Using Eight Years of Cybersecurity Workforce Research to Navigate Your Career & Build Better Teams

What the Data Says About You: Using Eight Years of Cybersecurity Workforce Research to Navigate Your Career & Build Better Teams - A practitioner's guide to the Life and Times of Cybersecurity Professionals, Volume VIII

Eight years of ISSA and Omdia research has produced something rare in this industry; a longitudinal, practitioner-sourced record of what it actually feels like to work in cybersecurity. The data tracks job satisfaction, burnout, career development, the skills shortage, AI adoption, and organizational culture across hundreds of professionals globally. Most people have heard the headlines. Far fewer have sat with what the data means for their own careers and their own organizations. This session changes that. Join Melinda Marks, Practice Director, Cybersecurity at Omdia and lead researcher on the study, and Dr. Shawn P. Murray, Immediate Past President of ISSA and Chair of the ISSA AIM committee, for a conversation that puts the Volume VIII findings directly in your hands. Whether you are a practitioner trying to make sense of where you stand, a manager trying to retain the talent you have, or a hiring leader trying to build a pipeline that works, this data has something specific to say to you. We will walk through what the research shows about career entry, advancement, job satisfaction, and retention, and translate the findings into practical guidance you can use. We will also look honestly at what the numbers say about the profession's relationship with AI, the evolving CISO role, and why the skills shortage persists despite years of awareness. This session is presented by the ISSA AIM (Apprenticeship, Internship & Mentorship) committee, whose work is directly validated by the research: 54% of cybersecurity professionals say seeking an apprenticeship, internship, or mentor is among the most valuable steps for anyone entering the field. The data has been telling us what the profession needs. This session is about what you do with it.