from the crowd and appeal to the top talent.

The Demand Cybersecurity is at an All Time High

The demand for cyber professionals in the market today has reached an all-time high. The number of available positions is continuing to dwindle, prompting HR and security leaders to search for the perfect combination of technical skill sets and transferable job experience to attract the emerging workforce. What they may not realize is that the answer to their prayers could be right in front of them—and, in many cases, already employed by their organization.

Global Cybersecurity Talent Survey found that 32 percent of the 1,000 global information security professionals surveyed have left their organizations in the past year alone. That’s compared to 22 percent in 2016 and 25 percent in 2015. This trend goes hand-in-hand with an increase in demand for information security staff as many CISOs continue to struggle to address their cybersecurity staffing gaps over the next 12 months.

In order to bridge this gap, it is important for businesses to understand how to identify and assess these individuals within their own organizations. This can be done through a variety of methods, such as internships, educational training, and certification programs.

Employee Risk Exposure is an Inevitable Byproduct of Employing Remote Workers

All employees face the risk of phishing attacks, identity theft and money laundering. Especially in the fields of IT and cybersecurity, it is crucial for employers to ensure that their employees have adequate skills to combat online threats. Here are a few ways to safeguard against cyber-attacks caused by lack of knowledge.

No other time in human history has carried the potential for more data. The challenge comes from everything from government, corporations and individuals trying to manage that vast amount of information we all create every day. When it comes to information security, many businesses turn toward university programs and academia to bolster staff preparedness—and if you’re looking at following in their footsteps, statistics paint a pretty clear picture:

There’s no question that the war for top security talent is only going to get more heated in the coming years as digital transformation continues unabated and business executives place an ever-greater emphasis on data security and privacy. With that in mind, it behooves any

organization looking to staff up its security function to consider all potential sources of candidates, including a new and often-overlooked group: recent college graduates.

Recent grads may not have the same work experience as their more seasoned counterparts, but they come with a number of advantages that organizations should consider as they look to build their security functions. Here are just a few reasons why recent grads should be on your radar:

They’re Inexpensive: Compared to more experienced workers, recent grads are relatively inexpensive to hire and train.

They’re Eager: New college graduates are often eager to please and prove themselves in the workplace. This can make them quick learners who are motivated to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

They’re Innovative: College students are often exposed to cutting-edge ideas and technologies that they can bring to your organization.

How can businesses identify these individuals?

There are a few key ways businesses can identify these individuals. The most common is through internships and educational programs, which can help assess an individual’s technical skillset. Additionally, certification programs can also be a helpful way to identify individuals with the potential to be successful in a cybersecurity role.

Internally, organizations should encourage employees to develop their skills and knowledge in this area. This may include offering training courses and providing opportunities to attend conferences and networking events.

Externally, businesses can use online job platforms such as LinkedIn and Indeed to search for candidates with the desired skills and experience. They can also work with recruitment agencies that specialize in cybersecurity.

How can Businesses Better Attract Cybersecurity Professionals?

There are a number of things that businesses can do to better attract cybersecurity professionals. This includes offering competitive salaries, providing flexible work arrangements, other outside perks and emphasizing the importance of training and development.

Businesses should also consider their company culture and whether it is one that would appeal to those in the cybersecurity field. They need to be able to offer an environment that is both challenging and supportive, where employees can feel like they are part of a team working towards a common goal.

Tips for Attracting Cybersecurity Talent

Get involved with campus recruiting programs: Many colleges and universities have career fairs and other on-campus recruiting events that are open to businesses of all types. These can be great places to meet potential candidates and get your company’s name out there.

Reach out to relevant student organizations: There are likely a number of student organizations on campus that are relevant to your business, such as the Association for Computing Machinery or the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Getting involved with these groups can help you meet potential candidates and build relationships with future leaders in the field.
Attend industry events: There are many conferences and other events specifically for the information security industry. Attendance at these events can help you network with other professionals and learn about the latest trends in the field.
Utilize social media: Social media platforms like LinkedIn can be great places to find potential candidates, as well as to share information about your company and open positions.
Offer internships: Internships are a great way to give potential candidates a taste of what working at your company would be like. They can also help you assess a candidate’s skills and fit for the organization. Although, internships are not a sure-fire way to recruit the truly experienced.
Hire a staffing agency: Find the right staffing agency with the ability to recruit the cybersecurity talent with the specific resume and expertise you’re looking for. A recruiting firm like Recruiters.co will help you find candidates with the deep experience you need to take your cybersecurity seriously. They will help expand your reach for finding the right talent.

Competition for Top Cybersecurity Talent is Fierce

The cybersecurity talent pool is shrinking at a time when the demand for qualified professionals is higher than ever before. This has led to intense competition for top security talent, with companies willing to pay high salaries and offer other perks and benefits to attract the best and brightest.

This competition is only going to intensify in the years ahead, as the number of cyberattacks continues to rise and businesses become increasingly reliant on technology. Those who are able to find and retain the best cybersecurity talent will have a major competitive advantage.

The key for businesses is to find ways to stand out from the crowd and appeal to the top talent.

This may include offering competitive salaries, providing flexible work arrangements, and emphasizing the importance of training and development.

The solution is to look into a new pool of talent, who may not have the experience that is typically associated with cybersecurity jobs. However, with the right training and mentorship, they have the potential to be successful in this field.

With the right training and mentorship, these emerging professionals can be a valuable asset in narrowing the cybersecurity talent pool and help to protect businesses from the ever-growing threat of cybercrime.

If you need help with your technology and software staffing & recruiting, please get in touch!

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Ryan Nead

Ryan has served in the Staffing and Recruiting industry for over 10 years. As an independent recruiter and business owner Ryan partners with decision-makers to attract, hire, and attain top-tier professionals to succeed and grow their companies. Ryan consistently implements new tools to help the needs of both clients and candidates until they are satisfied. With years of direct experience and knowledge from scaling and disrupting other major global industries. If you don't see Ryan with his family he is hard at work finding the right fit for your organization's open roles.