The cyber skills gap continues to impact companies worldwide

According to the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap report released by Fortinet recently, an estimated 4 million professionals are needed to fill the growing cybersecurity workforce gap.

At the same time, the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report found that 70% of organizations indicated that the cybersecurity skills shortage creates additional risks for their organizations. Other findings that highlight the impact of the growing skills gap on companies across the globe include: Organizations are attributing more breaches to a lack of cyber skills; Breaches are having a more substantial impact on businesses; Boards of directors view cybersecurity as a business imperative…

John Maddison, Chief Marketing Officer at Fortinet said: “As the skills shortage persists, this leading cybersecurity challenge requires a collaborative, multi-faceted approach as evidenced by the results of Fortinet’s latest Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report. This year’s report emphasizes that for organizations to ensure they’re protected from today’s complex threats they must have a combination of: the right security technology, opportunities for current security professionals to upskill through training and certifications, and an overall cyber-aware workforce".

Business leaders widely regard certifications as validation of cybersecurity knowledge, and those who hold a certification or work with someone who does notice clear benefits.

As the cyber workforce shortage persists, some organizations are diversifying their recruitment pools to include candidates whose credentials fall outside traditional backgrounds—such as a four-year degree in cybersecurity or a related field—to attract new talent and fill open roles. Shifting these hiring requirements can unlock new possibilities, especially if organizations are also willing to pay for certifications and training.

Fortinet suggests a three-pronged approach to building cyber resiliency. Help IT and security teams obtain vital security skills by investing in training and certifications needed to achieve this goal. Cultivate a cyber-aware frontline staff who can contribute to a more secure organization as a first line of defense. Use effective security solutions to ensure a strong security posture.

To help organizations achieve these objectives, Fortinet offers the largest integrated portfolio of more than 50 enterprise-grade products through its Fortinet Security Fabric platform. Additionally, the award-winning Fortinet Training Institute, one of the broadest training and certification programs in the industry, is dedicated to making cybersecurity certification and new career opportunities available to all populations, including a Security Awareness Training offering for organizations to develop a cyber-aware workforce.