BRUSSELS – April 18, 2023 – BSA | The Software Alliance welcomes today’s recommendations by the Commission to boost digital skills through training and education in Europe and the EU Cybersecurity Skills Academy. The package of proposed initiatives aims to provide much-needed training and education in digital – and especially cyber – skills for the EU workforce, which is facing a shortage of IT and cybersecurity experts.  

The latest World Economic Forum Global Cybersecurity Outlook reports that there was a shortfall of approximately 2.27 million cybersecurity experts in 2021, highlighting the importance of recruiting and retaining individuals with digital and cybersecurity skills to address growing cyber threats.

Hadrien Valembois, Senior Manager, Policy – EMEA at BSA, said, “The EU Cybersecurity Skills Academy initiative should focus on enlarging the pool of technical experts with specific cybersecurity skills and providing employees in general with basic skills training, especially when it comes to cyber hygiene. BSA also encourages greater collaboration with the private sector, tapping into the extensive expertise and knowledge sharing of enterprise software companies to equip professionals with industry-ready cyber skills.”

“In addition, it is of utmost importance to look at how EU member states can support the scaling up of successful private sector initiatives on cybersecurity training, so that together they can reach more people and form more professionals,” Valembois added.

Making significant investments in broadening opportunities, promoting alternative paths to the labor market, improving training programs, and expediting workforce diversity are key recommendations in BSA’s 2023 Global Cyber Agenda. Learn more here.