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The firms have launched a new interactive mapping tool designed to address a “dangerous shortage” in cyber security talent.
Cyber security services company CyberCX and cyber security growth network AustCyber have partnered with Burning Glass Technologies and CompTIA to launch CyberSeek – an interactive mapping tool designed to track the Australian cyber security job market in real time and provide data on the talent gap within the sector.
The new tool provides users with the most relevant data and insights for cyber security professionals and job seekers, employers, educators, policymakers and students.
CyberSeek features include an interactive heatmap of cyber security supply and demand, an interactive career pathway tool that highlights the key transition opportunities between common roles, and a certification and skills guide that outlines the credentials typically required for those roles.
The initiative has been funded through the AustCyber Projects Fund — a $15 million, three-year initiative that aims to foster growth in the cyber space.
“Cyber security workers protect Australia’s most important assets, from critical infrastructure to enterprise intellectual property, through to the personally identifiable information millions of Australians use to access their bank accounts,” John Paitaridis, Cyber CX CEO, said.
“The dangerous shortage of cyber security workers Australia is facing puts our collective digital privacy and infrastructure at risk.
“As Australia’s largest cyber security provider, we want to play a leading role in helping build a robust and sustainable skills pipeline to drive the industry into the future.”
According to recently collected data from the CyberSeek platform, there were over 14,000 job openings for dedicated and related cyber security roles in Australia over the 12 months to September 2020, but employers were offered a talent pool half the size of the national average.
The data found that for every job advertised in a cyber security related field in Australia, there are only six cyber security workers.
“Maintaining and broadening efforts to attract and train workers in cyber security expertise will ensure the future quality of Australia's cyber workforce,” Michelle Price, AustCyber CEO said.
“Australia has some of the best cyber talent in the world, but we need to expand the supply of talent coming through the pipeline if we are to have a vibrant and globally competitive economy.
“The launch of CyberSeek ensures key enablers are in place to transition workers. This is an invaluable tool which provides information such as the demand for cyber skills by region across Australia, qualification and certification requirements for cyber roles, indicative salaries and transition pathways and role progression.”
CyberSeek leverages data analysis and aggregation tools developed by Accenture, Burning Glass Technologies and CompTIA to analyse hundreds of millions of job postings and real-life career transitions.
Toby Brennan, director of strategy at Accenture, observed, “Demand for cyber skills is already strong and will only increase in the coming years, so it’s important Australia captures this critical economic opportunity. The importance of technology on our economy has created urgent need for organisations to rapidly adopt secure digital tools.
“We need to build a skilled workforce that understands the future environment.”
The CyberSeek platform was first piloted in the USA by Burning Glass Technologies and CompTIA, based on the National Initiative for Cyber Education – a framework that provides common definitions on cyber roles and workers.
“The global pandemic underscores the critical importance of organisational and workforce resilience,” Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO, CompTIA, said.
“Proactively preparing for the next crisis starts with cyber readiness and furthering our commitment to expanding Australia’s trained and certified tech workforce.”
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres
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