Cyber teams in Australia are under pressure. The ‘To Do’ list for cyber leaders is huge and the budget…not so huge.

The threats are growing, the budgets aren’t and leaders are being asked to do more with less.

Hiring cheaper junior staff might seem like a quick fix, but without cyber experience, they can slow things down before they speed things up. So, what’s another way to build capability?

Secondments. Bringing someone in from inside your organisation, someone who already knows how things work can be a fast, low-cost way to boost your cyber team.

Why secondments work

• They’re faster. You skip a potentially long recruitment process and get someone who already understands your systems, culture, and ways of working.
• They engage your people. Cyber is a hot topic. Giving employees a chance to explore it builds interest, loyalty, and skills. Even someone from a non-tech background can add value, think policy writing, training, or awareness campaigns.
• You get to test the fit. It’s a low-risk way to see if someone’s right for the team and if the team’s right for them.
• They spread the word. When secondees return to their original teams, they take cyber knowledge with them. That helps reduce risk across the business.

What to watch out for

• They might leave. Once they’ve got cyber skills, they’ll be in demand. But giving them a growth opportunity could make them want to stay.
• You’ll leave a gap. Taking someone from another team means that team goes without. Good planning and strong relationships make all the difference.
• It’s not always permanent. Not every secondment leads to a hire. But the cost is low, and the potential payoff is high.

Secondments aren’t just a workaround they can be a smart strategy.

If you would like to discuss the cyber security talent market and get insights into current trends, opportunities, and resource strategies please don’t hesitate to reach out to chris.dalziel@hudson.com to chat further.