EDITOR ’ S QUESTION
Between January and March 2022 , a record 994,000 people in the UK moved jobs , illustrating the scale of the challenge to retain talent during the Great Resignation . Pandemic-induced burnout made many workers re-evaluate their careers .
Employees are in search of more meaningful work today . Industries that offer an opportunity to change the world for the better , like cybersecurity , are wellplaced to hire and nurture this wave of talent . After all , our sector is ultimately protecting data , businesses and therefore , people .
Yet meaningful work alone is not enough . Businesses must foster a culture that draws people of all backgrounds in and encourages them to stay , as well as supporting them with the technology to do their job effectively . CIOs have a crucial role to play here .
The great opportunity for CIOs
The talent crunch is particularly acute in the cybersecurity industry . Improving the supply of talent is a serious issue and it ’ s made more difficult by both negative perceptions of tech careers – often starting at school – and a blinkered approach to hiring that doesn ’ t always look beyond computer science graduates .
Although there ’ s a widespread belief that a university degree is necessary for a career in cybersecurity , our research revealed that 80 % of UK cybersecurity professionals disagree . Instead , they place a greater onus on learning on the job , employer support to achieve qualifications and further skills development .
CIOs have an opportunity to use the Great Resignation as a catalyst for change . With more people considering a career change , CIOs can broaden their hiring searches to bring in new talent with different career experience . This will boost the team with more diversity of thought and provide a more meaningful career for those who want it .
Removing complexity from technology
The right technology must be in place to support teams . The operational burden technology puts on talent can be extreme , creating unnecessary manual tasks . For SecOps , it ’ s often a case of being slowed down by having to stitch disparate products together .
Yet cybersecurity work shouldn ’ t be cumbersome or boring : this is a job that can have a critical impact on society . Our research found that 92 % of cybersecurity professionals view their work as purposeful , which in turn motivates them to deliver high-quality results .
Even purposeful work can begin to drag if teams aren ’ t freed up from burdensome tasks . Implementing a flexible , scalable , open XDR ( extended detection and response ) architecture that can natively integrate all security tools into a cohesive security operations system will not only drive better , faster outcomes but also empower SecOps teams in their work .
Industries that offer an opportunity to change the world for the better , like cybersecurity , are well-placed to hire and nurture this wave of talent .
The Great Resignation has been a tumultuous period which shows no sign of easing up . But by building diverse teams , creating a culture which supports employee growth , and deploying the right technology , CIOs can ensure employees feel fulfilled and are likely to stay longer . p
KIM ANSTETT , CIO AT TRELLIX
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