Why Hire the Employee You Can't Afford in the Hottest Cybersecurity Market?

Updated: Nov 27, 2022



By Travis Thomas



The lack of cyber security professionals has led to various issues, such as an increase in malicious breaches and the theft of personal and financial information. The nation's digital and cyberinfrastructure, including its economic, utility, and transportation networks, is under threat, and the situation appears to worsen by the day.



Source: https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/news/252463186/Effects-of-cybersecurity-skills-shortage-worsening-new-study-says?amp=1

Cloud security, application security, and security assessment/investigations are the top three technological domains most impacted by a cybersecurity skills shortage. When there aren't enough people with these skills, employers must pay more for them.



Everyone Is at Risk from Cybercrime



From high-profile multinational corporations, SMEs, to start-ups, and government agencies, no one is immune to cybercrime threats. According to IBM, SMEs are hit by 62% of all cyber-attacks, about 4,000 per day. Cybercrime in a Pandemic World: The Impact of COVID-19 Findings, a report released in 2021 by McAfee Enterprise and FireEye, emphasized the urgent need for enterprises to prioritize and upgrade their cybersecurity infrastructure. On average, cybersecurity jobs are currently more lucrative than others in IT. According to the statistics, 81 % of enterprises saw elevated cyber-attacks during the pandemic. In May 2020, the Chief of UN Disarmament said that even though the COVID-19 pandemic has led to more technological innovation and online collaboration, it has also led to more cybercrime. During the current crisis, the number of malware emails has gone up by 600%.



Source: https://paloaltoexam.blogspot.com/2021/03/cyber-security-its-types-and-advantages.html

Furthermore, small businesses are an easy target for cybercriminals. They steal data in order to hijack bank accounts, submit false tax returns, and even obtain customers' personal identification information to perpetrate health insurance fraud.

The Demand for Seasoned Cybersecurity Professionals is Surging Substantially



As technology becomes more digitally connected, the need for cybersecurity specialists will increase in the coming years. Security threats will grow in parallel with the Internet of Things and cloud computing. As a result, the demand for expertise to tackle these issues will also surge. Managing cybersecurity is important, and employers need to look for people with experience and a good track record.



The Best Solution to Tackle the Issue of the Cybersecurity Skills Gap



The best way to tackle the skills shortage problem is to hire cybersecurity professionals you cannot afford. Regardless of how crazy it sounds, hiring even one seasoned cybersecurity professional instead of five average cybersecurity professionals can make a big difference. How? A beginner will not provide the same level of quality work as a seasoned cybersecurity professional.



Hiring seasoned cybersecurity professionals is not as expensive as you might assume. You need to find the right candidate. To encourage seasoned cybersecurity professionals, you can provide them with enticing benefits such as competitive compensation packages, free lunches, healthcare coverage, flexibility, bonuses, and even stock options. It would be best if you made them aware of what you could offer now and in the future.



Only lucrative opportunities can help retain good employees and make them loyal and committed to their employer. Simultaneously, you must take steps to limit burnout by reducing the burden of cybersecurity teams so that the staff does not feel intimidated by dealing with various challenges.



The longer an employee continues working with the company, the less it costs in terms of recruitment, replacements, and training. Consequently, this helps employers save a lot of money in the long run. Here are a few reasons why hiring an expert you think you probably couldn't afford in the competitive cybersecurity market makes sense:



• Enhanced Productivity: Hiring an industry veteran raises the bar for everyone in your firm. As a result, the productivity of all employees in your firm shoots up.
• More Expertise: A seasoned cybersecurity professional has years of knowledge and experience. They bring more value to your company rather than focusing solely on their income or pay check.
• Unmatched Potential: Experienced professionals are highly talented and sought after. They can progress through the ranks with adequate training or take on more challenging roles. In contrast to typical employees, they are not placeholders, waiting for something better to come along. High performers see their company as an investment in themselves, which drives them to stay, work diligently, be committed, and climb through the ranks.
• Reduced HR Expenses: You can get by with fewer workers if you recruit experienced, intelligent, driven, and talented cybersecurity specialists. As a result, you can save on assorted costs, including healthcare, training, benefits, software licenses, parking, payroll processing, and other aspects that make recruiting expensive. Lowering HR costs means that you can attract and keep the best employees because you don't need a lot of average workers, just a few who are smart and skilled and can add value to your business.

These solutions can help organizations attract competent security personnel and confidently address their cybersecurity demands. As more people enter the cybersecurity industry with suitable degrees and reduce the existing gap, the talent shortage will not last forever.

Until then, businesses must implement strategies to mitigate the impact of the ongoing skills shortage by building a happy and content cybersecurity staff of seasoned individuals. If you choose the wrong candidate, you will end up exposing your company to more cyber threats and having to start back at the drawing board to search for the right talent. If you hire the right talent, you will be well-positioned to fend off attacks, safeguard your organization, and outperform your competitors in all business aspects. Choosing the right candidate implies that you have made a substantial investment that is likely to pay off in the long run. Again, once you are used to employing the best, you will soon learn to identify top-notch talents.

Last but not least, well-versed and brighter professionals will not only benefit your organization; they will also challenge you to be a better version of yourself with their enthusiasm, ideas, and commitment. Hire the professionals you think you can’t afford, and you will soon realize how valuable and affordable they prove to your company in the long run.



References

https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/business/trends-and-insights/articles/hire-the-employee-you-cant-afford/

https://blog.isc2.org/isc2_blog/2017/02/cybersecurity-workforce-gap.html

https://www.ibm.com/blogs/ibm-training/new-cybersecurity-threat-not-enough-talent-to-fill-open-security-jobs/

https://www.livemint.com/technology/shortage-of-cybersecurity-professionals-a-key-worry-for-firms-in-22-11642015098080.html