The cybersecurity talent shortage has reached a scale that organizations can no longer absorb or ignore. According to ISC2’s 2024 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, there are approximately 4.8 million unfilled cybersecurity positions globally, a workforce gap that continues to widen year over year. That number isn’t abstract — it represents actual vulnerabilities in working organizations, from small businesses to critical infrastructure to government systems. As digital threats grow more sophisticated and more frequent, the gap between the employable professionals and open positions — continues to widen. Higher education has a central role to play in closing it, and at National University, that’s exactly the work we’ve built our cybersecurity programs around. Key Takeaways - The cybersecurity talent shortage is driven by a persistent skills gap that headcount alone can’t solve - Employers need job-ready professionals with hands-on, applied experience, not just credentials - Universities play a critical role in preparing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals for today’s threat landscape Understanding the Cybersecurity Workforce Shortage The cybersecurity talent gap in the U.S. is one of the largest in the world. Despite steady growth in training programs, certifications, and university degree offerings, demand for talent continues to outpace supply. The shortage hits hardest in sectors like healthcare, finance, and government, where the sensitivity of data and regulatory requirements create the highest security stakes. The scope of the problem extends across organizations of every size. According to ISC2’s 2024 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, only 69 percent of organizations have entry-level cybersecurity professionals working within their team, a figure that drops to 64 percent in smaller companies. And when roles do open up, they don’t fill quickly. Almost half of all companies take more than six months to fill a cybersecurity vacancy, according to the same study. For organizations facing active threats, six months is