Mapping the Skills Gap in Cloud Security Roles: Employer Expectations Versus Candidate Profiles

What Did This Cybersecurity Research Find?

This cybersecurity skills gap study analyzed 12,000 cloud security job postings and compared required skills against candidate profiles in the applicant pool. Cybersecurity employers listed a median of 14 technical skills per cloud security posting, yet fewer than 8% of applicants met more than 70% of those requirements, suggesting significant misalignment between employer expectations and available talent.

Key Findings

• 1Median cloud security posting listed 14 technical skills as requirements
• 2Only 8% of applicants met more than 70% of listed skill requirements
• 3IAM, container security, and infrastructure-as-code were the three largest skill deficits
• 4Postings requiring fewer than 10 skills received 3.2x more qualified applicants
• 5Multi-cloud experience (AWS + Azure) appeared in 61% of senior cloud security roles

How Does This Apply to Cybersecurity Careers?

Cloud security job seekers can focus on the skills most commonly listed and most commonly missing from applicant pools. Hiring managers can calibrate job requirements to realistic talent availability.

Who Should Read This?

Frequently Asked Questions