ISACA addresses cyber-skills shortage

International IT group ISACA has opened its CSX (Cybersecurity Nexus) programme in response to what it sees as a global lack of security skills.

Cisco’s 2014 security report shows that over a million  vacancies for security-based roles remain open throughout the world.

The goal of CSX is to help security professionals increase their skills, and offer support via research, mentoring and guidance.

A recent survey carried out by ISACA discovered that 62 per cent of companies have yet to increase security training this year, in spite of 20 per cent of enterprises having reported that they have experienced the same advanced threats on multiple occasions.

International president-elect of ISACA, Robert Stroud, said:

“Unless the industry moves now to address the cyber-security skills crisis, threats such as major retail data breaches and the Heartbleed bug will continue to outpace the ability of organisations to defend against them.”

CSX is a full programme offering advanced resources customised to suit numerous stages of a cyber professional’s career.

It features research and community guidance, frameworks and development resources.

A Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate is also provided to entry level individuals, as long as they have had no more than three years’ worth of experience as a practitioner.

The programme is great news for those seeking a career in the industry, as well as businesses in general, which will be able to feel more confident in hiring cyber professionals with the required skill level to deal with real threats. The next time they post vacancies for IT risk jobs, the chances of them landing the right candidate will be that much better.