The Canadian cybersecurity market faces a significant problem: an excessive focus on advanced certifications for employment, despite most job seekers being new to the field.
Francois Guay, Founder of the Canadian Cybersecurity Network, emphasizes, “We need to focus on creating hands-on work experience for new cybersecurity entrants” rather than solely prioritizing certifications.
After analyzing 10,000 job postings on Canadian Cybersecurity Jobs, CCN’s sister site, the top certifications required by employers are:
CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) – 1,779 mentions
CISM (Certified Information Security Manager) – 906 mentions
CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) – 490 mentions
CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) – 329 mentions
CCSP (Certified Cloud Security Professional) – 306 mentions
Why are CISSP and CISM so highly sought after? These certifications validate advanced skills in managing and securing critical data, which are essential given the increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. However, achieving these certifications isn’t easy. CISSP requires at least five years of relevant work experience and costs around USD$749 for the exam alone, not to mention the cost of study materials and preparation courses. CISM also demands substantial experience and costs around USD$575-$760 for the exam.
“This elevated demand for advanced certifications like CISSP and CISM is reducing the availability of ‘qualified’ talent searching for employment to less than 10 per cent in the Canadian market. This is not sustainable, nor is it the right direction for Canada to pursue. We need to focus on creating opportunities for hands-on experience and skill development to build a robust cybersecurity workforce,” commented Francois Guay.
Given these barriers, it’s crucial for Canadian employers, educators, and government bodies to shift their focus toward providing practical work experience opportunities for new entrants in the field. Hands-on experience is vital for starting their journey toward future certifications. By fostering a supportive environment for learning and growth, we can build a robust pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals to meet the growing demand.
This article first appeared on Canadian Cybersecurity Network.
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