Europe’s Cyber Blind Spot: Why Ethical Hackers Are Missing in Action

Despite rising cyber threats, the EU faces a critical shortage of ethical hackers. Why Europe is falling behind—and what we can do to fix it.

When I tell people that I do penetration testing for a living, I get mixed reactions—some think I’m a criminal, others think I’m a genius, and a few just blink in confusion. But what surprises me most isn’t the reaction from strangers—it’s the fact that even in professional circles across the EU, the term “ethical hacker” still feels like a niche label.

That’s part of the problem. While Europe continues to build out its digital infrastructure, our people—the human firewall—aren’t keeping up. We’re suffering from a massive shortage of ethical hacking talent across the EU. And it’s starting to show in the number of breaches, vulnerabilities, and reactive rather than proactive approaches we see across industries.

The European Union is behind when it comes to developing ethical hacking skills, and this isn’t just an opinion—it’s backed by data. The 2023 ENISA Threat Landscape report highlighted an alarming increase in cyberattacks targeting European entities, especially public institutions and small businesses. And yet, the number of qualified ethical hackers—people trained to think like the bad guys but act for the good—hasn’t kept pace.

According to a 2024 ISC2 workforce report, Europe needs nearly 500,000 more cybersecurity professionals, with a particularly sharp shortage in penetration testers, red team specialists, and exploit developers. These are the folks who simulate attacks to find weaknesses before criminals do. In other words, they’re the white hats. They’re the ones we desperately need—but don’t have enough of.

As someone working in the field, I can tell you: it’s not just about needing more hackers. It’s about needing better ones—people who are trained in real-world tactics, not just classroom theory or basic certifications.

The question is: why?

Why is Europe, home to some of the world’s most educated populations and technologically advanced societies, failing to produce enough ethical hackers?

There’s no single answer, but I can think of at least five big reasons:

The term “hacker” still carries a negative connotation in Europe. In places like the U.S., especially in cybersecurity circles, the idea of an ethical hacker is more widely accepted—even celebrated. In Europe, there’s still this perception that hacking equals crime. That discourages people from entering the field or talking openly about their skills.

When I first told my family I was going into cybersecurity and learning to “hack,” they thought I was joining some underground group. It took months of explanation to help them understand I wasn’t breaking the law—I was helping prevent crimes.

Most European universities still treat cybersecurity as a theoretical discipline. Many don’t even offer ethical hacking as a module. Where it is offered, it’s often outdated, focusing on tools and systems that attackers moved on from years ago.

I did a Master’s in Computer Science in Germany, and the most “hands-on” experience I got was scanning open ports on a local network. That’s not enough. Real-world ethical hacking needs constant updating. You need to stay on top of everything—from zero-day vulnerabilities to social engineering trends.

EU policies tend to prioritize privacy, compliance, and regulation—which are obviously important. But we often underinvest in actual offensive security training. You can’t protect what you don’t understand, and you certainly can’t defend against hackers if you’ve never tried hacking yourself.

In some countries, it’s actually hard to legally practice ethical hacking—even in lab environments—without crossing regulatory lines. That discourages innovation and practical learning.

There’s no real “pipeline” for would-be ethical hackers in the EU. If you’re a 17-year-old who’s interested in security, there’s no standard boot camp, internship, or mentorship program tailored to red teaming or penetration testing. You’re expected to find your own way—maybe through forums, YouTube, or random certifications.

It’s not surprising that some of the most skilled ethical hackers in Europe are self-taught. But that also means a lot of potential talent falls through the cracks.

Lastly—and this one hits close to home—we have a diversity problem. Ethical hacking is still seen as a “guy thing.” I’ve been the only woman in so many CTF (Capture the Flag) competitions, meetups, and training sessions, I’ve lost count. And when young women don’t see themselves represented, they’re less likely to pursue this path.

We’re missing out on so many smart, creative minds because the field isn’t welcoming enough.

You might think this is just a tech industry problem. It’s not.

The shortage of ethical hackers affects everything. Hospitals. Energy grids. Elections. Banking. Even agriculture. As we move toward smart everything—cities, homes, vehicles—we’re also increasing our attack surface. If we don’t have people who know how to break into systems, we won’t know how to defend them.

It’s like building castles but forgetting the moat, or worse—forgetting to hire guards.

Without homegrown ethical hackers, we end up relying on external consultants or outsourcing to private firms in the U.S. or Asia. That creates risks around data sovereignty and long-term national security.

I’m not here just to rant. I want to see this change. And I think it can change. Here’s what I think would make a real difference:

Let’s change the narrative. Being a hacker doesn’t mean you’re a criminal. Being an ethical hacker means you’re a problem solver, a digital detective, and a protector of systems. We need more schools, governments, and companies to talk about hacking in a positive light.

CTFs should be in every high school. Ethical hacking clubs should be normal. And yes, women need to be front and center in these spaces.

Forget the theory-heavy courses that never touch a command line. We need real, hands-on labs that simulate attacks—from phishing to ransomware to lateral movement within networks. This kind of training should be integrated into both higher education and job training.

Some platforms are doing this well—like Hack The Box or TryHackMe—but they’re still seen as extracurricular. In my opinion, they should be required learning.

Let’s create a standardized, EU-wide ethical hacking certification. One that’s recognized by all member states and backed by ENISA or a similar body. It would help build credibility, attract more people, and align training standards across borders.

Right now, most professionals go for U.S.-based certs like CEH or OSCP. It’s time we had something built for Europe, by Europeans.

Not everyone needs a Master’s degree. In fact, some of the best hackers I know never went to university. We should promote more apprenticeships, government-sponsored boot camps, and fast-track programs for cybersecurity—especially red teaming and penetration testing.

And while we’re at it: offer these programs in local languages, not just English.

This one’s simple. If we want to attract top talent into ethical hacking roles, we need to pay them well—and treat them with respect. Too many ethical hackers in the EU are underpaid, overworked, or stuck in bureaucratic roles where their skills are wasted.

We should be treating ethical hackers the same way we treat top engineers or surgeons. They’re that important.

Nora Consultant

Nora Grace is a tech writer and social engineering consultant who specializes in cybersecurity and IT content. She creates practical, easy-to-digest blog articles on topics like cloud computing, Linux, and security awareness. Nora lives and travels across Europe with her two dogs, blending freelance writing with hands-on consulting work that helps organizations strengthen their human-layer defenses. Known for her clear voice and deep curiosity, she brings both technical know-how and real-world insight to everything she writes.

See Full Bio