How STARs can close the cybersecurity talent gap

Imagine an entire US state - one with a population similar to Louisiana's - pulled from the workforce.

That's the scale of the global cybersecurity talent shortage, which has reached 4.8 million people, according to recent estimates. This shortage isn't a minor business inconvenience. It's a growing vulnerability.

Threats are increasing across the digital landscape. In May 2024 alone, Okta blocked 2.38 billion malicious requests, according to its Businesses at Work 2025 report, with threat levels remaining consistently higher than the year prior. And no sector is safe, with cybercriminals targeting every industry, from multinational energy companies to nonprofit organizations.

Artificial intelligence has only compounded the problem. Threat actors are using the tech to scale their attacks, while legitimate businesses, eager for AI-driven productivity gains, are deploying new technologies, such as AI agents, without robust governance or security plans in place. To realize AI's promise and stay secure, businesses need humans - a dedicated workforce of cybersecurity professionals - at the wheel. Yet despite the urgent demand, this Louisiana-sized shortfall stands in the way.

However, this talent gap is solvable. Employers can help close this deficit by looking beyond traditional hiring requirements, such as four-year degrees, and instead tapping into a vast talent pool of individuals who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs). These working adults, who have a high school diploma but not a bachelor's degree, developed their skills through routes such as community college, apprenticeships, boot camps, and on-the-job experience. In the US, more than 70 million workers are STARs.