Cybersecurity teams are navigating a shift as skills shortages overtake headcount as the primary concern, according to ISC2’s 2025 Cybersecurity Workforce Study. The research, based on responses from some 16,029 cybersecurity professionals globally, reveals that while budget cuts and layoffs have leveled off after last year’s surge, the pressure on security teams has intensified. ISC2, a nonprofit member organization for cybersecurity professionals, found that cybersecurity workforce budget limitations remain a key driver of staff shortages, with 33% of respondents stating that their organizations do not have enough resources to “adequately” staff their teams. Another 29% of respondents said they cannot afford to hire staff with the skills they need to “adequately secure their organizations,” this year’s study found. And nearly three-fourths (72%) of respondents said that they believe reducing security personnel “significantly increases the risk of a breach in their organizations,” according to ISC2.

Full study : The latest ISC2 workforce study reveals that skills gaps are increasing as cybersecurity professionals adopt AI tools and report critical staffing needs across organizations.