This is despite the number of people working in cybersecurity rising to an all-time high of 367,300 – an 8.3% increase from 2022.
ISC2, a non-profit member organisation for cybersecurity professionals, produces a report on global trends in cybersecurity every year. The 2023 ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, shows that cyberskills remain at a premium in all countries surveyed, not just the UK.
However, economic uncertainty had a bigger impact in the UK this year than the global average. Fifty-seven per cent of companies in this country said they faced cutbacks, including layoffs, hiring freezes and budget cuts, compared to 47% globally. Cutbacks were more likely to include job losses in the UK in 2024, with 77% of UK respondents predicting layoffs, compared to 70% globally.
A massive 93% of UK cybersecurity professionals surveyed reported skills gaps at their organisations, especially in key areas like cloud security, zero trust and AI/ML. Sixty-percent complained cuts had reduced their defensive capabilities.
In the face of the severe shortages, organisations are offering…
