Rethinking the Cybersecurity Skills Gap with Automation, Identity, and Managed Services

A growing cybersecurity talent shortage is reshaping how organizations defend themselves from threats. Recent research shows that in 2025, only 14% of companies report having the talent and resources they need to meet their security goals. As cloud adoption accelerates and adversaries sharpen their tactics, many security teams are struggling to keep pace with digital transformation.

The human impact is equally significant. For IT and security professionals already stretched thin, the strain manifests as burnout, longer response times, and mounting operational risk. Industry leaders argue that the answer isn’t only hiring more people, but using technology and automation to optimize existing tech and software investments.

“With security teams stretched thin, organizations should outsource smartly by investing in managed security services to augment their cybersecurity stack,” said Imprivata CEO Fran Rosch, in a recent Forbes Tech Council article. Working with trusted partners can help organizations fill this gap by delivering specialized expertise and around-the-clock monitoring, so internal teams can focus on proactive strategy instead of nonstop incident triage.

Innovative identity and access management (IAM) technologies are also emerging as force multipliers. By automating routine tasks like password resets and deploying passwordless authentication, organizations can streamline secure access, cut help-desk burdens, and reduce user friction. Managed services layered with modern IAM tools can strengthen protection while restoring time and focus to overtaxed IT teams.

Looking ahead, AI-enabled automation will push the industry toward a model in which the quality and effectiveness of tools and processes matter just as much as headcount. Organizations that embrace managed services and strategic IAM will be best positioned to navigate the skills gap and defend at scale.

Learn more about how Imprivata can help fill your cybersecurity skills gap.