Because your firewall is only as strong as the intern who clicked the “WIN AN IPHONE” email.
Let’s start with the obvious: cybercrime is not just a plot device in action movies anymore. It’s real, it’s here, and it’s wreaking havoc on South African businesses faster than you can say “update your password”.
Unfortunately, while cyber threats are evolving at breakneck speed, the number of trained professionals who can stop them is… not. We’re facing a cybersecurity skills gap so wide you could drive a ransomware attack through it.
And that’s where training – not panic – becomes our biggest defence.
The Threat Landscape: Spoiler Alert – It’s Not Great
South Africa has become a prime target for cybercriminals. In fact, over 80% of South African organisations have experienced some form of cyberattack in recent years. From phishing scams to data breaches, businesses large and small are under siege.
What’s worse? Many companies didn’t even know they’d been attacked until the damage was done, and the CEO is staring at his screen that says, “Pay in Bitcoin or your files disappear.”
Globally, the picture is no less bleak.
“The cybersecurity workforce shortage has held steady at 3.5 million unfilled jobs in 2021 and will remain there through at least 2025.” – Cybersecurity Ventures 2020.
That’s not a typo. That’s a global army of defenders… missing in action.
In short: the bad guys are growing. The good guys are under-resourced. And the rest of us are sitting ducks with questionable password habits.
Why the Skills Gap Exists (And Why It’s So Dangerous)
Here’s the plot twist: it’s not that people don’t want to work in cybersecurity. It’s that the pipeline is narrow, confusing, and often reserved for the elite few who understand what “zero trust architecture” means without Googling it.
The result?
- Companies struggle to find qualified talent.
- Existing staff are stretched thin or underprepared.
- Attackers exploit human error – the softest entry point in any system.
And just to rub salt in the wound: cybercrime is expected to cost the world $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. According to Cybersecurity Ventures’ 2016 “Hackerpocalypse” report, that’s with a growth of 15% per year, coming from a $3 trillion spent in 2015. That’s trillion… with a T. That’s basically the GDP of “Oops, we should’ve invested in training.”
Training is the Fix. Here’s Why It Works.
The most effective way to close the cybersecurity gap isn’t just hiring your cousin who’s “really good with computers.” It’s about structured, scalable, accessible education – and yes, that means actual training.
For Individuals:
Cybersecurity isn’t just for IT specialists anymore. From finance officers to admin assistants, everyone needs baseline digital safety skills. Why? Because it only takes one person to click on a bad link for an entire company to spiral into chaos.
Training empowers everyday professionals with:
- Basic cyber hygiene (strong passwords, not writing them on sticky notes, you get it)
- How to spot phishing emails that almost look legit
- What to do if a breach happens (hint: don’t tweet about it first)
It also opens doors to a high-demand career path in an industry that’s booming, well-paying, and frankly, pretty exciting. Who wouldn’t want to be the person who stops a hacker in their tracks?
For Organisations:
Investing in cybersecurity training is like buying a fire extinguisher before the blaze – boring at the time, life-saving when things go sideways.
Training your team means:
- Fewer vulnerabilities through human error
- Faster responses to suspicious activity
- Stronger compliance with POPIA and other regulations
- Less spending on damage control
And if your company handles data (hint: that’s all of them), then cyber resilience isn’t optional – it’s strategic.
What Good Cybersecurity Training Looks Like
Not all courses are created equal. If you’re handing employees a PDF called “Staying Safe Online” and calling it a day… we need to talk.
Great training should be:
- Practical and hands-on
- Scenario-based (real-world examples, not theory-only lectures)
- Accessible to both tech and non-tech learners
- Short enough to finish before the next cyberattack lands
Think simulations, interactive videos, gamified quizzes, and content that doesn’t bore the will to live out of your team.
Fine, now that you’ve asked… yes, that’s exactly what our Executive Short Courses Cybersecurity Programme is built to deliver.
Final Thoughts: Skills Are the New Firewalls
Cybersecurity is no longer the sole responsibility of the IT department. It’s everyone’s job – from the boardroom to the front desk.
And while firewalls, encryption, and multi-factor authentication are critical, the strongest defence is a team that’s actually trained to use them.
Closing the cybersecurity skills gap in South Africa (and beyond) won’t happen overnight – but with the right investment in education, we can build a digitally secure workforce ready to take on the evolving threat landscape.
Because the real question isn’t “Will we be attacked?”
It’s “Will we be ready when it happens?”
Ready to Prepare Your Team?
Our upcoming Cybersecurity Course delivers the skills your people need – whether they’re tech-savvy or tech-scared.
- Fully online
- Scenario-based and gamified
- Built for busy professionals
[Link to course on website]
Let’s close the gap. Let’s train better. Let’s stop replying to that Nigerian prince once and for all.
