Cybersecurity Professionals: "Salaries Are Already at a High Level" – Tec-Bite IT Security

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The ICT skills shortage affects not only the entire IT sector but all industries and poses a risk to security. It is therefore worthwhile to promote diversity, says Serge Frech, Managing Director of ICT Vocational Education Switzerland. According to Prof. Sarah Hauser, Deputy Director of Education at the Department of Computer Science at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), targeted training of employees is also essential – for example in the field of cybersecurity. According to a study by ICT Vocational Education, around 120,000 additional ICT professionals will be missing in Switzerland by 2030. What consequences does this have for IT security? Serge Frech: The number of cyberattacks has increased significantly in recent years. The topic of cybersecurity gained importance with the wave of digitalisation during the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the demand for specialised professionals continues to grow – faster than businesses and administrations can train them. Serge Frech, Managing Director ICT Vocational Education Switzerland Sarah Hauser: This results in three possible responses: companies can outbid each other with even higher salaries to attract professionals. They can also hire IT experts and send them to specific courses or training – or train experts themselves with internal, multi-month programmes. We observe that all three options are used in the economy. Accordingly, the demand for our Bachelor’s degree in "Information & Cyber Security," launched in 2018, is high. We currently have over 300 students. Prof. Sarah Hauser, Deputy Director at the Department of Computer Science at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) Mr Frech, what impact does the skills shortage have on existing security teams? S.F.: According to our calculations, around 60 percent more ICT security professionals will be needed in Switzerland by 2030 than today. If professionals who can take preventive measures and fend off attacks are missing, the risk of cyberattacks increases. Security teams are overloaded and less effective. This increases the vulnerability of the respective systems or even critical infrastructure. What makes an attractive ICT employer – besides a good salary? S.F.: Salaries are already at a high level, so it is mainly good working conditions such as flexible working hours or part-time models and paid further training that convince employers. Moreover, we can no longer avoid promoting diversity more strongly. The proportion of women in ICT is a mere 17 percent. Across generations, the meaningfulness of work is also important today. This includes the employer’s commitment to promoting young talent. The diversity of computer science is very attractive to women, as is the modern and agile working environment with flexible working time models. Prof. Sarah Hauser, Deputy Director at the Department of Computer Science at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) How do we manage to attract more female professionals to IT security? S.F.: The problem starts early, is very complex, and also societal in nature – which makes it difficult. Measures are needed at various levels so that more young women take the path into ICT – in school, career counselling, training companies, to name just a few examples. The board of ICT Vocational Education Switzerland recently issued a concept defining the levers and measures within the association’s scope of action. These range from a study on the emotional motives in career choice to communication measures and organisational ones, such as in career development or the proportion of women in the association’s committees. Cooperation with other organisations pursuing the same goal is also important – for example, in the security sector, the initiative "Women in Cyber Switzerland." Ms Hauser, what is the current ratio of women to men at HSLU? S.H.: At the Department of Computer Science, the proportion of women among Bachelor’s students is around 20 percent. The degree programmes "International IT Management" and "Digital Ideation" have a proportion of 30-50 percent women. The trend is increasing. How do you succeed in inspiring more women for IT security at HSLU? S.H.: The diversity of computer science is very attractive to women, as is the modern and agile working environment with flexible working time models. We position topics, e.g. the design of interfaces of technology (Human Computer Interaction or Virtual and Augmented Reality) and invest in supportive didactics. We also design admission so that it motivates career changers. Because role models are important, we have set ourselves the goal with the project 25:25 to have at least 25 percent female lecturers by 2025. Our female students have initiated events for exchange with women in computer science from industry, business, and science. These events have now become a fixed part of everyday study life and are very popular – also among us lecturers. If professionals who can take preventive measures and fend off attacks are missing, the risk of cyberattacks increases. Serge Frech, Managing Director ICT Vocational Education Switzerland What further training offers should cybersecurity experts keep up to date with? S.F.: ICT Vocational Education Switzerland conducts the professional examination "Cyber Security Specialist with Federal Certificate" and the higher professional examination "ICT Security Expert with Federal Diploma." The certificate was developed in cooperation with the army and the economy and is very popular. Since its introduction in 2019, the number of exam participants has doubled annually. S.H.: The range of offerings has indeed become diverse. Computer science is still a relatively young discipline that has developed strongly in recent years. To do justice to today’s activities and professions, this range is needed. As a university, we are committed to being ahead and continuously develop our offerings. Who would have thought a year ago that AI like ChatGPT would be everywhere today? In this sense, it fits perfectly that this year our first graduates of the "Bachelor in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning" will graduate. Conclusion The lack of female security experts further exacerbates the skills shortage in this critical area. IT corporations and integrators who invest in their employees and want to retain them long-term always have the edge, especially in demanding times. In addition, the convergence of IT, OT, risk, and security continues. Not to forget: resilience should also inspire, and IT security customers want to trust. Further training, even for existing professionals, whether only additional sales or marketing skills, is therefore always worthwhile. Further links Managed Service by AVANTEC Is any of your company’s data in the Dark Web? Introduction to Zero Trust – a paradigm shift Cyber Security Trends 2023 – the arms race continues The article Cybersecurity Professionals: "Salaries Are Already at a High Level" first appeared on Tec-Bite.