The State of Pentesting 2022 report from Cobalt surveyed 602 cybersecurity and software development professionals about their experiences with talent shortages in the field.

Many cybersecurity teams have been affected by talent shortages: 45% of respondents reported currently experiencing a talent shortage in their organization, while 38% experienced a talent shortage within the six months prior to the survey. In addition, 11% expect to deal with this challenge in the future.

Effects of the cybersecurity talent gap

According to the report, 90% of respondents who dealt with workforce shortages or lost team members struggle with workload management. Security leaders reported how security responsibilities were affected by talent shortages:

1. Seventy-nine percent struggle to consistently monitor for cybersecurity vulnerabilities
2. Sixty-nine percent of respondents struggle to monitor for and respond to security incidents
3. Sixty-six percent find it difficult to maintain high-quality security standards

How to retain cybersecurity talent

In order to prevent a talent shortage, organizational leaders can employ a number of methods to retain their cybersecurity hires. Security and development professionals listed the following qualities as proactive strategies for retention:

• Strong focus on personal and professional development
• Maintain community environment while employees work from home
• Additional compensation options, such as bonuses or stock options
• Care of employees' physical and mental wellbeing
• Competitive salary rates

For more report insights, click here.