Be Part of the World’s Largest Information Security Workforce Survey

By Patrick Craven, director, Center for Cyber Safety and Education

As the new director for the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, I’m proud to announce that we’re launching the latest edition of the (ISC)² global information workforce survey. The biennial survey provides an in-depth look at the current state of the cybersecurity workforce – examining trends in pay, training, hiring, budgets and more. The latest edition is now open for responses until September 30, 2016. I’m asking for about 20 minutes of your time to offer your personal insights for the survey, which dives into various issues facing the workforce.

Conducted since 2004, the survey is known for providing the most comprehensive snapshot of the unique position of the information security workforce worldwide. Your responses to the survey will be compiled and released early next year as the 2017 Global Information Security Workforce Study (GISWS). The GISWS is conducted by Frost & Sullivan, a global analyst firm, and is distributed to members of (ISC)², as well as other cybersecurity professionals. Referenced by governments, employers, professionals, and industry stakeholders, the GISWS has been a respected global benchmark for 12 years. In 2015, the United Kingdom’s Cabinet Office referenced the results in their review of the national cybersecurity spending commitments and in a speech delivered by the country’s Chancellor of the Exchequer.

I also want to share that we listened to the respondents from the last survey and reduced the time commitment to participate in this important research. Two years ago, nearly 14,000 (ISC)² members and nonmembers around the world participated in the nearly hour-long survey. The time commitment has been reduced to only 20 minutes for this year’s survey. We ask for your help to sustain the historically high response rate that distinguishes this vital research.

Key findings from the 2015 survey included the continuation of the security workforce shortage, as 62 percent of respondents indicated that their organizations have too few security professionals. This number was up from 56 percent in 2013, and the reasons appear to be less about money (as more organizations are making the room in their budget to hire), but rather an insufficient pool of suitable candidates.

As the field of cybersecurity grows due to the ever-expanding nature of the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud-based services and mobile devices, the demands on the information security workforce will continue to build. Training and educating existing staff is a priority for organizations worldwide, but the talent pipeline also needs to be addressed as the workforce ages.

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the largest information security workforce survey worldwide. If you’re an (ISC)² member, you will receive an email from Frost and Sullivan with a unique link, created just for you, that will look something like this: {thepowerofhybrid.frost.com/……}. Alternatively, you may go directly to http://www.isc2cares.org to access the general survey link.

I know that your time is valuable, and I appreciate your attention to this relevant industry research. I look forward to sharing the global results of the study in February. Thank you in advance for your participation!

(ISC)² Management

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