Now more than ever, the IT skills gap means that organisations of all types are unable to access the expertise they need to keep data, systems and applications safe. This is becoming a critical situation in a climate where the risk of data breaches and cybercrime is growing all the time.
The UK Government’s 2023 Cyber Security Breaches Survey found that, across a 12-month period to early 2023, there were nearly 2.4 million instances of cybercrime in the UK – and 49,000 led to cases of fraud.
Technology is instrumental in modern cybersecurity – but the rising sophistication of threats mean that this on its own is not enough. Businesses also need the right human skills in place to identify, address and resolve threats, with the help of technology, in a timely manner.
With the global shortage of cyber professionals, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for organisations to prepare for and respond to every threat, meaning they must have robust measures in place to protect themselves. One of the best ways forward is with a comprehensive, in-house Security Operations Centre (SOC). However, this can be beyond the reach of many businesses for cost, technology and skills reasons, which means that the need to leverage external help in plugging the gaps is greater than ever.
Key challenges amidst an evolving security landscape
With new threats emerging all the time, security demands are constantly advancing, and skilled security talent is hard to come by, maintaining a strong security posture can be tough:
Increased threats
Amid the ongoing arms race against cybercriminals, the demand for both human skills and technology to defend against threats is continually rising.
Limited flexibility
A lack of security provision and skills means the natural security level within an organisation has to be increased, which can impact on productivity, efficiency, and the viability of flexible working arrangements.
Lack of SOC viability
Most organisations either don’t have the resources to set up and run their own SOC; don’t have the desire to do so, or turn to overseas in order to meet the demands within budget. The latter approach introduces further risks around legal variations, a lack of visibility, and communication issues, prompting those to seek outsourcing more locally.
Expense of accessing skills
IT security experts are increasingly scarce, and therefore it can be difficult and expensive to recruit and maintain a dedicated cybersecurity team. While it is possible to upskill staff internally to fill the gaps, this requires major investment over several years. Furthermore, depending on the size of the organisation, employees are often asked to wear many hats, beyond their initial job role, this makes it even harder for the employees to retain and upskill within cyber security.
Brand reputational damage
A lack of security staff, technology and processes can heighten the risk of data breaches, which can have a major negative impact on an organisation’s perception, both with employees and the general public.
Benefits of a new approach to security
Empowering solutions: Leveraging SCC Cyber solutions to address talent shortages and beyond
SCC has a proven track record of nearly half a century in IT, standing us out as a leading end-to-end security solution provider, with unparalleled experience and comprehensive accreditations.
We can use our vast experience and expertise to conduct a forensic review of your current cybersecurity technologies and strategy. From this, we can provide end-to-end support for any solutions and services you need, from pre-sales through design, to implementation and beyond.
We are one of the few SOC providers that have all four Microsoft Advanced Security specifications, as well as the CREST certification for SOCs. We are also Cyber Essentials certified, meet the requirements of ISO 270001, and are a member of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association. So when you partner with SCC, you can be confident that your future cybersecurity is in the safest hands around.
Wilson James: Creating cyber confidence
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