When I speak with the InfoSec professionals at our regional SecureWorld cybersecurity conferences, I can feel a sense of pride among the community.
This is a great time to be in cybersecurity, battling the bad actors and securing the business and the information customers and clients entrust to your organization.
But there's a well-known problem: we need more people in cybersecurity.
Where should we look next to find them?
A new study by McAfee says your next round of best hires may be "gamers," based on a survey of nearly 1,000 InfoSec professionals.
"To address the shortage of skilled cybersecurity workers, the report findings suggest that gamers, those engaged and immersed in online competitions, may be the logical next step to plugging the gap.
Nearly all (92%) of respondents believe that gaming affords players experience and skills critical to cybersecurity threat hunting: logic, perseverance, an understanding of how to approach adversaries and a fresh outlook compared to traditional cybersecurity hires."
And those doing the hiring agree, according to the study:
- Three-quarters of senior managers say they would consider hiring a gamer even if that person had no specific cybersecurity training or experience.
- More than three-quarters (78%) of respondents say the current generation entering the workforce, who have been raised playing video games, are stronger candidates for cybersecurity roles than traditional hires.
- 72% of respondents say hiring experienced video gamers into the IT department seems like a good way to plug the cybersecurity skills gap.
One thing is for sure, at least anecdotally: I watch my kids playing video games and I'm amazed at the rapid fire risk/reward decisions they must make and the strategic decisions required to stay alive in their favorite games.
Have you noticed the same thing at your house? And has your organization purposefully hired "gamers," or will you take that factor into consideration?
