With increasing digitisation and the rapid adoption of cloud computing across the globe, the demand for technology professionals is on the rise. This demand is particularly acute for highly skilled experts in fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), data science, analytics, and networking, among others. A report by the World Economic Forum revealed that there is a shortage of 4 million cybersecurity professionals[1] globally.

Being at the front and centre of digitisation, the demand for cybersecurity and other skills such as cloud computing is even more pronounced in India. It is expected that the digital economy in India will reach $1 trillion by 2025[2]. With the numerous initiatives under the Digital India program, cloud technologies are expected to account for 8% of India’s GDP by 2026[3]. The sheer requirement of professionals with expertise in these technologies is staggering.

At Writer Information, we believe that companies are increasingly turning to Staff Augmentation to meet these demands. Staff augmentation is a flexible model that allows them to supplement their teams with external talent on a temporary or project basis.

Staff Augmentation – The Writer Information way

At Writer Information, our staff augmentation services focus on high end, high skilled resources that our customers find challenging to recruit. We specialise in providing skilled resources across a broad variety of technologies and business processes. We also provide resources with varying levels of expertise and experience in the specific set of technologies or business processes.

A Deloitte India survey revealed that 65%[4] of Indian businesses view cybersecurity as a key priority in their digital transformation efforts. At Writer Information, we focus on cybersecurity as a key talent area for staff augmentation. Writer Information's cybersecurity staff augmentation services allow businesses to temporarily strengthen their IT teams with specialised security advisors. We collaborate with IT departments to assess cybersecurity risks, validate sustainable protocols, test network firewalls, review company policies, and implement security tools that require only monitoring. Our experts provide continuous feedback and deliver tailored cybersecurity solutions, aligning with specific budget requirements.

We co-pilot with our customers to enhance your IT operations by providing skilled professionals with the necessary certifications and experience across a wide range of technologies. This helps our customers minimise operational risks often caused by skill or capability gaps.

Why staff augmentation?

Staff augmentation is a strategic outsourcing approach where businesses hire additional personnel to fill skill gaps within their internal teams. This model allows companies to bring in specialised skills for specific projects without the long-term commitment of full-time employment. It also allows them to maintain flexibility in their workforce. In some cases, there may be a short-term requirement of a specific skillset for a specific project. Instead of maintaining a large, permanent staff, companies use staff augmentation to scale up or down based on current project needs.

What can be expected with staff augmentation?

The IT and technology fields are known for their high pace of change and the need for specialised skills. New programming languages, software frameworks, and cybersecurity threats emerge regularly, making it difficult for internal teams to stay updated on every new development. In addition, typical recruitment cycles are lengthy, require extensive manpower to recruit, and are expensive. Staff augmentation provides a flexible solution, allowing companies to:

Address skill gaps: Companies often require specific expertise, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, or blockchain, that may not be available in-house. For instance, a report indicates that there is a 60 to 73% disparity in demand and supply for the roles of data scientists, data architects, machine learning engineers, and so on[5]. Specialised skills, especially some critical roles in IT often require niche skills that may not exist within the permanent workforce or are in short supply. Staff augmentation can help address these gaps efficiently.

Enhance agility and flexibility: By augmenting staff, companies can quickly respond to project demands. This agility is especially valuable in the technology sector, where project scopes and timelines can change rapidly due to market demands. A prime example of this is when e-commerce or logistics companies bring in additional staff to handle the increased demand during the holiday season. Staff augmentation also provides companies with the flexibility to scale their workforce according to the current project needs, ensuring they only pay for talent when it is required.

Reduce costs: Staff augmentation allows companies to avoid the high costs associated with hiring full-time employees, such as salaries, benefits, and long-term commitments. Instead, they can hire external talent for the duration of the project.

Mitigate the risk of talent shortage: According to a report by ManpowerGroup[6], 75% of global employers are finding it challenging to fill in different roles. Among these, IT and data skills are the most challenging roles for employers to fill, making staff augmentation an attractive option to fill immediate gaps.

Staff augmentation will lead the way to fill key roles

At Writer Information, we believe that two key trends will enhance the significance of staff augmentation for companies worldwide in the future. The first is the hybrid working model, which became deeply embedded in the global work culture during and after COVID-19 and is set to remain. This model, combined with a blended workforce approach—integrating full-time employees, augmented staff, and AI-driven solutions—creates a dynamic and adaptable workforce. The second trend is the rapid technological advancements, particularly in AI and automation, which will continue to reshape the way businesses operate. While certain routine tasks will be increasingly handled by machines, it will also create a greater demand for staff with expertise in AI, machine learning, and data science, making staff augmentation a key strategy for businesses seeking to integrate these technologies. In continuance with this trend and with growing cybersecurity threats, more companies will seek to augment their teams with cybersecurity experts to protect their digital assets.

[1] https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Strategic_Cybersecurity_Talent_Framework_2024.pdf

[2] https://www.ibef.org/blogs/india-s-revolution-in-cloud-computing-and-data

[3] https://www.ibef.org/blogs/india-s-revolution-in-cloud-computing-and-data

[4] https://community.nasscom.in/communities/data-science-ai-community/state-data-science-ai-skills-india

[5] https://go.manpowergroup.com/hubfs/Talent%20Shortage/Talent%20Shortage%202024/MPG_TS_2024_GLOBAL_Infographic.pdf