The Australian cyber skills shortage is approaching crisis levels, according to new research.
Australia and New Zealand cyber security services organisation CyberCX has released new research that quantifies the size and severity of the cyber security skills shortage plaguing the Australian economy.
The Upskilling and Expanding the Australian Cyber Security Workforce report, developed in partnership with independent think tank Per Capita, has found that over the next four years, the shortfall of qualified cyber security professionals is forecast to hit up to 30,000 unfilled positions across Australia.
It was recognised by the former Australian government that there was a skills gap in cyber security and therefore a key element of its 2020 Cyber Security Strategy was to foster greater collaboration to build Australia’s cyber skills pipeline.
Recent data from AustCyber highlighted that Australia’s IT sector is still facing a severe skills shortage and now needs an additional 7,000 skilled cyber security specialists over the next two years. Globally, there is a shortage of 1.5 million cyber professionals, with this figure growing by approximately 250,000 per year.
This shortage of job-ready cyber security professionals is a key challenge for all organisations today and the issue will only get worse. It is estimated that Australia may need around 16,600 additional cyber security workers by 2026.
Educating our future cyber security professionals
Recognising the need, the Australian education system has started to react to the skills gap, with a large number of universities and TAFEs launching new cyber security degrees and courses. It will take time before this cohort of graduates is ready to enter the sector, but it’s a step in the right direction, however, they still may face challenges since some practical experience will be required before they are up to speed.
The IT industry has also responded. Microsoft recently partnered with AustCyber to launch a new Cyber Security Traineeship Program, which will support approximately 200 participants in a cyber career from 2021 to 2024. The partnership has already successfully secured additional funding from the Commonwealth government's Cyber Security Skills Partnership Innovation Fund (CSSPIF), which will help to increase the number of candidates entering the cyber security sector in Australia.
For more information visit-https://securitybrief.com.au/story/cyber-skills-shortage-approaching-crisis-research#
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