Australian cyber professionals and employers need to engage with students early on to open students’ eyes to cyber career options, according to the Raytheon Cyber Careers Survey, Securing our Future: Closing the Cyber talent gap.
While Australia is doing a great job of introducing computers and cyber to students at a young age, it could do more to guide students into a cyber profession, according to online security and risk management publication CSO Magazine, commissioned by Raytheon and the US National Cyber Security Alliance to conduct the survey across 12 countries. According to the publication, the expected demand for cybersecurity professionals is expected to rise to 6 million globally by 2019, with a projected shortfall of 1.5 million.
Among young Australians surveyed, 48.3 per cent (compared to international average of 44.9) considered they were totally responsible for keeping themselves safe and secure online. However young Australians were less aware than their international counterparts (33.5 vs. 39.2 per cent) of the typical range of responsibilities and job tasks involved in the cyber profession. Moreover, few have ever met a cybersecurity professional (13.3 vs. 21.1 per cent).
“This is a real issue and we all have a part to play in finding a solution,” managing director Raytheon Australia Michael Ward said.
“As a company with a large engineering and technical workforce, Raytheon is acutely aware of the need to motivate young Australians to continue their maths and science studies, so they can be equipped to embark upon tertiary studies leading to cyber careers.”
Demonstrating his support for the initiative to increase awareness and stem the shortage was Children’s eSafety Commissioner Alastair MacGibbon.
“Australian children are our next generation of workers, and at the very least they will be the human firewall against evolving online threats,” MacGibbon said.
“This survey shows we need to be doing more to inspire them to consider a career in the field of cyber security.”
The full report can be viewed here.