The Rapid Growth of Cyber Incident Response in Australia and the Challenges of Talent Shortages

As?businesses?continue to grapple with the ever-evolving threat of cyber-attacks, the need for skilled Incident Responders has become more critical than ever before.?These are the unsung heroes who I like to refer to as our Cyber Fighters,?working?tirelessly behind the scenes to protect our digital world from the flames of cybercrime. However, you can't have demand without supply, and?the shortage of capable onshore Incident Responders proves a major?challenge for Australian employers.??

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So why is Incident Response booming? ??

As technology advances, so do the methods and tactics of cyber criminals. Cyber-attacks are becoming more sophisticated, frequent, and damaging, posing a significant threat to businesses of all sizes and across every industry.?The pandemic?further contributed to these issues, as the rapid shift to remote work and online operations has?created a broader attack surface, allowing for an increased number of attacks.?

This heightened threat landscape has made incident response a critical component to an?organisation’s?cyber strategy, as businesses aspire to?quickly and efficiently detect, contain and recover from?cyber-attacks.???

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Talent Shortages???

Despite the growing demand for incident response services in Australia, there is a significant shortage of incident responders. According to the Cyber Security Survey 2021 by the Australian Cyber Security Centre, 51% of Australian businesses reported a shortage of cybersecurity professionals. This presents a significant challenge for businesses seeking to protect themselves from cyber threats.???

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Moreover, the Cybersecurity Workforce Study 2021 by (ISC)2 stated that the Australian cyber security workforce needs to increase by 114% to meet the current demand. It was also revealed that the shortage of cybersecurity professionals is a global issue, with incident response being one of the most in-demand skills.???

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Expectations??

With the increasing number and complexity of cyber-attacks, employers are looking for incident responders who can respond quickly and effectively to mitigate the damage caused by a breach. However, this high demand for incident responders has created a challenging environment for both employers and job seekers alike.???

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Employers are setting high expectations for incident responders, expecting new hires to hit the ground running from day one, requiring them to come equipped?in a range of technical skills and tools whilst also possessing strong communication and leadership skills.?This?puts pressure on job seekers to possess a diverse skill set, that is already is short supply, making it difficult for employers to find the right candidate, and for the 'right' price...??

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Pressure Points??

The talent shortage in the incident response field is causing significant pressures on both employers and job seekers. For employers, the cost of hiring and retaining qualified incident responders is high, leading to budget constraints and a strain on resources.?Job seekers, on the other hand, are facing the pressure to ensuring their skills are relevant and up-to-date as the?industry?evolves.?This can lead to feelings of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty in their career prospects.?Additionally, the stress of managing cyber threats and breaches can also impact the mental health and well-being of incident responders and their leaders, leading to burnout and turnover.??