Recruiting and Retaining Cybersecurity Talent: Best Practices

by Silke Stienen-Durand

Businesses both small and large across the UK are ever more dependent on technology, to facilitate remote working, store customer and client data and support growth. Unfortunately, this means that they are ever more open to cyber threats, and cyber criminals are constantly looking for new ways to exploit vulnerabilities. To safeguard your digital assets and valuable data it's important that you have the skills and expertise to hand to deal with those threats quickly and effectively. Because so many businesses are competing for these skills the UK, along with the rest of the world, is experiencing an intense cybersecurity talent shortage. Which means you need to know the best ways to recruit and retain key cybersecurity talent.

Let’s explore some best practices you can build into your cybersecurity talent attraction and retention strategy to get results and we’ll also look at how consultants are a flexible alternative solution to help keep your business secure while you develop your cybersecurity hiring.

Best Practices for Recruiting Cybersecurity Talent

Finding top cybersecurity talent can be a daunting prospect, especially with so much competition for the best candidates. Here are some best practices to build into your talent attraction strategy for great results:

  • Don’t rush

Having a position open for a long time can be daunting, as well as costly, but rushing to hire can lead to a poor fit.

  • Rethink your hiring process

Hiring should be a smooth, positive experience, from both sides! Cybersecurity talent will be attracted by clear job descriptions that outline the key expectations of the role, good communication throughout and a collaborative interview process.

  • Think culture match

Even the best candidate from a technical standpoint can still be a poor fit if they don’t match the values and culture of your business.

  • Hire for potential

If a candidate is driven and enthusiastic about developing new skills, they have the potential to be a truly great addition. Don’t discount someone if their knowledge isn’t perfect in one area. A good attitude and a desire to learn can be directed where you need them to be.

  • Develop new pipelines

Always look for new sources of skilled talent. Connections with colleges and universities can help you hire great candidates early in their careers. Employee referrals are also a good source of potential new hires.

  • Learn from your mistakes

Previous hires, good and not-so-good, can provide valuable learning moments. Revisit some successes and some failures to see what you can learn from them.

Strategies for Retaining Cybersecurity Talent

Of course, recruiting cybersecurity talent is just the beginning. 60% of organisations are struggling to retain cybersecurity talent, so how do you make sure the best cyber professionals want to stick around and grow with your business? Here are some strategies for investing in your cybersecurity team for great retention:

  • Get feedback from employees

Your current employees should be your first stop to learn whether what you’re doing is working, or if it isn’t. They can also help inform the direction of any changes you need to make.

  • Look at your compensation packages objectively

Do you benchmark your salary and benefits? Do they meet the needs of today’s cybersecurity professionals? You should stay aware of the latest trends and candidate preferences.

  • Encourage flexibility

While there will always be periods of higher workloads in cyber roles, it’s important to encourage a degree of flexibility, autonomy, and work-life balance for your teams. Not just because it’s highly valued by cybersecurity professionals but because a well-rested security team is more effective.

  • Support growth

New cyber threats are always emerging, so continuous learning is an important aspect of any individual’s growth. Provide opportunities for learning new skills, collaborating with other cybersecurity professionals and on the job training.

  • Innovate your career development

Nearly 50% of cyber professionals who leave a role do so because of limited career development opportunities. Development doesn’t always need to mean promotion up the ladder. If you are a smaller business, look for other ways to nurture talent such as internal development, cross-departmental collaboration, and mentorship.

Where Do Consultants Come In?

Perhaps permanent hiring is not the right solution for your business at this time. In that case, consultancy offers an alternative. Cybersecurity consultants can be valuable assets, bringing specialized expertise honed across multiple projects and fresh perspectives and insights that might elude an in-house team entrenched in day-to-day operations.

Because of their flexibility, consultants can be brought in to assist with specific projects or urgent cybersecurity issues that require immediate attention. Their experience means they can adapt and integrate into these scenarios, addressing critical issues delivering rapid and effective responses and ensuring continued safeguarding your digital assets.

Consultants can also act as mentors, helping you understand the challenges of recruiting and retaining cybersecurity professionals and providing you with the knowledge and skills to make your organisation more attractive, develop your in-house talent and create a sustainable framework for long-term security success.

Access our vetted community of skilled consultants, when you need them!

Hubbado is a resourcing community of highly skilled consultants providing you with the skills and expertise to take your business forward. We connect businesses with a curated pool of highly qualified contractors with a variety of cybersecurity skills and experience. Our platform ensures you can find contractors with the right expertise for your cybersecurity needs.

Before we submit any candidates to you, the members of our exclusive community are vetted by a specialist in their job sector for their industry knowledge, certifications, communication skills and more. Meaning that whatever the technical scope of your project you can always find a consultant who understands your needs. 

Connect with a consultant today or book a call with one of our friendly sales team.