Companies should consider employing former hackers to give them the best chance possible of warding off emerging cyber security threats, research suggests.
A survey carried out by online recruitment firm CWJobs suggests 70 per cent of the 352 IT professional think hiring an ex-hacker could be the answer to their cyber security issues.
Finding the right calibre of security staff is proving a challenge for nearly half of respondents, with four in 10 lamenting the lack of skilled candidates in this area.
This is a situation that is gradually being exacerbated by the increasing amounts of data companies are storing, respondents claimed, which in turn is driving up demand for IT security professionals.
Seventy per cent of respondents said they believe demand for IT security professionals is growing, with 95 per cent claiming enterprises are most in need.
Furthermore, 56 per cent of participants said they felt companies weren't taking IT security seriously enough.
Richard Nott, website director at CWJobs.co.uk, said the findings should provide firms with a steer on how to solve their recruitment woes.
"These findings present an interesting tactic for those keen to find new ways to meet the demand for security professionals within their organisations though perhaps one that should be treated with some caution," explained Nott.
"What is clear is that cyber threats are growing and evolving on an almost daily basis, so having skilled candidates who understand and can navigate this environment to protect the business is now crucial."
