Many cybersecurity leaders are fixated on arbitrary qualifications like the number of certifications and formal training, creating artificial barriers for entry-level candidates. The industry's emphasis on degrees and specific certification requirements has led to overlooking individuals with analytical potential and technical promise. Recruiters often prioritize measurable factors like degrees and certifications, perpetuating a self-defeating cycle of hiring individuals good at test-taking rather than assessing long-term success in cybersecurity
The White House's focus on education and training as solutions to the labor shortage issue fails to address the root cause. Organizations are encouraged to broaden their candidate pools, recognizing talent in individuals from diverse backgrounds and fields, instead of solely relying on traditional cybersecurity education paths. The industry's overemphasis on formal qualifications has led to the false narrative of a labor shortage, hindering both organizations in filling critical roles and individuals in pursuing cybersecurity careers. Recognizing and dismantling arbitrary barriers to entry is crucial for cybersecurity organizations to tap into a larger pool of qualified candidates and dispel the myth of a cybersecurity labor shortage. https://www.darkreading.com/cybersecurity-operations/no-cyber-labor-shortage