John Maddison, Chief Marketing Officer at Fortinet
“The results from our latest Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report highlight the critical need for a collaborative, multi-faceted approach to closing the skills gap. To effectively mitigate risk and combat today’s complex threats, organizations must employ a strategic combination of leveraging the right security technology, upskilling existing security professionals through training and certifications, and fostering a cyber-aware workforce. As part of Fortinet’s dedication to closing the skills gap through this three-pronged approach, we pledged to train 1 million people in cybersecurity by 2026. As we near the halfway mark of this five-year commitment, we are close to having trained half a million individuals to date.”
Vishak Raman, VP of Sales, India, SAARC, SEA & ANZ at Fortinet
“A well-trained and certified cybersecurity workforce is our first line of defense against the evolving threat landscape. In India, where 92% of organizations have experienced breaches due to the cyber skills gap, Fortinet is committed to bridging this divide. Our comprehensive training programs are designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of their background. Through our collaboration with government bodies, academic institutions, and industry leaders, we aim to create a diverse and resilient talent pool capable of protecting organizations from today’s sophisticated cyber threats.”
News Summary
Fortinet®, the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, released its 2024 Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report, which highlights ongoing challenges related to the cybersecurity skills shortage impacting organizations in India. Key findings from the report include:
- Organizations are increasingly attributing breaches to the cyber skills gap.
- Breaches continue to have significant repercussions for businesses, and executive leaders are often penalized when they happen.
- Certifications continue to be highly regarded by employers as a validator of current cybersecurity skills and knowledge.
- Numerous opportunities remain for hiring from diverse talent pools to help address the skills shortage.
The Cyber Skills Gap Continues to Impact Companies Worldwide
An estimated 4 million professionals are needed to fill the growing cybersecurity workforce gap. At the same time, Fortinet’s 2024 Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report found that 80% of Indian 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. In the past year, over 90% of Indian organizational leaders said they experienced a breach that they can partially attribute to a lack of cyber skills, almost similar to 93% in the 2023 report.
- Breaches have a more substantial impact on businesses. Breaches have a variety of repercussions, ranging from financial to reputational challenges. This year’s survey reveals that corporate leaders are increasingly being held accountable for cyber incidents, with 82% of respondents in India noting that directors or executives have faced fines, jail time, loss of position, or loss of employment following a cyberattack. Additionally, 66% of respondents indicated that breaches cost their organizations more than $1 million in lost revenue, fines, and other expenses last year—up from 43% in the 2023 report
- Boards of directors view cybersecurity as a business imperative. As a result, executives and boards of directors increasingly prioritize cybersecurity, with 80% of respondents saying Indian boards were more focused on security in 2023 than the previous year. And 98% of respondents say their board sees cybersecurity as a business priority.
Hiring Managers Value Continued Learning and Certifications
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. This year’s survey also found that:
- Candidates with certifications stand out. 100% of respondents said they prefer hiring candidates with certifications in India.
- Leaders believe that certifications improve security posture. Respondents place such high value on certifications in India that 92% said they would pay for an employee to obtain a cybersecurity certification.
- Finding candidates who hold certifications isn’t easy. More than 70% of respondents indicated that it is difficult to find candidates with technology-focused certifications
Companies Are Expanding Hiring Criteria to Fill Open Roles
As the cyber workforce shortage persists, some organizations diversify 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. The report also found that:
- Organizations continue to have programs dedicated to recruiting from a diversified talent pool. Ninety Four percent of respondents said their organizations have set diversity hiring goals in India for the next few years
- Diversity hiring varies from year to year. Despite an increase in ongoing recruitment targets, female hires in India are down to 90% from 94% in 2022 and 80% in 2021.
- While many hiring managers value certifications, many organizations still prefer candidates with traditional backgrounds. 92% of organizations in India still require four-year degrees, and 60% hire only candidates with traditional training backgrounds.
Organizations Are Taking a Three-Pronged Approach to Building Cyber Resiliency
The increasing frequency of costly cyberattacks, combined with the potential of severe personal consequences for board members and directors, is resulting in an urgent push to strengthen cyber defenses across enterprises. As a result, organizations are focusing on a three-pronged approach to cybersecurity that combines training, awareness, and technology:
- 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 industry’s broadest training and certification programs, 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.