CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS REPORT 2024
Undeniably, cybersecurity has become a critical concern for organizations worldwide, extending beyond just the realm of IT. Chauster's 2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Report is a valuable resource for businesses looking to bolster their defenses against evolving threats. By providing insights into the current cybersecurity learning landscape and offering strategies for cultivating a resilient cybersecurity culture, the report can help organizations stay ahead of malicious actors.
In today's digital age, where data breaches are rising, and human error remains a significant vulnerability, investing in comprehensive cybersecurity training and education is essential. Businesses can significantly enhance their security posture by empowering employees across all levels of the organization with the knowledge and skills to identify and mitigate cyber threats.
It's crucial for organizations to stay informed about the latest cybersecurity developments and to adapt their strategies accordingly to effectively protect their sensitive information and maintain the integrity of their operations.
Table of Contents
KEY FINDINGS
Businesses actively seek ways to safeguard their data and infrastructure, encompassing routers, servers, archives, code repositories, financial records, customer information, and beyond. Moreover, many organizations now mandate certifications for their security personnel.
There's a growing trend among organizations to rely on cloud service providers to secure cloud infrastructure while assuming responsibility for safeguarding their applications, data, and operating systems.
Cybersecurity certifications have surged by over 100% since 2022. Potential drivers behind this increase include employees' aspirations for career progression, specialization, and personal fulfillment.
The Report
This report underscores a rising demand for cybersecurity skills and certifications, emphasizing industries leading the way in prioritizing learning and development. Additionally, it delves into key focus areas within the cybersecurity domain, such as cloud, application, and core security, offering valuable insights into the most completed courses and certifications in high demand.
Organizations are dedicating significant time and resources to remain up-to-date with the latest cybersecurity protocols.
Upon analyzing the consumption trends for cybersecurity learning materials in 2023, Chauster has identified intriguing patterns that offer insights into the evolving cybersecurity landscape. The graph illustrates that the distribution of hours learners spend on specific cybersecurity topics—such as cloud, data, infrastructure, programming, security, and software development—is nearly uniform, with software development garnering slightly more attention (19%) than other areas.
Cybersecurity proficiency is indispensable across various domains, but within software development, it equips learners to safeguard user data, ensure regulatory compliance, maintain competitiveness, and foster a secure digital ecosystem. Developers, in particular, must adeptly integrate security practices into their development processes from inception to deployment. Furthermore, they must continuously update their knowledge to stay abreast of evolving technologies and associated cybersecurity best practices.
We've observed significant increases in consumption of security and infrastructure/operations courses in 2023. This trend underscores organizations' heightened focus on strengthening their security infrastructure and implementing robust measures to safeguard sensitive data.
While employees may not be directly responsible for configuring or maintaining cybersecurity infrastructure, they play a crucial role in shaping the overall security stance of their organization. Educating employees about cybersecurity infrastructure and best practices fosters a culture of security and reduces the risk of security incidents stemming from human error or lack of awareness. It's imperative for organizations to sustain this momentum and adopt a proactive approach to cybersecurity training throughout the year.
By actively engaging with cybersecurity content, professionals enhance their ability to identify potential vulnerabilities, implement effective countermeasures, and contribute to a culture of security within their organizations. This collective effort builds a resilient defense against cyber threats.
TOP SECURITY COURSE TITLES IN 2023
CYBERSECURITY SKILLS ARE INDISPENSABLE, AND ORGANIZATIONS SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROTECTION WITH THEIR CLOUD SERVICE PROVIDERS.
In today's digital age, data has become a vital asset. Yet, safeguarding an organization's data from abuse, misuse, or unauthorized access poses significant challenges for decision-makers and leaders worldwide. With new security threats emerging constantly, it's crucial for leaders to possess the necessary skills to make informed decisions.
By examining the cybersecurity training content most consumed this year, we can identify the areas that organizational leaders prioritize for their employees. Notably, the Security Essentials course offered by Chauster has seen widespread adoption by organizations and their employees globally.
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY MODEL
The enduring popularity of Security Essentials as a training resource for enterprises highlights the critical need for fostering a strong security culture within organizations. It reflects a dedication to providing employees with the essential knowledge to uphold a secure environment, as the course addresses prevalent security threats, their implications, and strategies for safeguarding businesses and assets.
With organizations progressively transitioning their operations to the cloud, comprehending and utilizing the security measures deployed by their cloud service providers becomes paramount. Our data indicates that the consumption of cloud security courses has maintained a consistent level over the past five years, underscoring the shared responsibility between organizations and their cloud service providers.
