The decision between hiring external Identity & Access Management (IAM) specialists or training internal staff depends on your timeline, budget, and existing capabilities. External hiring provides immediate expertise but costs more upfront, whilst internal training offers long-term value but requires significant time investment and may not address urgent security needs.
When building your cybersecurity team, you face a fundamental choice: bring in experienced IAM specialists from outside or develop existing staff internally. This decision shapes your organisation’s security posture and budget for years to come.
Identity & Access Management roles encompass everything from designing authentication systems to managing user privileges across your entire technology stack. These professionals ensure the right people access the right resources at the right time, making them critical to your security infrastructure.
The stakes are high because IAM mistakes can lead to data breaches, compliance failures, or productivity losses. Whether you hire externally or train internally affects how quickly you can address vulnerabilities and how much you’ll invest in building this capability.
Your choice also influences team dynamics and knowledge retention. External hires bring fresh perspectives and proven experience, whilst internal training builds loyalty and creates specialists who understand your specific environment intimately.
IAM specialists require a blend of technical expertise and business acumen that spans multiple domains. They must understand identity governance frameworks, access control models, and authentication technologies whilst communicating effectively with stakeholders across your organisation.
Technical Skills Required:
Identity governance knowledge is equally important. Specialists must design and implement policies that ensure users receive appropriate access based on their roles, responsibilities, and security clearance levels. This includes understanding segregation of duties principles and how to automate access reviews.
Compliance and Soft Skills:
Training someone to become proficient in IAM typically takes 12 to 18 months, depending on their starting point and the complexity of your environment. This timeline assumes they already have foundational IT knowledge and can dedicate significant time to learning.
| Skill Level | Timeline | Capabilities Developed |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Competency | 3-6 months | User lifecycle management, basic access controls, common authentication methods |
| Intermediate Skills | 6-9 months | Advanced access control models, governance frameworks, identity federation |
| Advanced Expertise | 6-12 months | Comprehensive IAM architecture, complex integrations, strategic initiatives |
Several factors affect these timelines. Your existing technology stack complexity, the availability of mentoring resources, and the individual’s learning pace all influence development speed. Additionally, practical experience proves more valuable than theoretical knowledge, so real-world projects accelerate learning significantly.
External hiring typically costs more upfront but provides immediate value, whilst internal training requires lower initial investment but takes longer to deliver results. The total cost of ownership varies significantly based on your specific circumstances.
External Hiring Costs Include:
Internal training costs appear lower initially but include hidden expenses. You’ll invest in training materials, courses, and potentially external consultants to guide development. More significantly, you’ll lose productivity whilst your staff learns, and there’s risk they might leave after gaining valuable skills.
| Cost Factor | External Hiring | Internal Training |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Investment | £75,000 – £150,000 | £15,000 – £30,000 |
| Time to Productivity | 3-6 months | 12-18 months |
| Ongoing Development | £5,000 – £10,000 annually | £8,000 – £15,000 annually |
| Risk of Departure | Moderate | Higher (after training) |
Consider opportunity costs as well. Delays in implementing proper IAM controls whilst training staff could expose your organisation to security risks or compliance violations, potentially costing far more than hiring externally.
Choose external hiring when you need immediate expertise, face urgent security requirements, or lack internal candidates with suitable foundational skills. Opt for internal training when you have time to develop capabilities, want to build long-term institutional knowledge, or need specialists who understand your unique environment.
Choose External Hiring When:
Choose Internal Training When:
Some organisations benefit from a hybrid approach: hiring one or two external specialists to lead IAM initiatives whilst training internal staff to support and eventually take over routine operations.
Finding qualified IAM specialists requires looking beyond traditional job boards and focusing on specialised networks, professional communities, and recruitment firms with cybersecurity expertise. The key is understanding what to assess and where genuine talent congregates.
Effective Sourcing Strategies:
During interviews, focus on practical scenarios rather than theoretical knowledge. Ask candidates to walk through how they’d design access controls for a specific business process or troubleshoot a common authentication issue. This reveals their problem-solving approach and depth of understanding.
Key Assessment Areas:
Technical assessments should cover both breadth and depth, but avoid overly complex tests that don’t reflect real-world responsibilities. Pay attention to communication skills, as IAM specialists must explain technical concepts to various stakeholders.
Your IAM staffing decision should align with your organisation’s timeline, budget, and strategic goals. Evaluate your current capabilities honestly, consider both immediate needs and long-term objectives, and don’t hesitate to seek expert guidance when making this important choice.
Key Decision Factors:
Think about your long-term strategy as well. If IAM is becoming increasingly important to your organisation, investing in internal training might provide better value over time. If you only need occasional IAM expertise, external hiring or consulting might be more cost-effective.
Budget considerations extend beyond immediate costs. Factor in the value of faster implementation, reduced security risks, and the potential for knowledge transfer when external specialists work alongside your internal team.
Remember that this doesn’t have to be an either-or decision. Many successful organisations combine both approaches, bringing in external expertise to establish foundations whilst building internal capabilities for ongoing management.
When you’re ready to explore external hiring options, we specialise in connecting organisations with elite cybersecurity professionals, including IAM specialists. Our global network and deep understanding of the cybersecurity landscape can help you find the right talent for your specific needs.
If you are interested in learning more, reach out to our team of experts today.
