In the midst of widespread layoffs in the tech industry in 2024, two sectors stood out for their continued hiring: AI and cybersecurity. While AI is the trendy new field, cybersecurity offers a variety of subcategories that demand different skills and knowledge.
Maarten Van Horenbeeck, the chief security officer at Adobe, shared his approach to hiring cybersecurity experts, emphasizing the importance of empathy and diversity in skills. He highlighted the challenge of finding candidates with extensive experience in cybersecurity, leading to a talent gap in the industry.
Van Horenbeeck stressed the value of considering applicants with diverse backgrounds and skill sets, as they can bring fresh perspectives to cybersecurity teams. He advocated for training individuals from non-technical fields to bridge the gap between business and technical aspects of security.
To address the cybersecurity talent gap, Van Horenbeeck suggested creating teams with a mix of security and non-security backgrounds to foster empathy and understanding. Adobe’s CyberPeace Builders program exemplifies this approach by collaborating with nonprofits to provide volunteer security support.
For companies looking to develop cybersecurity experts internally, Van Horenbeeck recommended fostering conversations about security across the organization and seeking talent beyond traditional job fairs. By engaging with entry-level employees interested in cybersecurity and partnering with educational institutions for internships, companies can cultivate a diverse and skilled cybersecurity workforce.
Ultimately, Van Horenbeeck advised approaching cybersecurity with a broad perspective on technology and emphasizing empathy in the hiring and training process. By embracing diversity and empathy, companies can build strong and effective cybersecurity teams in an evolving digital landscape.