What Employers and Tech Pros Are Looking For

07 Aug Cybersecurity Certifications: What Employers and Tech Pros Are Looking For

This week in cybersecurity from the editors at Cybercrime Magazine

– Read the Full Dice Story

Sausalito, Calif. – Aug. 7, 2024

Dice reports that earning a cybersecurity certification is one way tech professionals can signal commitment and technical knowledge to potential employers. But given the thousands of cybersecurity positions that remain open, do you actually need to go through the effort and expense of earning one or more certifications in order to land a cybersecurity role, or can you depend solely on your skills?

For many of those organizations looking to hire more cybersecurity talent, certifications are currently viewed as a must-have. A recent survey released by security firm Fortinet finds that 91 percent of respondents prefer to hire candidates with certifications. In addition, 67 percent of organizations prefer team members or direct reports to have certifications, since they believe these credentials validate cyber awareness and tech knowledge.

Digging further into the numbers, the survey (based on responses from 1,850 IT and cybersecurity decision-makers in 29 countries) finds that 60 percent of respondents report that certifications show an increase in cybersecurity skills and knowledge, while 55 percent report that those with certs perform their job tasks better.

There is, however, a downside when organizations focus too heavily on hiring tech professionals with specific certifications. According to the Fortinet study, 72 percent of respondents report it’s challenging to find individuals with technology-focused certifications.

This reflects findings from other studies. The 2023 Official Cybersecurity Jobs Report published by Cybersecurity Ventures noted that, while there are about 94,000 tech professionals with the Certified Information Systems Security Professionals (CISSP) certification in the U.S., more than 134,000 job openings require the CISSP certification as part of the hiring process.

Read the Full Story

Cybercrime Magazine is Page ONE for Cybersecurity. Go to any of our sections to read the latest:

• SCAM. The latest schemes, frauds, and social engineering attacks being launched on consumers globally.

• NEWS. Breaking coverage on cyberattacks and data breaches, and the most recent privacy and security stories.

• HACK. Another organization gets hacked every day. We tell you who, what, where, when, and why.

• VC. Cybersecurity venture capital deal flow with the latest investment activity from various sources around the world.

• M&A. Cybersecurity mergers and acquisitions including big tech, pure cyber, product vendors and professional services.

• BLOG. What’s happening at Cybercrime Magazine. Plus the stories that don’t make headlines (but maybe they should).

• PRESS. Cybersecurity industry news and press releases in real time from the editors at Business Wire.

• PODCAST. New episodes daily on the Cybercrime Magazine Podcast feature victims, law enforcement, vendors, and cybersecurity experts.

• RADIO. Tune into WCYB Digital Radio at Cybercrime.Radio, the first and only round-the-clock internet radio station devoted to cybersecurity.

Contact us to send story tips, feedback and suggestions, and for sponsorship opportunities and custom media productions.