Cybersecurity Competence Building Trends

This research responds to an inquiry by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) of Switzerland about collecting and analysing experiences from several member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that have systematically advanced cyber competence building. Qualitative research was conducted from July to October 2015, based on reviews, analyses, and secondary analyses of publicly available sources. The report presents key trends and policy options for building competences in cybersecurity as identified in ten OECD countries which enjoy advanced levels of cyber-maturity: Austria (AT), Estonia (EE), Finland (FI), France (FR), Germany (DE), Israel (IL), the Netherlands (NL), the Republic of Korea (KR), the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US). The main driver for cyber competence building in the studied states is the demand to respond to the growing number of cyber-threats experienced, especially in critical sectors. Achieving self-sustainability and (partial) autonomy in this response, while maintaining and developing international cooperation, is an incentive for states to develop national capacities rather than to outsource to foreign experts. Additionally, the increasing dependence of the corporate sector
on the Internet has created a demand for qualified labour, which is being recognised by states as a possible driver for employment, economic growth, and global competitiveness. All the studied countries have recognised both sides of the cybersecurity coin, the risks and the opportunities, and are developing the means to transform the national labour market to meet the changing environment.