Overview
- The 2025 report surveyed a record 16,029 practitioners and found 59% face critical or significant skill gaps, with 95% reporting at least one needed skill.
- Operational fallout is widespread, as 88% linked shortages to at least one significant security incident and 69% experienced multiple incidents.
- Economic pressure eased only slightly, with 36% reporting budget cuts and 24% reporting layoffs, while 33% said teams lack resources and 29% cannot afford needed expertise, and 72% warned that personnel reductions raise breach risk.
- AI adoption is accelerating, with 28% already integrating tools and 69% engaged in adoption activities, and 41% naming AI as the top skill need.
- ISC2 did not publish a global workforce-gap estimate, citing respondent feedback that capability shortfalls are more consequential than raw staffing levels.