The cybersecurity skills gap needs time and investment to address
28 February 2023
Editor's Choice
By Simeon Tassev, MD, Galix Networking.
Across the IT industry there is a significant skills gap, which is even more significant when it comes to the cybersecurity subsection. However, as data becomes increasingly valuable and an increasingly more attractive target for cybercriminals, and data protection regulations more stringent, this is one area that needs to be addressed as a matter of priority. This will require both time and investment, and there is no quick fix.
One of the reasons for this skills gap is that cybersecurity is a highly specialised field, which means that it requires a significant level of skill and experience across multiple areas to reach proficiency. Cybersecurity touches not only data but also hardware, networking, operating systems, applications and more, and requires an in-depth understanding and the ability to script and code.
There is also no linear path to becoming a specialist in cybersecurity, but it is a highly technical and complex career path that requires solid foundations in all areas of IT, and certifications across many of these areas. The field is also constantly evolving, which requires a mindset of continuous learning.
Cybersecurity is also an area where theoretical knowledge can get a person only so far. The true value comes from experience, which is difficult to obtain in the real world. There is a conundrum where we need cybersecurity professionals, and we need them to have skills and experience, but allowing them to learn and make the mistakes necessary to get this experience could be detrimental.
The challenge for many cybersecurity professionals is that it takes time to pass knowledge on, and letting people learn under supervision takes longer than simply solving the problem. Organisations that specialise in cybersecurity need to find creative ways of helping to build out skills and experience to address this widening gap. This also needs to involve a significant mentorship component to allow people to gain the experience they need in a safer environment.
When it comes to accessing cybersecurity skills, it is often more beneficial to outsource this service, rather than trying to maintain it in-house. Not only are skilled cybersecurity professionals scarce (which also means expensive) they are also difficult to retain and they tend to specialise in certain areas rather than generally across the very wide field.
Outsourcing cybersecurity generally results in a better security posture, because you can access a broad pool of skills and specialists across many areas. In addition, these outsourced partners are in a better position to be the mentors and teachers needed to help address the skills gap, which will eventually contribute to a growing pool of skills.
In cybersecurity, the major focus needs to be on growing the skills pool. For businesses, an outsource provider can deliver enhanced security and reduce risk. For those looking to enter this field, working with a cybersecurity outsource provider can help with access to learning and mentorship needed to enter this dynamic, complex and highly technical field.
Further reading:
Barracuda commissions new IPC Class 3 aerospace facility
Barracuda Holdings
Editor's Choice News
The company has commissioned a new dedicated IPC Class 3 facility in Somerset West. and has concluded a new investment partnership that will provide the capital and management capacity required to scale operations.
Read more...
Engineering copper grain structure for high-yield hybrid bonding in 3D packaging
Testerion
Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
The way copper grains are sized and distributed forms the metallurgical foundation of hybrid bonding, enabling lower bonding temperatures, greater reliability, and stable grain structures throughout integration.
Read more...
Understanding solder dross: causes and control strategies
Truth Electronic Manufacturing
Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Dross formation is an inevitable consequence of wave soldering. It occurs when molten solder comes into contact with oxygen, forming metal oxides that float on the surface of the solder bath. Over time, this oxidation byproduct accumulates and must be removed to maintain solder quality and process consistency.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: Could X-ray lithography disrupt the economics of advanced chip manufacturing?
Technews Publishing
Editor's Choice
Advanced semiconductor manufacturing has reached a point where technical progress is increasingly constrained by economic reality, and the proposed use of X-ray lithography represents a bold attempt to reset these economics.
Read more...
Could the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act affect your electronics manufacturing business?
Altron Arrow
Editor's Choice
South African companies exporting IoT devices to the European Union face a significant regulatory shift with the Cyber Resilience Act becoming mandatory in December 2027.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: Resilience and innovation in South Africa’s electronics sector
Technews Publishing
Editor's Choice
For South Africa in particular, 2025 has been a year that highlighted the resilience and adaptability of our engineering community as we navigated shifting technologies and a fast-moving international landscape
Read more...
Powering the future of embedded control
Altron Arrow
Editor's Choice DSP, Micros & Memory
As the demand for intelligent, connected, and energy-efficient systems grows, embedded engineers are under pressure to design faster, smarter, and more secure products
Read more...
Is it time for Wi-Fi 7 in SA?
Technews Publishing
Editor's Choice Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Wi-Fi 7, the IEEE 802.11be standard also known as Extremely High Throughput, is the next-gen wireless networking standard designed to dramatically improve speed, latency, efficiency, and reliability.
Read more...
20 years of precision, progress and purpose – the Jemstech journey
Jemstech
Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Twenty years ago, Jemstech began as a small, determined venture built on technical excellence and trust. Today, it stands among South Africa’s leading electronic manufacturing service providers.
Read more...
A new era in wire bond inspection
Techmet
Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Viscom is developing a 3D wire bond inspection system that incorporates substantially improved sensors, a high image resolution, and fast image data processing.
Read more...
printer friendly version