Today’s digital threat landscape is evolving at an alarming rate, which means most businesses are rapidly recognising the need for robust cybersecurity measures. Cybersecurity cannot be the responsibility of a small, isolated team. Instead, there’s an urgent need for a broad understanding across the board. Every employee, from the C-suite to the frontline, must possess at least a foundational understanding of the cyber risks they face daily.

The problem is that the reality is stark. Across the globe, and specifically in South Africa, the cybersecurity sector is grappling with severe skills shortages. There’s a large—and growing—gap between the demand for cybersecurity experts and the available talent pool. So, how can businesses address this issue and strengthen their defences?

Put people first

First, it’s important to recognise the situation. A robust cybersecurity strategy, backed by adequate budget, cannot be overstated. A single breach can lead to significant financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties. With the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) and increased connectivity, the potential attack surface for malicious actors has expanded exponentially.

Once a business appreciates the severity of the situation, it all comes down to people and how to get the rights skills into the right positions to protect the organisation. Given the scarcity of external talent, there is huge value in looking inward and upskilling. Offering training programs, workshops, and certifications for existing staff is a great way to address a skills shortage that will only continue to grow. Employees also value upskilling opportunities, which means these types of initiatives can serve the dual purpose of staff retention and skill augmentation (and in an age of automation, fine-tuning human skills is a must-have).

However, as critical as future-focused upskilling is, it doesn’t address the current talent gap. Fortunately, on-demand IT resourcing solutions have emerged to address this challenge. These solutions, often powered by sophisticated platforms, connect businesses with contractual cybersecurity experts on an as-needed basis. This approach provides flexibility, allowing businesses to scale their cybersecurity efforts up or down based on the current threat landscape and project requirements.

Beyond just on-demand resourcing, augmenting staff solutions is about integrating external experts into your existing teams. This not only plugs the skill gap but also facilitates the exchange of knowledge and best practices. External experts can bring fresh perspectives, innovative solutions, and experience from diverse sectors, effectively enriching your cybersecurity posture.

Create a cyber awareness culture

While not everyone needs to be a cybersecurity expert, everyone should be cyber-aware. Regular workshops, simulations, and awareness campaigns can ensure that all employees understand the basics of cybersecurity, the common threats they might face, and the best practices to avoid them.

Cybersecurity also is not just an IT concern; it impacts every facet of an organisation. Engaging departments such as HR, legal, marketing, and operations in cybersecurity conversations ensures a holistic approach to security. Cross-functional collaboration can also help in identifying hidden vulnerabilities and blind spots.

Remember, the threat landscape is not static; new challenges emerge daily. Businesses should adopt a dynamic approach, regularly assessing their cybersecurity stance and evolving accordingly. Periodic audits, penetration testing, and threat modelling can provide insights into potential vulnerabilities and areas of improvement. Ensuring that employees responsible for cybersecurity are at the top of their game and are regularly educating their colleagues and employees across the business is paramount to a strong, successful cyber culture.

In the pre-pandemic years, employees would occasionally take their laptops home to get some after-hours work done. Many businesses had no laptops at all and had to scramble to move employees from desktop computers so that they could work from home during the lockdowns. The idea of a remote workforce was almost unthinkable. Oh how times have changed.

Today, knowledge employees expect to be able to work from home for at least some of the week, and in a move to reduce overhead costs, some businesses are even considering remote working as the new normal.

So, with two models available to organisations—hybrid and remote—lets take a look at the pros and cons of each. 

Fully remote workforces

There are many pros to a remote workforce, beginning with the fact that remote work offers unparalleled flexibility. Employees can create their own schedules, work from locations of their choice, and often report a better work-life balance. For businesses, geographical constraints are no longer limiting and they can source talent globally, finding the best fit irrespective of location. Operating costs are also significantly decreased as businesses save on real estate, utilities, and other overheads associated with physical office spaces.

However, as many remote workforces are fast discovering, there are challenges inherent in this model as well. For example, while digital tools facilitate communication, nothing truly replicates the ease of face-to-face interactions. Collaboration can sometimes feel disjointed or delayed and is not possible without extremely well-defined and strong processes that everyone understands and follows. It’s important for businesses operating remotely to have a tried and tested operating model in place as well, such as the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) or Scaling Up to ensure full transparency across the business.

Another challenge is culture. Building and maintaining a cohesive company culture becomes is difficult when team members rarely, if ever, meet in person. We’ve already seen how people are enjoying going back to the office. This is entirely missing in a remote business. 

Finally, remote work environments can expose companies to increased cybersecurity risks, particularly if employees use unsecured networks or personal devices, which means there needs to be close monitoring of ‘home office’ set ups. 

