CyberCX, AustCyber launch CyberSeek portal

Cybersecurity services company CyberCX is leading an initiative to launch CyberSeek, an interactive mapping tool designed to track the state of the Australian cybersecurity job market in real time.

The initiative is being developed by CyberCX, along with cybersecurity growth network AustCyber and a consortium of partners including Accenture, Burning Glass Technologies and CompTIA.

Funded through the AustCyber Projects Fund — a $15 million, three-year initiative designed to help the Australian cybersecurity industry and export market grow — the tool will seek to provide real-time data on the talent gap the sector is facing.

CyberCX CEO John Paitaridis said this skills shortage is cause for significant concern. “Cybersecurity workers protect Australia’s most important assets, from critical infrastructure to enterprise intellectual property, through to the personally identifiable information millions of Australians use to access their bank accounts,” he said.

“The dangerous shortage of cybersecurity workers Australia is facing puts our collective digital privacy and infrastructure at risk. As Australia’s largest cybersecurity provider, we want to play a leading role in helping build a robust and sustainable skills pipeline to drive the industry into the future.”

Data from the platform show that in the 12 months to September 2020 there were over 14,000 job openings for dedicated and related cybersecurity roles in Australia — but a talent pool of just half the size of the national average for employers to recruit from. This means for every job advertised in a cybersecurity-related field in Australia, there are only six cybersecurity workers in existence in the labour market.

The CyberSeek platform was first piloted in the USA by Burning Glass Technologies and CompTIA, and is now being expanded to Australia.

AustCyber CEO Michelle Price said maintaining and broadening efforts to attract and train workers in cybersecurity expertise will ensure the future quality of Australia’s cyber workforce.

“Australia has some of the best cyber talent in the world, but we need to expand the supply of talent coming through the pipeline if we are to have a vibrant and globally competitive economy,” she said.

“The launch of CyberSeek ensures key enablers are in place to transition workers. This is an invaluable tool which provides information such as the demand for cyber skills by region across Australia, qualification and certification requirements for cyber roles, indicative salaries and transition pathways and role progression.”

AustCyber recently announced a merger with Stone & Chalk whereby it will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the tech incubator.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/nd3000