In early 2021, the Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) and the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) conducted the fifth annual research project focused on the lives and experiences of cybersecurity professionals. This year’s report is based on data from a global survey of 489 cybersecurity professionals.

The cybersecurity skills gap discussion has been going on for over 10 years, and the data gathered for this project confirms that there has been no significant progress toward a solution to this problem during the five years it has been closely researched. The skills crisis has impacted over half (57%) of organizations. The top ramifications of the skills shortage include an increasing workload (62%), unfilled open job requisitions (38%), and high burnout among staff (38%). Further, 95% of respondents state the cybersecurity skills shortage and its associated impacts have not improved over the past few years while 44% say it has only gotten worse. [...Less]