Research in The Hague: Cybersecurity Talent Retention is Also a Leadership Challenge

Cybersecurity continues to face a persistent shortage of qualified talent. This is not only a labour market issue. Organisations themselves also hold an important key to retaining talent. New research by the Municipality of The Hague, carried out in collaboration with MultiTeam Solutions, shows that a sense of competence at work and support from direct managers are associated with lower levels of stress, burnout and intention to leave an organisation. The findings highlight the importance of leadership as part of a broader approach to tackling the cybersecurity talent shortage. As an international cybersecurity city, The Hague is translating the findings directly into action by offering free leadership training for professionals in the sector.

From technical expert to cybersecurity leader

Many managers in the cybersecurity sector began their careers as technical specialists and progressed into leadership roles based on their subject-matter expertise. However, the skills needed to solve technically complex problems are not automatically the same as those needed to support people, provide feedback and manage workload and pressure. The research identifies this as an important opportunity for talent retention. Technical and leadership skills need to be developed more closely together.

Richard de Mos, Alderman of the Municipality of The Hague: “We invest heavily in training and attracting cybersecurity talent, but we also need to make sure that the people already working in the sector want to stay. This research shows that good leadership can make an important difference. When someone moves from being a technical specialist into a management role, they take on a completely new set of responsibilities.”

Why recognition matters for talent retention

The research shows that a sense of competence and support from direct managers are associated with lower levels of stress, burnout and intention to leave an organisation. A sense of competence deserves particular attention in cybersecurity. Success in the sector is often invisible. Consciously recognising and celebrating achievements helps professionals see that their work is making a difference and that they are doing a good job.

The open-ended responses also show that important sources of stress often originate within the organisation. Of the respondents who answered this question, 32 per cent identified changing priorities and management as their main source of stress. This was followed by high workloads and staff shortages (21 per cent), and unclear expectations or insufficient support (20 per cent).

At the same time, cybersecurity professionals particularly value their colleagues, the work itself and the feeling that they are contributing to something important. This suggests that it is not necessarily the profession itself, but also the working environment and the way people are supported, that influence talent retention.

Turning research into action

The Municipality of The Hague is translating the research findings directly into action. On 6 October, the researchers will present the key findings at the ONE Conference. In the session 3 Practical Leadership Strategies to Retain Cyber Talent, they will discuss three practical strategies for using leadership to help organisations retain cybersecurity talent. This interactive session offers a preview of the leadership training courses that the Municipality of The Hague will offer to cybersecurity professionals in November. The courses are fully funded by the municipality and will focus, among other things, on recognising and addressing workload, providing development-oriented feedback, and acknowledging progress and successes.

With this approach, The Hague aims not only to contribute to retaining cybersecurity talent, but also to strengthening a resilient and future-proof cybersecurity sector in the city and wider region.

Read the full article, research and links to the One-day training ‘leading under pressure’ here.

Read all findings in the reseach report here.

About the research

The research, Retaining Talent Is a Leadership Capability, was conducted by the Municipality of The Hague in collaboration with MultiTeam Solutions. The research took place from mid-2025 to early 2026 and consisted of a quantitative survey of 86 cybersecurity professionals and three focus groups. The findings focus on the Dutch cybersecurity sector.

About The Hague & Partners

The Hague & Partners is the official marketing and acquisition organisation for the promotion of The Hague, focused on residents, visitors, conferences, businesses and institutions. https://thehague.com/en