65% OF CYBER SECURITY PROFESSIONALS IN CHINA EXPRESS HIGH CONCERNS ON 2024 BUDGET, ALMOST DOUBLE THE GLOBAL AVERAGE
Heightened concerns on AI-based attacks also echoed by respondents in Hays’ survey

 

Among respondents in China, 42% of professionals believe economic conditions greatly affected spending on cyber security in 2023, significantly higher than the global average of 14%. These budgetary constraints are slated to continue in 2024, with 65% of respondents expressing high levels of concern that investments towards cyber security would be insufficient, compared to the global average of 38%.

 

These concerns are especially valid with 23% expressing worry about AI-based attacks, higher than the global average of 14%. This comes amidst a backdrop of AI potentially being used by cybercriminals to increase the number and sophistication of attacks, requiring additional attention from cyber security teams seeking to manage the risk these tools pose.

 

Sue Wei, Managing Director at Hays Greater China, commented on the report, “AI is a double-edged sword for cyber security professionals; although teams stand to reap the benefits AI tools have to offer, the same can be said for criminals who can exploit these tools for their benefit. Companies will need to upskill their workforces with these tools to keep up with evolving needs.”

 

56% of businesses in China already have cyber talent development plans in place, compared to 14% globally. 46% of cyber security professionals also believe that AI can enhance cyber security capabilities, enabling teams to act swiftly to combat threats to personal data and infrastructure. It remains to be seen however whether organisations will be able to adapt to these changes quickly enough to avoid being caught off-guard. In a separate poll conducted across 6 weeks in late 2023, 41% of employees in China expressed doubt that their company was embracing AI sufficiently to stay relevant. 

 

“Leaders will need to plan their investments carefully in the coming year with regards to cyber security,” said Sue Wei. “It falls to leaders to ensure that there is a pipeline of talent equipped with relevant skills to face modern challenges companies can expect to see in the years to come.”

 

The Hays Global Cyber Security Report 2024 can be downloaded here.

 

 

Contact
For more information contact:
Bill Wang
Bill.wang@hays.cn

 

 

Hays plc (the "Group") is the world’s leading specialist in workforce solutions and recruitment, such as RPO and MSP. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK, Germany and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe, Latin America and Asia. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As at 31 December 2023, the Group employed over 12,300 staff operating from 249 offices in 33 countries. For the year ended 30 June 2023:

 

– the Group reported net fees of £1,294.6 million and operating profit of £197.0 million;
– the Group placed around 76,800 candidates into permanent jobs and around 245,000 people into temporary roles;
– 15% of Group net fees were generated in Australia & New Zealand, 30% in Germany, 21% in United Kingdom & Ireland and 34% in Rest of World (RoW);
– the temporary placement business represented 57% of net fees and the permanent placement business represented 43% of net fees;
– Technology is the Group’s largest division, with 26% of net fees, while Accountancy & Finance (15%) and Engineering (10%), are the next largest
– Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE, the UK and the US