Cybersecurity Research

Revealing New Opportunities for the Cybersecurity Workforce

The cybersecurity profession faces many challenges but even more opportunities. The ISC2 research team is dedicated to better understanding the barriers facing the cybersecurity workforce, but we are also focused on uncovering solutions that position these talented individuals to excel in their profession, better defend their organizations’ data and surpass their career goals.

Our research explores a broad array of topics, including:

Quantifying the cybersecurity workforce and skills gap
Better understanding the representation of women and minorities within the field
Salary benchmarking
Uncovering effective hiring, retention and team-building practices
Exploring management and leadership issues facing CISOs and Boards

Through better understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing cybersecurity professionals, we are closer to achieving our vision of a safe and secure cyber world.

Cybersecurity Leadership Study

Cybersecurity professionals in leadership positions receive limited training. Many admit they have learned more from past experiences observing their own managers than they have through formal training, according to a ISC2 member survey.

ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study 2024

The 2024 study has revealed that AI and global economic pressures are now impacting the cyber workforce, leading to both talent shortages and skills gaps at a time when need has never been greater.

Women in Cybersecurity

Amid the challenge of attracting more women into the cybersecurity workforce, we took a deeper look at the data and discovered a number of positive trends, including women’s pathways into the profession, the roles they play within cybersecurity teams and the career path similarities with men.