It’s no secret that as cyber threats continue to grow, businesses are struggling to build teams with the right skillsets needed to protect them from attacks.
According to the UK Government’s latest research:
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49% of businesses have a basic cyber skills gap
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30% have an advanced cyber skills gap
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28% of cyber business report a technical skills gap amongst existing employees
That’s why investment in workforce development has become hugely important. By creating clear pathways into cyber security careers and providing high-quality cyber security workforce training, organisations can strengthen their defences, develop future talent and build more resilient teams.
> The cyber skills gap: a paradox of our own making
Cyber resilience is often defined as an organisation's ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from cyber incidents. While investments in technology remain essential, technology alone cannot protect a business. Behind every security platform, monitoring tool and incident response plan are people responsible for making critical decisions, identifying risks and taking action when threats emerge.
The UK Government states that approximately 6,000 cyber graduates enter the market each year, but the market requires an additional 12,900. Not only this, but almost two thirds (63%) of core cyber security job postings require mid-level experience of two to six years.
Many organisations are unintentionally making the problem worse. Employers continue to compete for the same limited pool of experienced cyber professionals while overlooking talented individuals who could succeed in security with the right training and support.
For example, many entry-level candidates struggle to secure roles because employers are looking for two to six years of experience. At the same time, organisations report ongoing vacancies. This creates an experience paradox.
Organisations need cyber professionals with experience, but entry-level talent cannot gain that experience without being given the opportunity to enter the industry. The result is a cycle where vacancies remain open while potential talent remains on the sidelines.
> The importance of cyber workforce training in solving the skills gap
Too often, conversations focus on technology first and people second. While security tools play an important role, they are only as effective as the people using them. In reality, organisations cannot buy their way out of the cyber skills shortage. Building resilience requires a workforce strategy that develops capability continuously, rather than treating talent acquisition as a one-off exercise.
There's no single approach to building a resilient cyber security function. Some organisations need to fill critical skills gaps quickly, while others are focused on developing existing employees or strengthening their leadership capabilities. A successful workforce development strategy often combines multiple talent solutions, creating a balanced approach that supports both immediate needs and long-term growth.
Hire Train Deploy: Create new cyber capability
For organisations looking to bring new talent into their teams, our hire train deploy model provides access to individuals who have already completed focused, practical training. Rather than hiring solely based on previous experience, businesses can benefit from professionals who have developed the technical skills relevant to them and are ready to apply them in a professional environment.
This approach can help organisations expand their cyber security capabilities while creating opportunities for individuals entering the industry. Combined with practical cyber security education from CAPSLOCK, it provides a structured route into cyber careers while helping employers build their teams with confidence.
Upskilling: Strengthen existing cyber capability
Not every cyber security challenge requires a new hire. In many cases, organisations already have employees with the potential to take on new responsibilities or move into security-focused roles.
Our upskilling programme helps organisations invest in the people they already have, providing structured learning pathways that develop both technical and professional capabilities. This allows businesses to strengthen internal expertise, support employee progression and ensure teams have the skills needed to meet changing business requirements.
Training and development initiatives like these can also improve employee engagement and retention by demonstrating a clear commitment to professional growth.
Expert Talent: Accelerate capability
While developing talent is essential, organisations often need experienced professionals who can contribute from day one. Whether supporting security operations, regulatory requirements, digital transformation programmes or specific projects, access to specialist expertise can be critical.
Our expert talent solutions help organisations connect with experienced cyber security professionals who can bring valuable knowledge, practical insight and leadership to security initiatives. This enables businesses to address immediate requirements while continuing to build long-term capability.
> Building a balanced cyber workforce
The most effective workforce strategies rarely rely on a single solution. Organisations need a combination of emerging talent, ongoing skills development and experienced professionals to create well-rounded, resilient teams.
By combining hire train deploy, upskilling opportunities and expert talent solutions, organisations can take a more holistic approach to building cyber capability.
The organisations best positioned to manage future cyber threats are unlikely to be those spending the most on technology alone. They will be those that recognise cyber resilience as a people challenge as much as a technical one. Developing talent, creating opportunities and investing in skills are no longer separate from security strategy. They are the strategy.
Find out more about how our workforce solutions can fill your cyber skills gap today, or get in touch for a more in-depth conversation.
