ISACA - Growing and Empowering the European Cybersecurity Workforce

ISACA is committed to closing the cybersecurity skills and talent gap in the European Union. We pledge to collaborate with over 80 training organisations and higher education institutions, to offer 80 scholarships to EU students, ensuring that at least 50% of the recipients are women, and promote the European Cybersecurity Skills Framework  through 44 ISACA chapters, with the goal of surpassing 40,000 certified individuals, by the end of 2026.

Our pledge

Through ISACA’s guidance and credentials, which map to the European Cybersecurity Skills Framework, ISACA is building a high-quality cybersecurity workforce in Europe that employers can trust and employees can benefit.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, organisations in Europe struggle to find qualified cybersecurity professionals to protect their digital assets. To address this issue and to support the efforts of the European Union, ISACA commits to providing accessible, high-quality education and certification opportunities to help aspiring and current cybersecurity professionals upskill and thrive in a challenging landscape
Chris Dimitriadis, Chief Global Strategy Officer at ISACA

Our initiatives

Cybersecurity knowledge and training for teachers and trainers
Description: Reach partnership with over 80 training organisations and academic institutions to provide teachers/trainers with the necessary knowledge and credentials to conduct holistic cybersecurity training based on ISACA guidance, both within and outside the Industry-Academia Network. Those include European Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), training organisations and VET providers active on cybersecurity and with the objective to train EU students and workforce. 
Target: Teachers and trainers from over 80 HEIS, VET providers and training organisations 
Location: Physical and online, in all EU Member States 
Language: English
Cost: Free 
Link to the initiative: 1)become an academic partner and 2)find an accredited training organisation

Targeted cybersecurity education for all EU students & wider reach of ISACA training and credentialing across Europe
Description: Provide targeted education for students in the whole vertical of the education system in Europe to help them gain knowledge through ISACA resources, credentials, training and events. ISACA will engage with European universities and connect students with executives and senior professionals through virtual and in person events organized by over 40 ISACA Chapters in Europe, to match organizations with quality candidates. This will also be pursued through the provision of 80 scholarships to EU students and an ISACA career building bundle, ensuring that at least 50% of the recipients are women. 
Target: European students and universities
Location: Physical and online in all EU Member States
Language: English
Cost: Free  
Link to the initiative

Raise awareness on the European Cybersecurity Skills Framework (ECSF) to promote its uptake in the EU and develop new cybersecurity trainings aligned with the ECSF
Description: Foster the uptake of the European Cybersecurity Skills Framework (ECSF) by EU businesses and public sector by further linking the 12 ECSF profiles with +10 ISACA certifications and trainings and mapping the cybersecurity certifications, skills and roles needed to comply with the key EU cybersecurity regulations. Develop one or more ISACA cybersecurity certifications or trainings to be aligned with the ECSF and facilitate the organization of events in the EU through ISACA’s 44 regional chapters. In order to expand the reach and impact of ISACA training and credentialing programs throughout Europe, surpass the milestone of +40.000 certified individuals in alignment with the ECSF.
Target: EU business community, public bodies and general public 
Location: To be deployed both physically and online in all EU Member states where ISACA have presence through its Chapters (44 Chapters across Europe)
Language: English
Cost: Free 
Link to the initiative

Disseminate knowledge to European citizens
Description: Disseminate knowledge through events and publications to citizens in each European country through ISACA’s chapters in the region by organizing +150 events and participating in 10 EU industry events. 
Target: General public 
Location: The initiative has been created to be deployed both physically and online in all EU Member states where ISACA have presence through its Chapters (44 Chapters across Europe)
Language: English
Cost: Free 
No specific link to the initiative

ISACA is dedicated to reviewing and updating the status of this pledge every six months.

Background

The current cybersecurity landscape in Europe faces significant challenges, with ISACA's State of Cybersecurity research revealing that 62% of cybersecurity teams are understaffed, and 60% struggle to retain skilled staff. In this context, a lack of skills and training remains a significant barrier to achieving digital trust and complying with the EU cybersecurity regulations. Recognizing the vital importance of cybersecurity in fostering digital trust, ISACA is dedicated to creating a holistic cybersecurity workforce in Europe and closing the skills gap by equipping cybersecurity professionals with knowledge and skills across digital trust domains. This commitment reflects ISACA's ongoing effort to adapt and respond to the evolving needs of the cybersecurity landscape, empowering organisations to innovate with confidence and security while addressing the dynamic landscape of cyber threats and complying with legal requirements.

Take a look at the previous ISACA pledge—an inspiring example of impactful contributions!