AISA Australian Cyber Security Skills and Jobs NSW Study

IN EARLY 2020, the Australian Information Security Association (AISA) partnered with NSW Treasury to undertake a research project that would identify potential cyber security skills gaps and look at the impact of COVID-19 on the local cyber security industry.

When faced with the rapidly changing and escalating public health emergency of COVID-19, cyber security professionals answered their call to service and stood front and centre to support and protect their organisations as this crisis unfolded.

Organisations and staff have worked tirelessly to move to remote working and schooling.

Many organisations have spent additional resources (without receiving additional budgets) to protect their systems.

As the world adapts to the circumstances of the pandemic, cyber security has never been so important. AISA is proud to bring to you the Cyber Security Skills and Jobs NSW Study 2020. We trust it provides you with an understanding of the current state of the NSW sector —advancing the cyber security and safety of the Australian public as well as businesses and governments in Australia.   

KEY FINDINGS

  • 12.6% cyber professionals negatively impacted by COVID-19.
  • 96.5% of cyber professionals are able to work from home.
  • Support for accreditation standard of cyber security professionals in Australia drops post COVID-19.
  • 12.5% of executives felt they were unable to obtain the level of resources required to protect the organisation as upper management were not focused enough on cyber security risks and threats to the organisation.
  • Only 1 in 4 service providers have an internship program.
  • Service Providers found it most difficult to attract and retain people with skills in: Strategy, Risk and Governance, Compliance and Consultancy.
  • Business executives find it difficult to attract and retain people with skills in: Monitoring and Incident management, Technical assurance and Architecture.