Unfilled cyber security jobs increasing at an alarming rate

Cyber attacks are one of the fastest growing crimes in the world. According to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2018, over 4 in 10 businesses experienced a cyber security breach or attack since 2017.

As cyber attacks continue to increase, certified ethical hackers are emerging as the modern day superheroes. Even with the recorded number of attacks rising, under 3 in 10 businesses have a formal policy in place to tackle the issue.

This is where you come in. We explore the most infamous cyber hacking heists of recent times, how this is resulting to further job opportunities for cyber security specialists and how you can get in on the action to make a difference in your life and the industry.

The implications of recent cyber attacks

‘Cyber attacks’ isn’t a reference to a robot takeover quite yet. We’re talking about the cyber hacking breaches that are becoming ever more frequent to companies of all sizes. There have been some big hacking breaches of late; between 2017 – 2018 alone, massive corporations such as the NHS, British Airways and Facebook have all fallen victim at the hands of a cyber attack.

Breaches such as these cause numerous negative impacts on businesses. A common motive behind cyber attacks is to gain assets and data, normally of customers and their financial details. When breaches result in such loses, the financial implications are particularly significant. Not only is the average fine for companies with poor cyber security can average at £17 million, the financial loses go a lot deeper.

The lasting reputation and loss of trust from customers is a damaging implication of a cyber attack and one that will cost a company dearly. Shares in International Airlines Group, the owners of BA, almost instantly dropped by over 4% after the breach, proving that the cost of a cyber attack to businesses is higher than ever before.

 

The job opportunities are coming in thick and fast

There’s an increasing demand for cyber security specialists, more specifically, certified ethical hackers. Businesses are on the hunt to employ people who can ethically hack their systems, find loopholes and essentially prevent companies from being attacked.

The global shortfall of certified cyber security experts is expected to increase 20% to 1.8m by 2022, with 46% of all UK businesses identifying at least one cyber security breach in the last 12 months. And momentum is increasing as the cyber security market is expected to grow from $75 billion in 2015 to $170 billion by 2020. In addition to that, more than 209,000 cyber security jobs in the U.S. are unfilled, and postings are up 74% over the past five years. And you only have to do a quick job search to see that the situation isn’t much different over here in the UK.

CW Jobs reported that in July 2017 the average cyber security salary rose by 16% and in the UK is currently £72,500, ranging from £57,000 – £85,000 pro rate. Over in the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in January 2016 the average pay for an information security analyst was at $88,890 per year and even the lowest 10% earned almost $50,300 with the highest 10% earning more than $140,460.

With the increased number of jobs and a lucrative salary it’s not surprising then that we have also seen an increase of interest in a career in cybersecurity here at Learning People. Our CEO, Patrick Aylmer explains:

“With global attacks so prominent, it puts more pressure on businesses to fund the recruitment of cyber security experts. While the idea of cyber attacks is daunting, this shift has made a career in cyber security very appealing and rewarding, with the average salary currently at £70,000.”

 

How can you get in to the cyber security industry?

If you fancy a career change into a thriving industry, or you’re already in the industry and want to upskill your current knowledge base, our range of world class cyber security training course includes CompTIA Security+, CompTIA CSA+, CASP, CCNA Security, Certified Ethical Hacker, SSCP, CISSP, CISA, CISM, and many more.

Want to find out more about how we can help you transform your life for the better? Our career consultants are available for a free, impartial chat to get you started.