Cybersecurity Skills Shortage
Is your establishment truly safe from cyber threats? Many businesses are discovering their cloud architecture security measures aren’t as robust as they thought.
With hackers becoming more sophisticated, the need for cybersecurity specialists has never increased. Sadly, though, demand keeps outpacing supply.
The latest 2024 Cloud Security report by Checkpoint Software breaks down the nitty-gritty details.
Rising Cloud Security Incidents
The multinational IT security firm reports that only 4% of companies have the framework to mitigate public cloud attacks. About 61% of these organizations recently faced such issues, and 21% suffered from data breaches.
Vulnerable setups lead to scary outcomes. This can include concerns like unauthorized access, leaked sensitive information, and service disruptions.
Even tech industry giants like Facebook have their share of troubles, too — 530 million users had their personal data stolen in 2021. It’s a stark reminder that no one is immune.
The Top Culprits
The first step to preventing a cloud breach is to identify existing weaknesses. The most common ones include the following.
Misconfigurations
Poorly setting up cloud architecture is like leaving your front door wide open. They create easy entry points for cyber attackers.
Most businesses overlook simple things, such as setting permissions too broadly or not updating security settings. Hasty deployments also compound the problem since speed often sacrifices safety. Always double-check your settings.
Rapid AI Adoption
Does your company use AI? Check Point found that 35% of its respondents feel concerned about the lack of expertise in AI adoption, and 49% indicate a need for security experts with an AI skillset.
Becoming one of the first to integrate AI might put you ahead of the competition, but it also makes you a target. This fairly new technology comes with risks and is like exploring uncharted territory.
We might see adaptive AI-driven cybersecurity solutions in the future. Until then, you need a dedicated crew to manage these new systems.
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Only authorized experts should be allowed in. Unintentionally or not, other employees in your company can become a risk.
That’s why many businesses are switching to Zero Trust architecture, which means treating everyone as a potential threat until verified.
Insecure Interfaces and APIs
APIs remain the backbone of many cloud services; they enable rapid and easy machine-to-machine and human-to-machine interactions.
Did you know that 29% of web attacks in 2023 targeted API? Malefactors love to exploit subpar authentication mechanisms, session management, and encryption.
Fix Employee Training Gaps
We can trace most or all of these issues to a simple problem—a cybersecurity skills shortage. Experienced people are the first line of defense. They proactively look for vulnerabilities and respond quickly to threats.
Why not finance specialized training sooner rather than later? Your brand will stay protected, and everyone will gain peace of mind. Even the most advanced hardware and software are only as effective as those managing them.
The Takeaway
The latest numbers of skill shortage in IT is 1,000,000 jobs unfilled. And the skills shortage in small business is even more critial. Deloitte poll found only 13% of small business employers who say they’re able to hire and retain the tech talent they need. And Sophos revealed that a shortage of security skills is now ranked by SMBs as their #2 top cyber challenge after zero-day threats, while for organizations of over 500 employees, it ranks only #7. Something else to keep you awake at night.
Reference (Additional Information for You)
WorkDay: How IT can overcome the tech talent shortage
IDC: IT Skills Shortage Expected to Impact 90% Organizations by 2026
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By Denis Wilson
Thanks for reading this post. I always take into mind that your time and attention are precious. And these posts need to be timely, to the point, and short. For more tips on thriving with small business technology, check out the other blog posts at DWPIA Blogs. You can also find me on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook.
I am also a published author and speaker on cloud computing, remote-work, cybersecurity, and AI. I work extensively with business and professional associations to provide small business technology education programs.
Contact me if you have any questions about the subject. I'd be happy to spend 15 minutes discussing it with you.
Telephone: 866-995-4488
eMail: info@dwpia.com
