Cyber Security Talent Crunch - 3.5m Jobs Vacant

There is a serious shortage of cybersecurity professionals and the gap is expected to lead to at least three and a half million jobs being vacant within the next year according to the experts at Cybersecurity Ventures - an increase of 2.5 million since 2014.
 
This cyber employment figure has been validated by hundreds of media outlets, including the world’s largest, as well as industry associations, universities, governments, vendors, recruitment firms, and security experts. According to (ISC2) there are currently nearly 3 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs worldwide and employees who take on these roles play a key role in the enterprise.
 
As cybercriminals grow more sophisticated and news of major hacks reach headlines nearly daily, cybersecurity professionals are in high demand. 
 
Data breaches can cause devastating financial losses and affect an organisation’s reputation for years. From lost business to regulatory fines and remediation costs, data breaches have far reaching consequences.The annual Cost of a Data Breach Report, conducted by the Ponemon Institute and sponsored by IBM Security, analyzes data breach costs reported by 507 organisations across 16 geographies and 17 industries. hey found  the average cost of a data breach worldwide is about $3.62 million. 
 
If you are interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity and don't know where to start, here's your go-to guide to salaries, job markets, skills, and common interview questions in the field.
 
Why is there an increased demand for cybersecurity professionals?
Cybercrime has exploded in the past couple of years, with major ransomware attacks such as WannaCry and Petya putting enterprises' data at risk. The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) has also opened up new threats. To protect their information and that of their clients, companies across all industries are seeking cybersecurity professionals to secure their networks.
However, many enterprises face difficulties filling these positions: 55% of US organisations reported that open cybersecurity positions take at least three months to fill, while 32% said they take six months or more, according to a 2017 ISACA. And 27% of companies said they are unable to fill cybersecurity positions at all. 
 
Cybersecurity remains a relatively new field compared to other computer sciences, so a lack of awareness is part of the reason for the talent shortage, according to Lauren Heyndrickx, CISO at JCPenney. Misconceptions about what a cybersecurity job actually entails are common, and might be part of the reason few women and minorities go into the field, she added. 
 
Women now make up 24% of the cybersecurity workforce, and 45% of those women are millennials, according to an and it's likely that these numbers will continue to grow over time.
 
A job in cybersecurity can also command a high paycheck: The average salary for an information security analyst in the US is $98,350, according to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics and it's significantly higher in cities such as San Francisco and New York. 
 
The shortage of trained cybersecurity professionals has led many organisations to seek other non-traditional candidates to fill these roles. To help those interested in the field better understand how to break into a career in cybersecurity, we've pulled together the most important details and resources.
 
  • Why is there an increased demand for cybersecurity professionals? Cybercrime has exploded in the past couple of years, with major ransomware attacks such as WannaCry and Petya putting enterprises' data at risk. To protect their information and that of their clients, companies across all industries are seeking cyber professionals to secure their networks.
  • What are some of the cybersecurity job roles? A career in cybersecurity can take the form of various roles, including penetration tester, chief information security officer (CISO), security engineer, incident responder, security software developer, security auditor, or security consultant.
  • What skills are required to work in cybersecurity? The skills required to work in cybersecurity vary depending on the position and company, but generally may include penetration testing, risk analysis, and security assessment. Certifications, including Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) are also in demand, and can net you a higher salary in the field.
  • Where are the hottest markets for cybersecurity jobs? Top companies including Apple, Lockheed Martin, General Motors, Capital One, and Cisco have all been hiring cyber professionals in recent years. Industries such as healthcare, education, and government are most likely to suffer a cyberattack, which will probably lead to an increase in the number of IT security jobs in these sectors.
  •  What is the average salary of a cybersecurity professional? The average salary for a cybersecurity professional depends on the position. For example, information security analysts earn a median salary of $98,350 per year, according to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics. Meanwhile, CISOs earn a median salary of $221,991, according to Salary.com. Salaries are significantly higher in certain cities, such as San Francisco and New York. 
  • What are typical interview questions for a career in cybersecurity? Questions can vary depending on the position and what the specific company is looking for, according to Forrester analyst Jeff Pollard. For entry and early career roles, more technical questions should be expected. As you move up the ranks, the questions may become more about leadership, running a program, conflict resolution, and budgeting. 
  • Where can I find resources for a career in cybersecurity? ISACA, (ISC2)), ISSA and The SANS Institute are national and international organisations where you can seek out information about the profession as well as certification and training options. A number of universities and online courses also offer cybersecurity-related degrees, certifications, and prep programs.
 
