Shortfalls in cyber expertise deepen the cost and complexity of security incidents

Across Australia, the combination of expanding digital systems, rising attack volumes and a shortage of experienced cybersecurity professionals is having a clear and measurable effect on the operational pressures organisations face and increasing financial impact of incidents.

Global findings from the Fortinet 2025 Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report show that more than half of surveyed organisations experienced breach costs above the equivalent of roughly A$1.5 million.

These outcomes sit against a broader workforce picture in which an estimated ten thousand cybersecurity roles in Australia remain unfilled and more than half of local security teams indicate that they do not have the capacity required for their day-to-day responsibilities.

In many cases, teams are so consumed with operational firefighting that continuous skill development falls down the priority list, even when leaders recognise its importance. This creates a reinforcing cycle: understaffed and overstretched teams have less time to train, which limits their ability to fully leverage new technologies or improve defensive maturity, ultimately increasing their workload further. This operational load is one of the clearest reasons why the skills gap persists despite rising investment in security tools.

Fortinet’s research shows that 97 per cent of global organisations already use or intend to use AI driven security technologies, however, nearly half of all IT leaders identify a lack of internal AI expertise as the primary barrier to successful implementation, which in practical terms means that organisations may be purchasing tools they cannot be fully utilised due to insufficient technical depth within their teams. This aligns with what many partners in Australia are seeing as organisations trial AI driven technologies, where the benefits are most visible in environments that already have the skills required to interpret, tune and maintain these systems.

In the words of Fortinet’s Chief Information Security Officer, Carl Windsor, “without decisive investment in cybersecurity professionals and continuous upskilling, organisations will continue to see rising breach rates and mounting financial impact, because although technology is essential, skilled people remain the foundation of an effective security strategy.”

This perspective resonates with the experiences of many organisations that are now giving greater attention to cybersecurity at the board level. The report notes that 76 per cent of boards increased their focus on cybersecurity in the past year, although fewer than half of respondents believe their boards fully understand the risks associated with AI, which is particularly relevant in environments where AI systems are being embedded across critical processes.

The role of training and certification continues to feature prominently, with 89 per cent of decision makers expressing a preference for candidates who hold recognised certifications, noting that these credentials provide assurance of technical knowledge, practical familiarity with key technologies and the ability to remain current with changing risks.

The report’s findings show that insufficient security awareness and lack of trained personnel may be leading causes of breaches of an organisation’s system, which in turn helps with reinforcing the practical importance of ensuring that capability development keeps pace with technology adoption. Fortinet also showed that lack of security awareness, reported by 56 per cent of respondents, and insufficient IT security skills and training, reported by 54 per cent, remain leading contributors to breaches of an organisation’s system.

At Ingram Micro, our role is to help partners close the cybersecurity capability gap by giving them access to structured, credible and technically rigorous training that can better align with real operational demands of businesses. Whether it is strengthening skills in network security, building proficiency in cloud and endpoint defence, or developing the competencies required for AI-assisted SOC environments, Ingram Micro can provide partners with access to programs which are designed to better ensure teams can operate confidently and effectively. As a two-time Fortinet Authorised Training Center Partner of the Year, we have seen firsthand the difference that well-trained partner teams make when deploying, tuning and maintaining advanced technologies.

Organisations that recover faster, reduce breach costs and avoid repeat incidents are those that invest in their people as strategically as they invest in technology. The skills shortage will not resolve itself, and automation alone cannot close the gap. In our view, what the industry can do is prioritise the development of the next generation of cybersecurity talent, because Australia’s long-term digital resilience and competitiveness depend on it.

To support this need, Ingram Micro’s training programs focus on building the practical, operational skills required to use advanced security tools effectively, particularly in environments where resources are already stretched. By concentrating on the areas where partners face the greatest pressure, network security, cloud defence, endpoint protection and AI-assisted SOC operations, we may better ensure the training reflects real-world challenges and delivers capability that teams can apply immediately. Register for our training today. 

As the Australian market continues to build its digital capabilities, the role of skilled cybersecurity professionals will remain central to the stability and competitiveness of the wider economy.

Information current as at the date of publication. The information is provided in summary form.  All information contained on this communication is given in good faith and has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. To the extent that any information contained in this communication is sourced from or contains links to any third-party data or websites, Ingram Micro Pty Ltd makes no representation that the information is accurate or complete. © 2025 Ingram Mico Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.