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ANALYSIS
• Organisations continue to have programs dedicated to recruiting from a diversified talent pool . Eighty-three percent of respondents said their organisations have set diversity hiring goals for the next few years , in line with last year ’ s report but slightly down from 89 % in 2021 .
• Diversity hiring varies from year to year . Despite on-going recruitment targets , female hires are down to 85 % from 89 % in 2022 and 88 % in 2021 ; hires from minority groups remain unchanged at 68 % and up slightly from 67 % in 2021 ; and veteran hires are up slightly to 49 % from 47 % in 2022 but down from 53 % in 2021 .
• While many hiring managers value certifications , some organisations still prefer candidates with traditional backgrounds . Despite many respondents saying they value certifications , 71 % of organisations still require four-year degrees and 66 % hire only candidates with traditional training backgrounds .
Organisations are taking a three-pronged approach to building cyber-resiliency
About the Fortinet Skills Gap Survey
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 organisations 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 organisations are willing to pay for certifications and training . The report also found that :
The survey was conducted among over 1,850 IT and cybersecurity decision-makers from 29 countries and locations . Survey respondents come from a range of industries , including technology ( 21 %), manufacturing ( 15 %) and financial services ( 13 %).
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 cyberdefences across enterprises . As a result , organisations 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 to achieve this goal .
• Cultivate a cyber-aware frontline staff who can contribute to a more secure organisation as a first line of defence .
• Use effective security solutions to ensure a strong security posture .
To help organisations 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 organisations to develop a cyber-aware workforce .
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