US Bureau of Labor:       TechRepublic:            IBM:           ZDNet:         SC Magazine
 
You Might Also Read:
 
Cyber Security Training Ans Jobs:
 
Cyber Security Training That Employees Don’t Hate:
 
 
« Cyber Spying, Digital Theft & Espionage
Cyber Security 2020 - Some Other Predictions »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Check Point

Directory of Suppliers

ZenGRC

ZenGRC

ZenGRC (formerly Reciprocity) is a leader in the GRC SaaS landscape, offering robust and intuitive products designed to make compliance straightforward and efficient.

Resecurity

Resecurity

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence.

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

CYRIN

CYRIN

CYRIN® Cyber Range. Real Tools, Real Attacks, Real Scenarios. See why leading educational institutions and companies in the U.S. have begun to adopt the CYRIN® system.

Rambus Security Division

Rambus Security Division

Rambus Security Division solutions span areas including tamper resistance, content protection, network security, mobile payment, smart ticketing, and trusted provisioning services.

VisionWare

VisionWare

VisionWare provide consulting services and solutions in areas covering both physical and digital security.

DocAuthority

DocAuthority

DocAuthority automatically discovers and accurately identifies unprotected, sensitive documents, enabling a broad yet business-friendly security policy.

ERNW

ERNW

ERNW is an independent IT Security service provider with a focus on consulting and testing in all areas of IT security.

RUSCADASEC

RUSCADASEC

RUSCADASEC is an independent non-profit initiative on developing the open Russian-speaking international community of industrial cyber security/ICS/SCADA cyber security professionals.

Semmle

Semmle

Semmle's code analysis platform helps teams find zero-days and automate variant analysis. Secure your code with continuous security analysis and automated code review.

Stanley Reid & Company (SRC)

Stanley Reid & Company (SRC)

Stanley Reid & Co is an Executive and Technical Search Firm serving the commercial market and the US Intelligence & Defense community. Our areas of expertise include Cybersecurity.

Binary Security AS

Binary Security AS

Binary Security is a Norwegian information security consultancy company. We are specialists at application security, penetration testing and secure code reviews.

Mobileum

Mobileum

Mobileum is a leading provider of Telecom analytics for roaming, security and risk management and end-to-end domestic and roaming testing solutions.

Open Data Security (ODS)

Open Data Security (ODS)

Open Data Security is a market leader in the information security sector, offering services to companies, governments and individuals, helping them shield from hackers and cyber attacks.

UncommonX

UncommonX

UncommonX offers enterprise-class cybersecurity protection for mid-size organizations by combining adaptive threat and intelligence software with 24/7 industry experts.

N2K Networks

N2K Networks

N2K Networks is the world’s first “news to knowledge” network. The news to knowledge network is how you stay at the cutting edge in a rapidly changing world.

StealthPath

StealthPath

StealthPath is focused on endpoint protection, securing the “implicit trust” vulnerabilities of current leading information security solutions.

Metallic.io

Metallic.io

Metallic (formerly TrapX) is a SaaS portfolio for enterprise-grade backup and recovery, designed to protect your data from corruption, deletion, ransomware, and other threats.

SkillsDA

SkillsDA

SkillsDA is pureplay company in cyber security involved in capacity building towards National Security.

ViCyber

ViCyber

ViCyber is an Australian based company whose mission is to simplify and strengthen cybersecurity for all businesses, irrespective of size.