Cybersecurity is presented as one of the most crucial and dynamic fields today. With the growing digitalization of companies and governments, the demand for professionals in this discipline is constantly rising.
According to Fortune Business Insights, the cybersecurity market reached a value of $153.65 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to over $424.97 billion by 2030. This translates to an estimated growth rate of 13.8% during the forecast period spanning from 2023 to 2030.
However, there is a talent shortage in the cybersecurity industry. This gap has been noted for more than ten years and has not been closed. According to Fortinet's 2023 Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report, 68% of global leaders say that roles related to cybersecurity skills remain the most difficult to fill, and 56% still need analysts with that knowledge.
Taking the above into account, it is important to have identified the profiles that are part of this industry:
Information Security Analyst: This role involves constantly monitoring an organization's systems for potential threats or security breaches. Security analysts also investigate security incidents, assess risks, and take action to mitigate them.
Security Engineer: Security engineers design, implement, and maintain security systems, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and intrusion prevention systems (IPS). They may also be involved in configuring security policies and managing keys.
Secure Network Administrator: These professionals focus on ensuring that an organization's network infrastructure is protected from cyber threats. This includes setting up secure networks, network segmentation, and access management.
Penetration Tester: Also known as “ethical hackers,” penetration testers perform security tests simulating cyber attacks to identify vulnerabilities in systems and applications. They then provide recommendations to strengthen security.
Incident Response Expert: These professionals specialize in security incident management, which involves detecting, analyzing and responding to cyber attacks. They also develop incident response plans and coordinate recovery after an attack.
Information Security Architect: Security architects design and develop an organization's security infrastructure. This includes creating security policies, selecting technology solutions, and implementing security strategies.
Threat Intelligence Analyst: These professionals collect and analyze information about current and emerging cyber threats. Their work helps organizations anticipate and prepare for potential attacks.
Digital Forensics: Digital forensics experts investigate security incidents, collect digital evidence, and present it in a legally valid manner in cybercrime cases or legal disputes.
Security Consultant: Security consultants work independently or for consulting and advisory companies to organizations in improving their security posture, identifying vulnerabilities and offering solutions.
In addition to the previous profiles, there is a managerial role that requires technical knowledge and involves leadership and administration management skills. The CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) is the executive in charge of an organization's information security strategy. Oversees all security initiatives and ensures security standards of various organizations are met.
Currently the countries that offer the best salaries in the sector are; United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Austria, Finland, Australia, etc. This is because in some cases there are citizens with a high socioeconomic level who want to protect their assets, and in others it is because there are large cybersecurity companies or because it is a government priority to protect themselves from cyber attacks.
In this industry you need to have the following skills, since cybersecurity positions carry great responsibility:
Problem resolution
Communication
Attention to detail
Adaptability
Knowledge of Ethical Hacking
Constant training
This blog is just a view of the sector at this time. The lack of talent in cybersecurity translates into million-dollar losses for companies around the world. Let us remember that cybersecurity threats are changing and evolve, also with the rise of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence or the Internet of Things, we will see new profiles emerge in this industry and several of them transform. At CyberLat we can help you to keep up with the evolution of technology.