A dire lack of cyber security skills is causing major problems in South Africa and around the globe.
The shortage of cyber security professionals could threaten organisations across the private and public sectors, as the majority of enterprises battle to recruit the levels of security staff necessary to defend against today's attacks and sophisticated threat landscape.
At the same time, there is not enough targeted, cost-effective training that is developed with South African business in mind, and this, coupled with the fact that training budgets are being slashed, is compounding the cyber security skills shortage.
Joey Jansen van Vuuren, manager of the cyber security centre of innovation and business development, CSIR, will be presenting on 'Capability and capacity building for cybersecurity in South Africa', at the ITWeb Security Summit 2017, to be held from 15 to 19 May at Vodacom World in Midrand.
She says the shortage of cyber security capability is a worldwide phenomenon: companies and citizens are left vulnerable due to a lack of cyber security skills.
"South Africa is no exception. A key step is the availability cyber security education for pipeline (students and new incumbents) and current workforce. This involves the adaption of education programmes (degrees and diplomas) to include cyber security and the development of new focused cyber security qualifications."
According to her, at present, there is only a small pool of experienced cyber security professionals in South Africa and local businesses have to compete for those skills.
"It is important that businesses start investing in programmes for the development of cyber security skills, and this need to include short courses as well as formal qualifications."
Delegates attending Jansen van Vuuren's talk will hear about the drive for new formal qualifications in the South African higher education systems and the roles that business can play to support and enhance that process.
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