The Silent Threat Behind the Headlines: Why Cybersecurity Education is Now a National Priority
Cyberattacks are no longer just an IT problem. In recent years, they’ve become a regular part of global headlines, affecting everything from hospitals and libraries to water systems and unemployment agencies. And while the media often focuses on the who and how behind these attacks, a deeper issue sits beneath the surface: we don’t have enough trained people to prevent them.
As digital threats become more frequent and more damaging, a global shortage of cybersecurity professionals is quietly becoming one of the biggest risks facing public infrastructure, businesses, and governments alike. This article takes a closer look at what’s driving the surge in attacks, why education is becoming a national priority, and how individuals can step into one of the fastest-growing and most urgent career fields in the world.
From Healthcare to Libraries, Cyberattacks Are Escalating
In the past year alone, cyber incidents have disrupted core services across multiple countries.
In the United States, the February 2024 hack of UnitedHealth Group’s Change Healthcare platform froze pharmacy and insurance payments nationwide. Millions of Americans were affected.
In France, the country’s national unemployment agency, Pôle Emploi, suffered a massive data breach that exposed the personal information of nearly 43 million people.
The UK’s British Library was knocked offline for months after a ransomware attack, with internal documents and staff data leaked online.
Closer to critical infrastructure, several water utilities in Pennsylvania and Texas were targeted by hackers believed to be tied to Iranian and Russian groups. And in the Philippines, a ransomware attack on the public health insurance agency compromised both financial and medical data.
None of these attacks were particularly novel in their methods. What they revealed, however, is how easy it is to disrupt services that millions of people rely on — and how unprepared many institutions still are to stop it.
A Talent Shortage That’s Become a National Security Concern
Governments and private companies have poured money into cybersecurity software, monitoring tools, and threat detection systems. But those tools don’t work without people who know how to use them — and that’s where the real problem lies.
In the United States, there are currently more than 69,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs. Globally, according to Programs.com, the gap is estimated at around 4.8 million jobs.
A recent workforce study by ISC2 found that more than 70 percent of organizations feel they don’t have enough staff to properly defend against cyber threats. Many of those open roles go unfilled for months, and hiring managers are increasingly willing to consider candidates without traditional degrees just to meet demand.
It’s not just about hiring more people. The problem is that the world hasn’t trained enough of them yet.
Governments Are Turning to Education as a Long-Term Fix
To close the workforce gap, governments are starting to treat cybersecurity education the same way they treat public health or transportation infrastructure — as a national investment.
In the US, the Biden administration rolled out the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, which aims to grow the cybersecurity talent pool by expanding training from high school through higher education. The federal government has also funded more than 400 universities and colleges through the NSA and DHS Center of Academic Excellence program, which supports specialized cybersecurity degree tracks.
The UK is taking a similar approach through its CyberFirst initiative, which offers free training to students and supports cybersecurity-focused university programs. Meanwhile, Germany’s Digitalpakt 2.0 is investing in vocational and university-level cybersecurity training. And across the EU, ENISA’s Cybersecurity Skills Academy is helping to standardize training pathways across member states.
In Asia, countries like Singapore and South Korea are launching government-backed programs to reskill military personnel and private sector workers for cybersecurity roles.
This isn’t a regional issue. It’s a global shift in how nations are preparing for a future where digital threats are the norm, not the exception.
How Individuals Can Step Into Cybersecurity
While national strategies are helpful, most of the work still comes down to individuals choosing to build new skills. Fortunately, there are now more flexible entry points than ever before.
For complete beginners, low-cost and beginner-friendly certifications like the Google Cybersecurity Certificate or ISC2’s Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) offer a strong foundation. Many of these programs are available online and can be completed part-time.
The CompTIA Security+ certification is another widely recognized starting point, especially for those interested in IT support or SOC analyst roles.
For people looking to make a bigger shift — or aiming for leadership roles — formal education can provide a more structured path. Programs.com maintains a directory of cybersecurity degrees and certificates, including:
- Two-year associate programs
- Full bachelor’s degrees
- Online or part-time master’s programs
- NSA-validated programs from US colleges and universities
The Stakes Are Growing — and So Are the Opportunities
Cybercrime is expected to cost the global economy more than 10 trillion dollars annually by 2025. And while we continue to see headlines about breaches, outages, and data theft, the real story is about what’s missing behind the scenes — enough trained people to keep systems secure in the first place.
This growing demand is also a massive opportunity. Cybersecurity roles are not only in high demand, but they also offer strong salaries, clear career progression, and the chance to work on meaningful problems that have national and even global impact.
Whether you’re a recent graduate, a military veteran, an IT professional, or someone simply looking to make a career shift into a field with real staying power, cybersecurity is worth serious consideration.
The next major breach could make global headlines. But the long-term solution won’t come from flashy new software. It will come from people — the ones who decided to learn the skills to stop it.
