Cybersecurity’s ongoing battle with a “skills shortage” has seen the sector lose its way regarding talent hiring and retention, says Christian Toon, CISO at London-based law firm Pinsent Masons. In an industry crying out for diversity and innovation, this year’s number one UK CSO 30 Awards winner says he takes inspiration from the Marvel Comics universe to challenge traditional HR approaches and more effectively recruit and keep security talent.
“We have what some describe as a war on talent, because you feel like you are fighting against the next organization for the greater good. I think we’ve kind of lost our way a little bit, both from a delegate or prospective employee perspective, but also from an employer’s perspective,” Toon says, speaking at the UK CSO 30 2022 Awards & Conference. The candidates are out there, he adds, but you have to change the traditional practices for hiring because if you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you’ve always had.