The cybersecurity skills gap has long been a concern for organisations, and new data suggests the challenge is becoming more acute in 2026.

New research from our partners at Fortinet shows the shortage of qualified cybersecurity talent is widening, while the cost of inaction continues to rise.

Its 2026 Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report, based on responses from more than 2,750 IT and security decision-makers across 32 countries, found that 71% of organisations now see the shortage of cyber talent as a direct business risk. More than half are struggling to recruit cybersecurity professionals, while 52% also say retaining existing staff is a growing challenge.

Why the gap is growing

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence is changing what organisations need from their security teams. Traditional technical skills remain vital, but businesses are now also searching for specialists with experience in AI oversight, security automation, governance and emerging threat detection.

According to the report, six in ten organisations say their biggest hiring challenge is finding cybersecurity professionals with specific AI expertise.

That creates a difficult reality. Demand for skilled people is increasing, but the available talent pool remains limited. At the same time, businesses are under pressure to modernise defences, adopt new technologies and respond to increasingly sophisticated attackers.

The business impact is visible

The report found that 56% of respondents believe a lack of cybersecurity skills was a leading cause of breaches. Meanwhile, 86% experienced at least one breach in the past year.

Financial damage is also increasing. More than half of organisations said breaches had cost them more than $1 million, with average costs in North America reaching $2 million.

Boards are taking notice, but many organisations still face barriers to action. While 51% said senior cybersecurity expertise is their greatest need, 49% reported difficulty securing approval for additional hires.

Why permanent hiring alone is not enough

For many organisations, relying solely on permanent recruitment is no longer realistic. Competition for experienced professionals is intense, hiring cycles are slow, and project demands often change faster than internal teams can scale.

This is where flexible resource augmentation has become an essential strategy.

Rather than waiting months to fill critical roles, organisations are increasingly turning to specialist partners who can provide immediate access to proven expertise.

How CyberConnect360 can help

Integrity360’s CyberConnect360 service is designed to help organisations close skills gaps quickly and effectively.

Through resource augmentation, CyberConnect360 provides access to handpicked cybersecurity and IT specialists who integrate seamlessly into your existing teams and projects.

Available expertise includes:

• SOC Engineers for real-time threat detection and response
• Network Engineers and Architects for secure digital infrastructure
• Infrastructure Engineers for resilient IT environments
• DevOps, Cloud and Firewall Engineers
• PKI Administrators and CISOs
• OT Compliance specialists
• Data Analysts
• Project and Programme Managers

Whether you need short-term project support, long-term specialist capability or rapid cover during hiring gaps, CyberConnect360 gives you access to the right expertise without the delays of traditional recruitment.

Close the gap before it widens further

The 2026 skills shortage data sends a clear message. Organisations cannot afford to wait for the market to correct itself.

The cybersecurity talent gap is widening, attacker capability is increasing, and internal teams are being stretched further each year.

CyberConnect360 helps you respond now, with specialist people who can strengthen operations, accelerate projects and reduce risk from day one. Need help with your staffing needs? Get in touch with our experts today.

FAQs

What is the cybersecurity skills gap?

The cybersecurity skills gap refers to the growing shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals available to defend organisations against modern cyber threats. As attacks become more sophisticated and frequent, many organisations struggle to recruit and retain the talent needed to manage security operations effectively.

Why is the cybersecurity skills gap getting worse?

The gap continues to widen due to a combination of factors including increased cyber threats, rapid digital transformation, cloud adoption, AI-driven attacks and growing regulatory pressure. Demand for experienced cybersecurity professionals is significantly outpacing supply, leaving many organisations understaffed and exposed.

How does the cybersecurity skills shortage impact businesses?

A lack of cybersecurity expertise can lead to slower threat detection, increased response times, employee burnout, security misconfigurations and greater vulnerability to attacks such as ransomware, phishing and supply chain compromise. It can also make compliance and governance more difficult to manage.

What is CyberConnect360?

CyberConnect360 is an Integrity360 service designed to help organisations address cybersecurity staffing challenges by providing access to experienced cybersecurity professionals, specialist expertise and scalable security support.

How can CyberConnect360 help close the cybersecurity skills gap?

CyberConnect360 gives organisations access to skilled cybersecurity professionals without the delays and costs associated with traditional recruitment. This helps businesses strengthen security operations, fill expertise gaps and maintain resilience while reducing pressure on internal teams.

What types of cybersecurity roles can CyberConnect360 support?

CyberConnect360 can support a wide range of cybersecurity functions including SOC analysts, incident responders, governance and compliance specialists, security engineers, threat hunters, vulnerability management experts and broader operational cybersecurity support roles.

Why are organisations struggling to hire cybersecurity professionals?

Cybersecurity recruitment is highly competitive due to global demand for experienced professionals. Many organisations face challenges related to salary expectations, skills shortages, retention issues and the need for specialised expertise across multiple security domains.

Can outsourcing cybersecurity support improve resilience?

Yes. Partnering with an experienced cybersecurity provider can improve resilience by providing access to skilled experts, 24/7 monitoring capabilities, incident response support and specialist knowledge that may be difficult to build internally.

What are the risks of operating without enough cybersecurity staff?

Organisations without sufficient cybersecurity coverage may struggle to detect threats quickly, manage vulnerabilities effectively or respond to incidents before damage occurs. This can increase the likelihood of downtime, data breaches, operational disruption and regulatory consequences.

How does Integrity360 support organisations facing cybersecurity staffing challenges?

Integrity360 helps organisations strengthen cybersecurity resilience through managed security services, MDR, incident response, consulting and specialist resourcing services such as CyberConnect360, giving businesses access to the expertise they need when they need it most.