More than half of cybersecurity professionals agree that people don’t need a university degree to have a successful career in cybersecurity, despite 85% of those professionals holding degrees related to IT, computer science technology.
“The cybersecurity world changes so quickly that it’s difficult to study the theory in a university and then apply that knowledge in the working world,” says Carlo Bolzonello, country lead for Trellix in South Africa. “Success in cybersecurity needs an inquisitive and analytic personality, along with the ability to remain composed and calm under pressure.”
“South Africans are world-renowned for their strong work ethic, and their willingness to take on any task, even if it falls beyond their job description. We’re also naturally curious and determined to find a work-around to just about any situation – all attributes that make a strong cybersecurity professional,” he adds.
More than 90% of cybersecurity professionals emphasize that there is a skills gap in their profession, despite a growing demand to fill security-related roles, while more than one third note that there is limited support when it comes to the qualifications and certifications required to enter the industry.