Three in four companies plan to strengthen IT security

A recent Kaspersky study shows that companies around the globe are mulling over plans to enhance their IT security domain, with 75% of organisations worldwide (89% in South Africa) revealing this is their intention for the upcoming year.

The trend highlights rising demand in seasoned cybersecurity talent, creating new opportunities for professionals, while suggesting that the industry’s skills shortage may intensify.

As cyberthreats continue to grow in scale and complexity, strengthening IT security service has become an important priority worldwide, with 99% of companies globally viewing this department as a core business function. Yet this rising demand is unfolding against a persistent shortage of experienced cybersecurity experts with findings showing that some companies might spend more than six months hiring a qualified security professional. Finding a candidate whose skill set would exactly match a role’s requirements might take even more time and effort.

The study, conducted by Kaspersky’s internal market research centre, reveals a widespread intent to strengthen IT security function across the board in the next 12 months. This trend is especially pronounced among mid-market (1 500 to 2 499 employees) and high-enterprise (2 500 or more employees) organisations, where 78% and 83% of companies globally, respectively, plan to enhance their security function in the upcoming year.

Industry-wise, IT (79%) and telecommunications (76%) show the strongest intent to invest in cybersecurity.

The picture shifts somewhat when looking at organisations by size: in the high-enterprises group, manufacturing tops the list at 84%, followed by IT (82%), and banking, financial services and insurance (79%). In the mid-market, IT stands out with 84% of companies globally prioritising further security function development.

This overall trend signals that cybersecurity appears to be one of the most attractive fields for professional development – both for young professionals entering the industry and for established experts seeking to enhance their competencies. Organisations today prioritise team growth, professional development and practical experience to keep up with modern threats.

“With three in four companies planning to reinforce their IT security function, the talent shortage in cybersecurity becomes even more acute in the coming years,” says Evgeniya Russkikh, head of Academic Affairs at Kaspersky. “While upskilling today’s information security specialists will partially ease the pressure, addressing the gap requires a more comprehensive approach: wider access for education and learning opportunities; encouraging more inclusive participation; and strengthening industry collaboration with universities.”

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