Ponemon Survey Report: Staffing the IT Security Function in the Age of Automation
Ponemon Institute conducted the study “Staffing the IT Security Function in the Age of Automation” to better understand how companies are addressing
the need to hire and retain qualified IT security practitioners and the effects automation and artificial intelligence (AI) will have on staffing. More than 600 IT and IT security practitioners who participate in attracting, hiring, promoting and retaining IT security personnel within their companies were surveyed. Ponemon Institute conducted a similar study in
2013. Whenever possible, this report will show research findings from the previous study.
IT security functions continue to be understaffed and at risk. One of the biggest barriers to a strong security posture, according to Ponemon Institute research, is not having a team of security professionals that can deal with complex and serious internal and external threats to the organization. Unfortunately improvements in staffing are not happening.
Below are a few key takeaways from this research:
- Compensation matters to attracting and retaining qualified personnel
- Create a career path for IT security staff and promote from within
- Consider job candidates that may not have all the typical technical skills but have the aptitude, people skills, communication skills, and the willingness to be trained
