There is a shortage of cyber security professionals worldwide and in the U. S., and it is growing. A study cited by Cyber Security Intelligence estimates the current global workforce is 2.93 million, 805,000 in the U. S. There are 4.07 million unfilled professional positions worldwide, 498,840 in the U.S. By 2022 the shortage is estimated to grow to 1.8 million.
To meet this shortage, the Department of Homeland Security has awarded $2 million to build a national network of cyber security technical institutes. To attract new workers, organizations need to look to other professions or graduates with similar degrees. Existing IT professionals can be cross-trained to give them an understanding of cyber security.