What is the cybersecurity skills gap and what can your company do about it? Certain ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic will be seared in our minds forever—supply chain disruptions, workforce shortages, and a major shift to virtual work and education. One major effect of the pandemic, though lesser known, is being felt by I.T. departments in thousands of businesses across the globe.
The threat of increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals is more imminent now than ever as the body of smart devices in the Internet of Things grows and as government agencies, healthcare giants, and academic institutions move to digital, work-from-home infrastructure, increasing their vulnerability to cyberattacks that could leave the private information of their employees, clients, and stakeholders exposed.
To add to the concern, there's a major skills gap in cybersecurity and it's only expected to grow. Experts predict 3.5 million job openings in cybersecurity by 2025. This cybersecurity skills gap is what prompted Microsoft to launch an international skilling campaign to help the world's businesses fight off ever-advanced cyberattacks. With increasing technical demands and a shortage of qualified workers, it's clear that the one thing organizations should do to stay ahead of cybersecurity threats is invest in high-quality training and certification programs.
What can your company do about the cybersecurity skills gap?
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your existing I.T. department or attract the best talent to your organization, New Horizons offers extensive training programs that prepare your business to defend against cybercriminals.
Cisco: Network
Individuals who get formal training on Cisco technologies demonstrate higher productivity, make fewer errors and possess more of the skills valued by employers and customers than those who receive only on-the-job training. If you have invested in Cisco technologies, then Cisco training and certification:
- Provides the right skills to ease into deployment
- Helps you use your Cisco products to their highest potential
- Allows you to get the most out of your IT investment
- Lowers downtime as skilled technicians handle issues when they arise
- Increases customer satisfaction as problems are solved quickly
CompTIA: Infrastructure Foundation
Certified professionals make your organization stronger. They’re your best bet to beat the widening skills gap and they're a great tool to build a foundation of expertise to drive business results. Our CompTIA training and certifications ensure the skills needed in multi-vendor IT environments. CompTIA certifications are recognized under DoD Directive 8570.1 M and the State Department Skills Incentive Program.
New research shows that IT professionals with CompTIA A+ or CompTIA Security+ perform at a higher level than those who are not certified. Learn more in CompTIA's eBook: The Impact of Certifications on Performance.
EC-Council: Security
Ethical hacking describes hacking performed by an individual or group of individuals, usually hired by companies or governments, to help identify potential threats on a computer or network. An ethical hacker attempts to bypass system security and search for any weak points that could be exploited by malicious hackers.
Penetration Testing is an act of forceful access into systems or networks to discover threats that may be exploited by malicious actors resulting in the loss of data, financial loss, or other major damages. Ethical hacking refers to the process of locating these weaknesses and vulnerabilities by duplicating the intent and actions of those they are seeking to counter. Watch this webinar on EC-Council Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) Trends. New Horizons is proud to offer two very valuable courses that empower cybersecurity professionals to use hacking for good, EC-Council Certified Network Defender (CND) and EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).
Microsoft: Security and Cloud
Defend against cyber threats by arming your I.T. team with official Microsoft Security training. Microsoft offers the tools and resources to appropriately protect, authenticate, and authorize Azure AD, Windows Server, and Microsoft 365.
Boost your team's security skills to ensure complete protection for your devices, identities, apps, and clouds through authorized Microsoft Security courses. New Horizon’s authorized Microsoft Security training explains all approaches via solutions appropriate for your security, compliance, and identity needs.
We also offer helpful role-specific training & certification tracks:
- Microsoft Security, Compliance and Identity Fundamentals
- Microsoft Security Operations Analyst Associate
- Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator Associate
- Microsoft 365 Security Administrator Associate
- Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate
There is a lot at stake as the cybersecurity skills gap continues to grow. Not only are companies increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks but the cybersecurity industry itself is suffering from a lack of innovation and diversity due to the talent shortage. Now is the time to upgrade your company's I.T. team and invest in your organization's defense against cybercrime.
Get access to our free guide on creating Your Most Comprehensive Cybersecurity Plan >>>