Security News > 2021 > May > Under the Microscope: ISACA Survey on Cybersecurity Workforce, Resources and Budgets
ISACA's 2021 report on the cybersecurity workforce sees little adverse effect from the pandemic on cybersecurity during 2020, but notes a continued downward pressure on budgets and a correlation between the number of unfilled positions and staff retention, and the number of cyberattacks experienced.
The ISACA State of Cybersecurity 2021, Part 1 is a report on the survey of 3,659 cybersecurity professionals to evaluate workforce efforts, resources and budgets.
One area where there is little ambiguity is the conclusion that the COVID-19 pandemic has had little overall effect on cybersecurity staffing and budgets - although, says the report, "Survey data indicate it mitigated retention woes during 2020." Respondents indicating difficulty retaining talent dropped to 'just' 53% - a reduction of 4% over the previous year's figure - and likely a recognition that an economic recession and period of great uncertainty is perhaps not the best time to move on and seek alternative employment.
One example of potential ambiguity within this survey relates to the demand for cybersecurity candidates to have a university degree.
Being more specific, one question asks if "Graduates in cybersecurity are well prepared for the cybersecurity challenges." Only 4% of replies strongly agreed with this.
Dirk Schrader, global VP of security research at New Net Technologies, calls this cybersecurity's race of fear and urgency - fear of being compromised and urgency to prevent it as far as possible - which creates the notion that only ready-for-use cybersecurity personnel will save the day.