The global pandemic of 2020 has had a huge impact on the tech startup industry, but nowhere has it been felt more than in the field of cybersecurity. According to a new report from the Israeli venture capital firm IVC Research Center, cybersecurity investments have been hit especially hard in 2021, with overall investments dropping by over 30%. The report found that the number of cybersecurity investments in 2021 dropped to the lowest level seen since 2016, with only $890 million invested in the sector. This represents a huge drop from the $1.3 billion invested in 2020 and $2.3 billion in 2019. The report attributes the decline in investments to the “uncertainty and instability caused by the pandemic.” Investors are wary of taking risks in an uncertain environment and, as a result, have pulled back on investments in the cybersecurity space. The report also found that the average investment size in the sector has dropped dramatically, with the average investment size falling from $19.5 million in 2020 to $5.5 million in 2021. This suggests that investors are no longer willing to take larger risks, preferring instead to focus on smaller, more manageable investments. The report notes that the decline in investment could have serious implications for the industry in the long-term, as the lack of funding could prevent companies from developing and launching new products and services. The report also warns that the decline could lead to a “brain drain,” as talented professionals may be forced to look outside of the cybersecurity sector for employment. Despite the downturn in investment, the report notes that there is still potential for growth in the sector. The report states that “cybersecurity remains an important priority for businesses, governments and other organizations,” and that “investors may come back to the sector, as the world begins to emerge from the pandemic.” The report concludes that the “long-term outlook for