On the other end of the spectrum, threats – specifically our Threat Intelligence courses – show a steady decline in consumption. One possible explanation for this decline could be that organizations are shifting their focus from traditional threat intelligence measures to leveraging the robust security capabilities offered by their cloud service providers.
THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING SECTOR HAS SEEN A RISE IN THE UTILIZATION OF CYBERSECURITY CONTENT
Through the analysis of cybersecurity course consumption data, we can glean insights into how various industries prioritize and engage with cybersecurity training. This data enables us to pinpoint the top industries exhibiting heightened usage of security-related courses and comprehend their consumption trends.
Among education and training organizations worldwide, 52% of all cybersecurity content consumption since 2020 occurred in 2023. Remarkably, this sector nearly doubled its consumption of security courses in 2023 compared to 2022.
The precise reasons for this surge likely differ based on regional factors, organizational objectives, and the evolving threat landscape. However, other contributing factors may include:
• Safeguarding Sensitive Data: Educational institutions and training organizations are tasked with protecting vast amounts of sensitive data, including student records, financial information, and intellectual property.
• Compliance Adherence: Cybersecurity training ensures staff understand and comply with data protection regulations, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in the United States or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe.
• Phishing and Social Engineering Awareness: Training personnel to recognize and respond to threats like phishing attacks and social engineering significantly mitigates the risk of falling victim to such schemes.
• Secure Online Learning Environments: With the increasing prevalence of online learning, educational organizations must establish and maintain secure online platforms.
• Mitigating Disruptions: Cyberattacks have the potential to disrupt educational activities, leading to class cancellations, data breaches, or system downtime. Cybersecurity training equips organizations to prepare for and mitigate these incidents.
• Protecting Research and Intellectual Property: Universities and research institutions generate valuable research and intellectual property. Cybersecurity training is crucial for safeguarding these assets from theft or espionage.
• Vendor and Supply Chain Risk Management: Adequate cybersecurity training enables staff to assess and manage cybersecurity risks associated with third-party vendors for software, services, and infrastructure, as well as their supply chains.
Regardless, it's essential for all organizations to remain informed and proactive in the realm of cybersecurity to safeguard sensitive data and critical infrastructure.
Percentages in these graphs indicate the fraction of the total cybersecurity content consumed each year - per industry - over the past four years.
Our data revealed similarities in the courses consumed and badges earned across various industries this year. Particularly, learners in the education and training sector witnessed notable growth in badge acquisition during 2023. However, the business services and consulting industry consistently emerges as the top badge earner each year when considering the sheer number of badges earned (not depicted). Keeping abreast of the latest badges and credentials empowers employees in these sectors to safeguard client data, mitigate risks, comply with legal obligations, and showcase their dedication to cybersecurity.
Through investing in cybersecurity training and acquiring applicable badges, employees can showcase their dedication to safeguarding client data and upholding confidentiality.
There is a growing expectation among clients for their service providers to establish robust cybersecurity protocols, with some even specifying cybersecurity requirements in their contracts.
Cybersecurity training plays a crucial role in protecting sensitive client information and intellectual property from theft, espionage, or unauthorized access, thus ensuring the security of valuable data.
Promoting the participation of employees in cybersecurity courses and the attainment of badges is an investment in their professional growth.
Percentages in these graphs indicate the fraction of the total cybersecurity badges earned per industry since 2020.
YEARLY INCREASES ARE SEEN IN CYBERSECURITY CERTIFICATIONS.
Our data reveals a significant surge in cybersecurity certifications, with a 110% increase since last year alone and a remarkable 271% increase since 2020. Professionals are increasingly pursuing certifications in cybersecurity for several reasons:
Validation of Skills: Cybersecurity certifications formally validate one's knowledge and skills in the field, providing tangible evidence of the expertise required to safeguard digital assets effectively.
Career Advancement: Possessing relevant certifications can enhance job prospects, facilitate promotions, or enable negotiation of higher salaries within current roles.
Specialization: Certifications enable professionals to specialize in specific domains such as ethical hacking, incident response, or network security, showcasing their proficiency in those areas.
Staying Current: Maintaining certifications necessitates staying abreast of the latest trends, tools, and best practices through ongoing education, ensuring professionals remain pertinent in a rapidly evolving field.
Risk Management: Furnishing professionals with the knowledge and skills to assess and mitigate security risks effectively is indispensable for organizations striving to safeguard sensitive data and uphold business continuity and compliance standards
Additionally, obtaining a cybersecurity certification can be personally fulfilling and enhance confidence. It offers a standardized approach to obtaining and showcasing professional expertise, a crucial asset in a field where expertise is vital for defending against ever-changing cyber threats.
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