IT Security Skills Needed

IT Security Organizations Facing Shortage of Skilled Professionals
eWeek (02/25/13) Brian Prince

There is a severe shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals, according to an International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium survey of more than 12,000 information security professionals from around the world. The survey found that 56 percent of respondents said their organizations are short-staffed. Among the study's notable findings, communication skills was the second most commonly cited factor for success, cited by 91 percent, right behind "a broad understanding of the security field," and leadership skills were mentioned by 68 percent of respondents. "I think there's an understanding--not only on the part of professionals in this industry but also on the part of hiring managers--that a really good information security professional not only has the technical knowledge but also has a desire to stay on top of their field and have those broad managerial skills," says the consortium's Julie Peeler. Security certifications are viewed as a reliable indicator of competency when hiring, cited by nearly 70 percent. The average annual salary is $101,014 and is 33 percent higher than the average annual salary of those without the certification. The number of security professionals is expected to rise steadily around the globe by more than 11 percent annually over the next five years.