And for the fifth straight year, cybersecurity is the most challenging hiring area in IT. More than 50% of worldwide IT decision-makers expect their organization to invest in cybersecurity this year. Prior to COVID-19, cybersecurity was still a priority. In fact, the number of attacks have increased since the pandemic started, with phishing emails up 667% since February. Our physical world has shrunk considerably in recent months, but the digital world remains a playground for cybercriminals who have developed new and devious tactics to obtain sensitive data. 1Ĭybersecurity is an area that cannot be ignored, even as budgets tighten. A recent survey by the International Data Corporation (IDC) revealed that organizations are prioritizing cybersecurity skills, whether they are in the midst of an economic downturn or experiencing slow growth. As many organizations have been forced to slow or reprioritize IT projects and investments, they must put more thought into which skills will help them rebuild. If you’re looking to make an IT skills investment or start a new career path this year, these are the areas to considerĬybersecurity jumps to the top of the list this year, due in large part to the pandemic. Heads up! The 2022 IT Skills and Salary Survey is open! Take the survey and contribute to one of the largest global studies of IT salaries, skills and certifications. We also took into consideration the skills that will be most important during an economic recovery-a major factor for this year’s list as organizations of all sizes will be dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for the remainder of 2020 and beyond. To determine the most sought-after IT skills of the year, we analyzed the most popular Global Knowledge training courses, as well as the following data gathered from over 9,000 IT professionals from the upcoming 2020 IT Skills and Salary Report: These in-demand skills are must-haves for IT departments Act now and take 25% off select live instructor-led courses and get ready to unleash your potential.