--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fewer than one in twenty security…" description: "\"“Fewer than one in twenty security professionals has the core competence and the foundation knowledge to take a system all the way from a completely un..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/stephen-northcutt-279737_competence_fewer-than-one-in-twenty-security-profes_2528163.jpg" --- # Fewer than one in twenty security professionals has the… ![“Fewer than one in twenty security professionals has the core competence and the foundation knowledge to take a system all the way from a completely unknown state of security through mapping, vulnerability testing, password cracking, modem testing, vulnerability patching, firewall tuning…” quote by Stephen Northcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/stephen-northcutt-279737_competence_fewer-than-one-in-twenty-security-profes_2528163.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/stephen-northcutt-279737_competence_fewer-than-one-in-twenty-security-profes_2528163.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/stephen-northcutt-279737_competence_fewer-than-one-in-twenty-security-profes_2528163.jpg) > ““Fewer than one in twenty security professionals has the core competence and the foundation knowledge to take a system all the way from a completely unknown state of security through mapping, vulnerability testing, password cracking, modem testing, vulnerability patching, firewall tuning, instrumentation, virus detection at multiple entry points, and even through back-ups and configuration management.”” Stephen Northcutt ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Few security experts possess the full skill set to manage end‑to‑end security. **In simple terms:** Comprehensive security skills are rare. Key Takeaway Invest in broad security training. Themes security competence skill gaps cybersecurity management Mood concerned analytical Type professional technical When to use this quote - IT teams - audit projects - incident response Key Concepts infosec education risk management Questions to Reflect On - What skills are most lacking? - How can organizations bridge gaps? A Different Perspective Depth may be limited by resources and time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) ## Related quotes > [“Şanslı kişi, yanlış treni kaçırandır!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/ansl-ki-i-yanl-treni-ka-rand-r/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [An important re-engineering principle is that companies should focus on their core competence and outsource everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/an-important-re-engineering-principle-is-that-companies-should-focus/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Core competence, as it is used by many managers, is a dangerously inward-looking notion. Competitiveness is far more about doing what customers value than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/core-competence-as-it-is-used-by-many-managers-is-a-dangerously-2/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [“Every organisation, not just business, needs 1 core competence: Tactical execution”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dovale/every-organisation-not-just-business-needs-1-core-competence-tactical/) [Tony Dovale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dovale/) > [“Core competence, as it is used by many managers, is a dangerously inward-looking notion. Competitiveness is far more about doing what customers value than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-m-christensen/core-competence-as-it-is-used-by-many-managers-is-a-dangerously/) [Clayton M. 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L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“You understand how much you know about a subject the moment you give explanations to someone who doesn't know anything about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigina-sgarro/you-understand-how-much-you-know-about-a-subject-the-moment-you-give/) [Luigina Sgarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigina-sgarro/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [“it is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didnt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/it-is-easier-to-do-a-job-right-than-to-explain-why-you-didnt/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [You can't fake competence, creativity, or sexual arousal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/you-can-t-fake-competence-creativity-or-sexual-arousal/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Everybody's got a different circle of competence. The important thing is not how big the circle is. The important thing is staying inside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/everybody-s-got-a-different-circle-of-competence-the-important-thing/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Friendships are nice. 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