Shortage of cybersecurity professionals poses risk to national security

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-06/rc-soc061614.php

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 18-Jun-2014
Contact: Lisa Sodders
RAND Corporation
Shortage of cybersecurity professionals poses risk to national security

The nationwide shortage of cybersecurity professionals – particularly for positions within the federal government – creates risks for national and homeland security, according to a new study from the RAND Corporation.

Demand for trained cybersecurity professionals who work to protect organizations from cybercrime is high nationwide, but the shortage is particularly severe in the federal government, which does not offer salaries as high as the private sector.

"It's largely a supply-and-demand problem," said Martin Libicki, lead author of the study and senior management scientist at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. "As cyber attacks have increased and there is increased awareness of vulnerabilities, there is more demand for the professionals who can stop such attacks. But educating, recruiting, training and hiring these cybersecurity professionals takes time."

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