As cyber threats continue to evolve, organizations are grappling with a pressing problem: a critical shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. Centric Consulting, the international business and technology firm, is stepping into the fray with a new resource aimed at helping companies build resilient security teams. The playbook, Cyber Expertise at Scale: Your Playbook for Scoring an All-Star Team, drops just in time for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, offering actionable strategies for navigating today’s complex threat landscape.
The Cyber Talent Crunch
Traditional hiring approaches are struggling to keep pace. Shane O’Donnell, Vice President of Cybersecurity Services at Centric Consulting, points out the limitations: “Static job descriptions, lengthy recruitment timelines, and siloed internal teams often fall short in addressing dynamic and urgent cybersecurity needs.”
The numbers back him up. According to the 2024 ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, there’s a global shortfall of roughly 4.76 million cybersecurity professionals. Senior roles can remain vacant for over six months, while retention challenges loom large—over 60% of cybersecurity staff are contemplating leaving their positions within a year, per the 2025 Cybersecurity Staff Compensation Report. The result? Organizations remain exposed to mounting security risks, with traditional hiring models unable to bridge the gap.
A Playbook for Resilient Cyber Teams
Centric’s new guide takes a practical, structured approach to solving the talent dilemma. Key features include:
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Cyber Talent Needs Assessment: Aligns organizational priorities—compliance, incident response, digital transformation—with role requirements, highlighting urgent needs.
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Comprehensive Cyber Expertise Matrix: Profiles critical roles, from virtual CISOs and compliance managers to security engineers and incident response specialists, including deliverables and success metrics.
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Build-vs-Buy Decision Tree: Helps leaders determine when to hire internally, leverage external support, or implement hybrid “player/coach” models for optimal cost, speed, and continuity.
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Future-Focused Skills Insights: Highlights emerging competencies in AI, cloud security, and threat intelligence, ensuring talent strategies evolve with the regulatory and technological landscape.
“This October, we’re using Cybersecurity Awareness Month to help companies rethink their approach to cyber resilience,” O’Donnell added. “We designed this playbook to equip leaders with practical frameworks to build top-tier cybersecurity teams.”
Industry Implications
Centric’s guide addresses an industry-wide problem that rivals like Deloitte, Accenture, and PwC have also acknowledged: cybersecurity talent gaps are no longer just HR issues—they’re critical business risks. By providing a clear framework for team design, assessment, and upskilling, the playbook offers organizations a roadmap to reduce exposure and accelerate readiness.
Throughout October, Centric will continue to share insights and expert discussions, aiming to elevate awareness of strategic cybersecurity staffing and resilience.
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