Each of these cons can be addressed, but what about the more negative aspects of remote working like isolation and blurred boundaries? Extended periods of remote work can lead to feelings of loneliness or detachment among employees. This can have detrimental effects on mental well-being and overall productivity. Without a distinct separation between ‘work’ and ‘home, employees can find it challenging to switch off, leading to potential burnout. These are all crucial aspects to address. 

Hybrid working in a productive new world

While some businesses are successfully transitioning to fully remote work, it’s becoming increasingly clear that hybrid work offers a middle ground. Employees can benefit from the flexibility of remote work and the camaraderie of in-office interactions.

Many workforces have discovered how different tasks require different environments. Creative brainstorming might flourish in office spaces, while focused tasks might benefit from the solitude of home. This is why many employees and their employers value the balance that hybrid models offer. Businesses can attract and retain talent more effectively by offering hybrid solutions, and the movement between home and ‘traditional’ offices tends to boost creativity and productivity. 

However, that does not mean there are no drawbacks to hybrid work. Coordinating who should be in the office on which days can become an administrative challenge, requiring robust management tools. If not managed correctly, there could be perceptions that those who spend more time in the office receive more attention or opportunities than their remote counterparts.

The need to invest in both a physical office space and robust remote-working technology can also add costs, at least initially, potentially straining resources.

Are there any real cons to remote working, however? We’ve seen a few issues creep up. For one, there’s always a risk that two distinct ‘cultures’ might emerge: one for in-office employees and another for the primarily remote ones. This can lead to misunderstandings or even conflicts. With employees toggling between environments, maintaining consistency in terms of communication, project management, and performance evaluation can be also be challenging. The good news is that these issues can be addressed. The key is to rework business models and processes for a hybrid environment. 

The integration of diverse talents and inclusive practices in IT can offer a powerful strategic advantage to organisations, as it drives innovation and creativity. However, the scarcity of resources—ranging from educational opportunities to access to cutting-edge technology—can significantly inhibit these efforts.

Diversity refers to the inclusion of individuals from various backgrounds, including different genders, races, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds. Inclusion, on the other hand, is about creating an environment where these diverse individuals feel valued, respected, and have equal access to opportunities.

By genuinely valuing different perspectives and experiences, companied can benefit from encouraging diverse leadership, promoting inclusive team dynamics, and actively seeking input from a wide range of voices in decision-making processes. When diversity is genuinely valued, it leads to a more innovative, resilient, and adaptable IT sector.

By making a conscious effort to create inclusive cultures, organisations will benefit from the multitude of business benefits that are the direct result of diversity. For example, by assembling a team with varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, companies tap into a richer pool of ideas, fostering innovative solutions and approaches to problem-solving. This diversity in thought and experience also leads to better decision-making, as multiple viewpoints are considered, reducing the likelihood of ‘groupthink’. A diverse workforce can better understand and connect with a varied customer base, improving customer satisfaction and expanding market reach. Within a technology landscape, there will also be various viewpoints to solve problems directly related to how customers and employees access technology, rely on IT and use IT.

The challenge in a resource-scarce environment is how to effectively promote and sustain these principles.

Implementing diversity and inclusion

The first step is to acknowledge the existing disparities within the IT sector. Often, individuals from underrepresented groups lack access to the necessary education and training to develop IT skills. This gap is further widened by the high cost of education and the rapid pace of technological change, which can make keeping up with the latest skills and tools difficult. Recognising these challenges is essential to address them effectively.

Next, it is crucial to foster partnerships between different sectors. Collaboration between business, educational institutions, and IT resource companies can create pathways for underrepresented groups to gain the necessary skills and experience. These initiatives not only benefit the individuals involved but also enrich the IT field with a wider range of perspectives and ideas.

One of the most efficient ways to bring diversity and inclusion into an organisation is through a full-service IT talent solutions provider. This includes skilled IT resourcing solutions that can deploy resources across permanent, contracting or project-based requirements.

As we all know, organisations can accelerate business transformation through world-class talent. At Paracon, we believe that from short-term projects to strategic technology modernisation, the key to success lies in the ability to access the right resources. Embracing diversity and inclusion and building a culture that values different experiences, viewpoints and skills is the foundation for future success.

Working with Paracon

At Paracon, we are dedicated to helping clients navigate the competitive IT talent market and overcome skills shortages.

Our skilled IT resourcing solution is agile and flexible and allows us to deploy resources to organisations in South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and rest of world.

We deploy fully compliant skilled IT resources on a time and material basis from one day to 12 months or longer.

If you are struggling with lengthy and expensive searches, consider partnering with us to show you the power of today’s latest sourcing technologies powered by the experienced human insight of our recruitment specialists.

Our permanent hire solution handles the full process for you by bringing you together with the right candidate, from sourcing and screening, to salary negotiation and onboarding.